Introduction
A composer has a number of tools to help them create a piece of music. These tools are made up of various building blocks which they have to fit together to build a convincing composition.
Each music composition includes the following blocks:
- melody/harmony
- rhythm/tempo
- texture/structure
- timbre/dynamics
These building blocks are all used in a variety of ways and in different orders.
For National 5 Music, you are required to look at pieces of music and recognise concepts and techniques the composer and/or performer has used. This will help you to better understand how to create your own music.
There is no set way to compose a piece of music. Some composers begin with a melody, others start with a chord sequence, some are inspired by a piece of art or literature, and others like to use existing compositions and arrange them in a different way.
