Applied Composition Techniques

This unit develops practical composition skills that bridge basic theory and professional practice. Students explore harmonic and melodic devices, instrumentation and notation, digital tools, and the business and media contexts for placing music.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and apply harmonic and melodic techniques—including chord voicings, bass movement, passing tones, pivot notes, modal moods, gestural space, phrase variation, and effort shapes—to compose coherent intro (Letter A) and middle (Letters B/C) sections for short works.
• Apply notation and arranging skills to produce performance-ready materials by writing for transposing and non-transposing instruments, creating independent harmony lines, guitar tablature and strumming patterns, and standard drum notation.
• Demonstrate effective use of digital composition tools and research resources by producing a computer-based mockup in composition software, comparing workflows between software and paper, experimenting with AI-assisted generators, and locating historic sheet-music and library assets online.
• Evaluate professional and legal considerations for media composition by creating incidental and ambient cues for TV, radio, and video games, preparing submissions for music libraries/platforms (e.g., Audio Network, Bandcamp), and explaining copyright ownership, permissions, and licensing procedures.