Performing and composing ideas
Some of the techniques found in Saturday Night Waltz can be transferred to other performances and composing. By understanding the effects of each may develop musicianship skills. They are shown in this table.
| In performance | In composition | |
| Ornamentation | Decorate the melody with ornaments, such as trills and mordents, which could be especially useful in a solo. | This could be used to show variation between repeating sections. They can add decoration to a melody. |
| Waltz | If performing a waltz in 3/4 time, the first beat of the bar is the most important and should have slightly more emphasis than beats 2 and 3. | Compose a piece in 3/4 time. Be sure to include the ‘oom pa pa’ rhythm in the accompaniment. |
| Modulation | Make sure to pay attention to new sharp and flat notes when moving from different keys. | A modulation can be used to change the mood of a piece, e.g. modulating to the relative minor means that something sad has occurred. |
| Dominant 7 chords | A good way to embellish chords and a way to add appropriate dissonance, depending on the voicing. | A traditional way to add colour to chords and a musical tool to modulate from different keys. |
| Folk music | Research traditional folk music from different countries. Try incorporating some of these melodies into a composition. Develop them by adding rhythmic augmentation or diminution. |
| Ornamentation | |
| In performance | Decorate the melody with ornaments, such as trills and mordents, which could be especially useful in a solo. |
| In composition | This could be used to show variation between repeating sections. They can add decoration to a melody. |
| Waltz | |
| In performance | If performing a waltz in 3/4 time, the first beat of the bar is the most important and should have slightly more emphasis than beats 2 and 3. |
| In composition | Compose a piece in 3/4 time. Be sure to include the ‘oom pa pa’ rhythm in the accompaniment. |
| Modulation | |
| In performance | Make sure to pay attention to new sharp and flat notes when moving from different keys. |
| In composition | A modulation can be used to change the mood of a piece, e.g. modulating to the relative minor means that something sad has occurred. |
| Dominant 7 chords | |
| In performance | A good way to embellish chords and a way to add appropriate dissonance, depending on the voicing. |
| In composition | A traditional way to add colour to chords and a musical tool to modulate from different keys. |
| Folk music | |
| In performance | |
| In composition | Research traditional folk music from different countries. Try incorporating some of these melodies into a composition. Develop them by adding rhythmic augmentation or diminution. |