Performing and composing ideas
Have a look at some of these techniques found in Defying Gravity and consider how they can be used in performance and composition.
| Performance | Composition | |
| Tempo changes | Although a performance piece may not have tempo changes marked, the performer has the right to make musical choices if it suits them. | Tempo changes can really enhance the different sections of a composition. This includes rallentando (rall), ritardando (rit), accelerando, pauses and rubato. |
| Stabbed chords | Pianos and guitars can really bring out stabbed chords, especially in an improvisation to frame an individual melody. | Stab chords are found in jazz and are a great way to punctuate a composition. Use them sparingly, or many in a progression. |
| Syncopated rhythms | Not all syncopation should be played the same - some convey a jerky mood, and some a laid-back mood. Be sure to know the purpose of a piece before performing all syncopation in the same way. | Syncopated rhythms can really help build momentum or anticipation. |
| Modulation | Pay attention to new sharp and flat notes when moving from one key to another. | A modulation can change the mood of a piece, even if only for a small period, such as two bars. |
| Melody development | Look carefully at any development of melody that has taken place. Examine why this happened and the way in which it is important to the performance. | If a melody is used for a second time, even one or two different note changes can be highly effective in creating a successful composition. |
| Instrumental timbres | All instruments have a number of different timbres. Explore these and which are suitable for the music that is being performed. | A decision needs to be made to which range the voice sits at, eg high, medium or low pitched. In instrumental writing understand and really utilise the versatility of musical instruments and technology. |
| Tempo changes | |
| Performance | Although a performance piece may not have tempo changes marked, the performer has the right to make musical choices if it suits them. |
| Composition | Tempo changes can really enhance the different sections of a composition. This includes rallentando (rall), ritardando (rit), accelerando, pauses and rubato. |
| Stabbed chords | |
| Performance | Pianos and guitars can really bring out stabbed chords, especially in an improvisation to frame an individual melody. |
| Composition | Stab chords are found in jazz and are a great way to punctuate a composition. Use them sparingly, or many in a progression. |
| Syncopated rhythms | |
| Performance | Not all syncopation should be played the same - some convey a jerky mood, and some a laid-back mood. Be sure to know the purpose of a piece before performing all syncopation in the same way. |
| Composition | Syncopated rhythms can really help build momentum or anticipation. |
| Modulation | |
| Performance | Pay attention to new sharp and flat notes when moving from one key to another. |
| Composition | A modulation can change the mood of a piece, even if only for a small period, such as two bars. |
| Melody development | |
| Performance | Look carefully at any development of melody that has taken place. Examine why this happened and the way in which it is important to the performance. |
| Composition | If a melody is used for a second time, even one or two different note changes can be highly effective in creating a successful composition. |
| Instrumental timbres | |
| Performance | All instruments have a number of different timbres. Explore these and which are suitable for the music that is being performed. |
| Composition | A decision needs to be made to which range the voice sits at, eg high, medium or low pitched. In instrumental writing understand and really utilise the versatility of musical instruments and technology. |