Author Description

This text serves as a short primer and details the basic principles of form in a musical work. It's intended to provide an introduction to musical forms while introducing the composer to some methods of creating original forms. Readers will learn about the concept of form, which includes a discussion of motives, phrases, periods, and melody. The text then describes some of the larger forms, including the aria, symphony, rondo, and a brief discussion of how to create original forms for a musical work. Far from being a comprehensive work, this is a short and concise discussion of some basic concepts that all composers regardless of style should comprehend. Intended to act as a sample to give a preview of the type of content in our larger works, this text functions as a sort of master class in a very narrowly defined subject. After reviewing this lesson, consider purchasing one of our in-depth texts to gain a greater understanding of how to create highly effective musical works.At the end of this text, you can read the first few chapters of The Elements of Music Composition. This text details a method that composers can use to tie all of the other disciplines of music composition together into one cohesive music composition technique. Thematic Materials - Motives, Themes, Melodies, and Form Determining musical form based on the motive and melody This lesson introduces you to the basic elements of a motive and the different ways motives are employed by composers to create melodies. The course details how a composer can determine the overall length and structure of the piece through a careful analysis of small thematic elements. This is a crucial skill beginning composers may lack, but it can be developed with the right knowledge and practice.