Lesson video

Hi, my name's Mr. Pate, and welcome to this lesson on extending a musical idea from the unit composing to a brief creative starting points.

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to analyze how musical ideas are extended and developed and apply those ideas to your own composition.

We'll be using some keywords in today's lesson.

The word "motif" means a short, memorable musical idea that's often repeated or varied throughout the piece.

Repetition is when we repeat or use musical ideas, patterns, or phrases.

And when we use repetition, it makes music more memorable, it adds impact, and we can use repetition to create a musical structure.

When we vary something, then we repeat it, but with changes to create a different variation of a theme, a motif, an idea.

Development is the process of expanding and transforming those musical ideas.

So we'll start by looking at how musical ideas are extended, and then we'll look at developing our own musical compositions.

So, you've started a composition and you've got your initial idea, what do you do with it next?

Well, this is the process of development.

Musical ideas are extended by developing a short motif into a longer phrase.

This can be done through repetition, sequence, and variation, and using these techniques allow that initial idea to grow and develop, making your piece interesting, but maintaining a sense of unity, so everything sounds like it belongs together.

Let's start with repetition.

When we repeat a musical idea, it helps to make it memorable.

If we just heard something once, it would be really tricky to recall it again later, but if we hear it multiple times, it sticks in our head.

So when we've got a musical idea, we could repeat it exactly, or we could repeat just certain elements of that idea, like for example, repeating the rhythm, but using different notes.

Let's hear some examples of repetition.

Here's an exact repetition.

Now let's hear an example of repeating just the rhythm.

In this example, both bars have exactly the same rhythm, but the pitches are different.

As you listen, you'll hear how these ideas sound like they're connected, even though the notes are completely different.

A method of repeating rhythms, but using different pitches, is called a sequence.

A sequence means repeating a melodic idea, but at a higher or a lower pitch.

This makes a melodic idea sound familiar, but without using the exact same notes again.

This example shows a melodic idea being extended using a descending sequence.

So you'll hear the first bar, and then the second bar is the same notes, but sequenced or moved down one note, which will give it a sense of familiarity while using completely different notes.

Let's have a listen to an example of how repetition can be used in a student composition.

Izzy is extended a melody based on her initial musical starting point.

Now as you have a listen to this melody, I want you to think which bars in this melody use repetition and which use variation.

You might spot exact repetition, the exact same thing again.

You might spot repetitions of ideas, like the repetition of a rhythm, and you might spot use of a sequence, which is the same idea, but moved up or down.

After you've heard the melody, pause the video and work out which bars use repetition and which use variation.

So how did you do?

Which bars in this example use repetition and which use variation?

Sam says, "Bars one, five, and 13 are exactly the same, which is a repetition.

Bars one and two are also the same as bars 13 and 14.

Repeating ideas like this helps to make ideas memorable.

" And so using exact repetition can be a really important tool in composing.

Jacob noticed that bars nine to 11 use a sequence with the same melodic idea being repeated at a lower pitch, this way of repeating the rhythm and shape of melody without using the exact same pitches.

Finally, Jun spotted that using variation in bars six to eight helps keep the melody interesting.

Bars nine to 12 use contrasting ideas with familiar rhythms.

The overall melody has an AABA structure.

So balancing use of repetition and use of variation is really important, and the use of repetition can give our melody a structure like this one.

How musical ideas are extended is influenced by the genre that you are working in.

Classical melodies use short motifs as a basic for continual evolution of musical ideas.

This can include use of things like inversion, augmentation, diminution, fragmentation, and more, and we'll cover some of those shortly.

These techniques are also drawn on in many other genres, including things like film music, minimalism, and more.

Let's have a look at some of those techniques mentioned.

Inversion is when you turn the intervals upside down, so you would take a little melodic idea, and then instead of going up one note, you would go down one note and invert the melody.

Let's hear what that sounds like.

Augmentation is when you double the note values.

So if you've got a note that lasts one beat, you would make it last two beats.

In the case of our example, we start with a one and a half beat note and we turn it into a three beat note.

Let's listen to some augmentation.

The opposite of augmentation is diminution, when you half the note values.

So if we start off with a one beat note, we would use a half beat note.

Let's have a listen to diminution.

These competitional techniques are a great way of generating new musical ideas out of familiar material.

So, you'll hear something that sounds familiar, because it's based on your initial idea, but it also sounds new, because you've done something with it.

Listen to this example, which development technique that we've just discussed is being used here?

Is it augmentation, sequence, or inversion?

Let's have a listen.

