Apr 3, 2019 | Composition, Daily Film Scoring Bits
Melodic Target Notes Melodic target notes of a phrase should be avoided for as long as possible before reaching that target. For example, if your melodic phrase has a target note of a c, you should try to not use that c (if possible also in no other octave) in the...
Mar 20, 2019 | Composition, Daily Film Scoring Bits
Melodic Steps and Leaps One very old but also very useful rule for melodic writing is that a melodic leap in one direction should be followed by a melodic step in the other direction. Consecutive leaps in the same direction sound very dramatic and have the potential...
Feb 13, 2019 | Composition, Daily Film Scoring Bits
First Statement of a Theme When composing a piece, present your main musical idea for the first time in the clearest direct and most unobscured way to your audience so it is actually being perceived as important and remembered for further appearances where it might be...
Feb 5, 2019 | Daily Film Scoring Bits, Film Scoring
Thematic Overuse Not every appearance of your main character in the movie needs a statement of his/her theme. Repeating a theme too often can very quickly become annoying or drift off into an unwanted comedic effect. In general, thematic statements are best placed...
Jan 23, 2019 | Composition, Daily Film Scoring Bits
Composing Melody First vs. Composing Chords First Neither composing chords first and then finding a melody on top of them nor the other way around are optimal composition principles. In both ways you’re lacking ultimate control over what you’re writing. For example...
