Riordan's favourite genres are classical and jazz. In his room you can learn how to use the call and response technique and melodic devices such as inversion, retrograde and repetition when composing.
Go to Riordan's room to find out more about classical and jazz music
Cerddoriaeth Riordan (Riordan's music)
'Dy Lygaid Glas' and 'Daeth y Wawr'
Riordan is in ballad mode. Think about all the songs you like to listen to. Do the titles tell you anything about them? Expand your horizons and you'll see how amazingly varied music is.
Fideos Riordan (Riordan's videos)
Cyfansoddi alawon gwych (Writing top tunes)
A magic melody makes a top tune. Riordan shows how with the 'call and response' method. Listen to different melodies. Think why you like them - or not. Make your own melody, by changing the response to a call, and then make up your own response. That's music-making!
Beth i'w wneud pan mewn trafferth (What to do when you get stuck)
Watch a video of Riordan and Aron working together on call and response tunes. They explain how recording while they improvise helps them through sticky patches when song-writing.
Fy rysáit cudd ar gyfer alaw hudolus (My secret recipe for a magic melody)
Riordan talks about musical terms or 'melodic devices'. He introduces you to: inversion, retrograde and repetition. These are secret ingredients for great songs. It's easy when you know what devices are behind the music.
Creu Cân (Sketch-a-Song)
Creu alaw cwestiwn ac ateb (Call and Response)
Time to use the Creu Cân tool. Change the melody to reflect call and response and change the notes to create a new response. Playing this game will help make call and response work for you when composing.
Troelli'ch alaw - lefel 1 (Twisting your tune - level 1)
First, listen to Riordan's song. Next, pick out the gaps in the tune. Then, choose the melodic variations you want to finish the tune by using inversion, retrograde and repetition. Tune-twistingly simple!
Troelli'ch alaw - lefel 2 (Twisting your tune - level 2)
Start with a laid-down beat to Riordan's backing track 'Daeth y Wawr'. Then add your own melody. Don't forget to put in inversions and retrogrades.
Gemau (Games)
Parau'n cydweddu (Matching pairs)
It's game-time. All you do is pick out the retrogrades and inversions in a tune by Riordan. Playing the game shows how inversion and retrograde can be smart musical tricks in song-writing.