The answer is sequence.

It's the same musical idea, but repeated a note lower.

In other genres like pop and folk music, melodies are often developed through structure and repetition rather than the continuous transformation that's such a strong feature of classical music.

This might mean contrast between sections, like having a verse section that contrasts the chorus.

It might mean adding new layers, new backing vocals, new instrumental parts, or it might be small, melodic variations when sections are repeated.

Let's have a listen to an example.

Listen to this folk piece which has two sections.

In each section the melody is repeated.

On the repeat, the melody is varied by adding decoration and some harmony notes.

How does the accompaniment add contrast between the A and B section?

Have a listen to this example.

Then pause the video and consider the use of repetition and variation.

Now you've had a listen.

How did the accompaniment add contrast between section A and section B?

Alex says, "I can hear the guitar strumming pattern change at the beginning of section B.

" And Aisha says, "The guitar plays one chord in the first bar of each phrase of the section B melody.

When the melody's repeated, it goes back to the fuller strumming pattern.

" Now, let's listen to a vocal composition.

I'd like you to consider how the initial ideas in lines one and two are then developed over the rest of the piece.

Have a listen to this example, then pause the video, and consider how are these ideas developed?

♪ We walked these halls together, through each and every day ♪ ♪ Now new roads wait before us, but these memories will stay ♪ ♪ We've laughed through every moment ♪ ♪ Stood strong when times were tough ♪ ♪ And though we're moving onward, it never feels enough ♪ ♪ So here's to all the memories, the ones we'll always keep ♪ ♪ In every step that lies ahead ♪ ♪ They're ours to hold so deep ♪ ♪ So here's to all the memories, the ones we'll always keep ♪ ♪ In every step that lies ahead they're ours to hold so deep ♪ <v ->So what did you think?

</v> How were those initial ideas in lines one and two developed?

Sam says, "Lines three and four have the same basic melody as lines one and two, with the last line rising instead of falling.

This repetition helps to make it memorable.

The piano parts varied here and strings added.

" Jun says, "Lines five and six are a new section, may be a chorus.

This has a new chord sequence and a melody in a higher pitch range, which makes it sound more emotional.

" So balancing, variation, and repetition is a key to defining the structure of your piece, making it sound unified and making it interesting.

Now let's have a look at developing your own composition.

Extending musical ideas helps to turn a short motif into a more developed and complete piece.

This can be done through techniques such as repetition, sequence, variation, depending on the genre.

The approach you use might be influenced by the brief or by the style that you've chosen to compose in.

Different genres use these techniques in different ways, so when composing, consider how to use these techniques in a genre appropriate way.

How does your chosen genre use repetition, sequence, variation, contrast between sections, and layering of texture?

By knowing this, this will help you shape your ideas into a clear and coherent piece, so it is worth spending some time listening to other music in your genre and analyzing how they use repetition and variation.

So why is repetition important in a composition?

Is it A, to make sure it's simple enough for people to understand?

B, to create memorable melodies with a sense of unity, or C, to make your composition longer?

The answer is B.

Using repetition helps to create memorable melodies and gives your piece a sense of unity.

Besides repeating an idea exactly, what other elements could you repeat to develop your melody?

Could you repeat A, just the rhythm?

Could you repeat B, the pitches of the notes?

Could you repeat C, the shape of the melody?

Or D, all of the above?

The answer is D.

You can repeat any of these ideas.

Any elements of your initial musical idea can be repeated in a way that will make it feel connected, but also to bring something new to your piece.

Now it's over to you.

You are gonna spend some time now developing and extending your own musical idea, using both repetition and variation.

Consider the conventions of the genre that you are working in and how you are going to use them to shape your idea.

I want you to think about which elements you will repeat and where you will introduce variation to maintain interest.

Pause the video now, and spend some time developing and extending your own musical idea.

Now you've spent some time developing and extending your own composition, how have you developed your idea today?

Laura says, "I used a sequence to add both repetition and variation into my extended musical idea.

" Andeep says, "I use augmentation and diminution to come up with new melodic ideas that were related to my initial starting point.

" Alex says, "I used repetition in my film score to build tension and built up the texture by gradually adding more layers.

" In today's lesson, we've learned that a short musical idea can be developed into a longer phrase or melody.

We've learned that repetition helps to create unity and make ideas memorable, but also variation keeps music interesting by changing how musical elements are used.

Finally, we've learned that effective compositions balance repetition and variety to maintain interest.

Thanks for all your great composing work in today's lesson.

I'll see you again in the next one.