Group 1

Welcome to the NEW FOUR WEEK INTENSIVE on tonebase!

This special FOUR-week workshop is a journey into the heart of piano composition, tailored for both beginners and seasoned pianists. Dr. Antonella Di Giulio will share her insights and techniques in creating structured piano compositions, drawing from her experience as a pianist, music theorist, and teacher.

Pianists of all levels are welcome. 

More Detailed instructions coming soon!

  • Sign-Up : January 12 - 15th
  • Course Period: January 15th - February 11th
  • Class Size: ALL are welcome!
  • Optional check-In via Zoom: TBD

 

Assignment 1:

 

VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/uO_4ITnzrvo

 

"We will start this creative musical journey by exploring the cognitive processes of creativity and then we will dive into practical strategies you can use to start writing your own music. Creativity in music involves preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification.

Musical storytelling, theme and variation, collaborative composition, and constraint-based composing are powerful strategies to start creating music.

Improvisation is a key tool for developing musical intuition and creativity.

 

Tools to Begin Outlining Your Composition

 

  • Manuscript Paper or Notation Software
  • Piano or Keyboard
  • Recording Device
  • Reference Materials
  • Creative Journal:

 

Breaking the Ice with Composition

 

For those who are new to composing or feel intimidated at the prospect of creating a full-fledged piece like a sonata, it's essential to start small and approach the process with a sense of exploration and fun. Here are some suggestions to ease into the composition process:

 

  • Start with a Miniature Composition
  • Improvise Freely
  • Use a Familiar Piece as a reference
  • Set a Time Limit
  • Embrace the 'Sketch'

 

Assignments:

 

  1. Choose one of the strategies you might want to try out, maybe one you might feel more comfortable with and start experimenting with it.

For "Musical Storytelling:" write a short story with about 5 or more different scenes, create some sounds or ideas for each scene and write the notes down (symbols or sketches are ok!)

For "Theme and Variation": choose a short theme, start sketching what you could do with the theme (for instance, Var. 1/ in triplets, Var. 2/ in quadruplets, Var. 4/ in minor)

For "Collaborative Composition": find a partner or a group, start with a few notes, pass them along to your partner(s), let them complete the sentence, then continue what they have done and keep exchanging ideas.

For "Constraint-Based Composing": chose a constraint. For instance, you might want to work only with a certain rhythmic pattern, or only using certain pitches, or even transcribe an existing composition. Then start sketching your own piece on that base.

 

  1. Sketch a Short Piece: Using the chosen method, start outlining a short piece of music. 

     

  2. Reflective Journal: Keep a musical journal of your process, noting your thoughts, challenges, and insights. It is easy to forget a short motive or a beautiful accompaniment if we do not write it down.

     

  3. Post your progress to receive suggestions and feedback. 

 

Remember, it has to be fun!

 

----

Assignment #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdHlCiIIMuY&feature=youtu.be

 

"In the second week of the workshop, we will explore the intricate world of musical structure. Because each one of you is working on very different projects, it would be meaningless to just analyze traditional types of structures and the overused traditional forms. Instead, I have chosen to focus on two general concepts that can help everybody. 

 

 

I will introduce two essential structural concepts: paradigmatic and syntagmatic structures. Paradigmatic structure, likened to a musical palette, involves making choices from available musical elements such as melodies, harmonies, rhythms, dynamics, and articulations vertically, to create depth and meaning in a piece. Syntagmatic structures help craft a narrative and focus on the sequence of musical events over time and the logical flow within a composition.

Music composition is a dynamic interplay between structure and creativity. So... if you consider these two main structural concepts, you might feel free to move within a structure in whichever way you'd like.

Assignments for Week Two: "Unlocking the Secrets of Musical Structure"

    Paradigmatic Exploration: Choose a section of your composition and experiment with different paradigmatic choices. Alter the harmony, rhythm, or articulation to evoke different emotions or moods. Reflect on how these changes impact the overall expression of your piece.

    Syntagmatic Storytelling: Review the structure of your composition. Ensure it has a clear narrative arc – introduction, development, climax, and conclusion. Consider the transitions between sections and how they contribute to the flow of your music.

    Balancing Act: Explore how you can seamlessly blend paradigmatic and syntagmatic elements in your composition. Identify moments where introducing new musical material enhances the overall impact of your piece."

 

-----

Assignment #3

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg43G3uOOH0

 

"This workshop focuses on understanding music as a system of signs and codes, following Umberto Eco's theories. The session aims to expand participants' understanding of how musical elements convey meaning within a composition's structure.

 

Key Points:

Music as a System of Signs: 

Emphasis on how music uses signs like notes, rhythms, dynamics to communicate. Discussion on the semiotics of music.

 

Eco's Theories: 

Exploration of Umberto Eco's concepts of 'Structures That Move' and 'Structures Within Which We Move', applying them to music composition.

 

Musical Codes in Composition:

 Importance of understanding and creatively using musical codes. Discussion on genre-specific codes and cross-genre exploration.

 

Crafting Music with Intention: 

Focus on intentional use of musical codes to enrich narrative and emotional depth in compositions.

 

Practical Assignments:

Analyzing Musical Codes: 

Choose a music piece, identify and analyze its musical codes, understanding their contribution to the piece's message and emotion.

 

Composing with 'Structures That Move'/ 'Structures Within Which We Move': 

Apply this concept to your piece.

 

Examine how codes combine in music to express meaning. Add codes to unlock the meaning in your piece.

 

---

 

Assignment #4 (Final!)

 

https://youtu.be/BY3ARorC9iY

 

"As we consider finalizing our compositions with the rhizomatic concept in mind, it's important to embrace the idea that a composition might never be 'finished' in the traditional sense but can always remain open to new interpretations and developments.  Your composition is complete not when every possibility has been explored but when it provides a coherent musical experience that feels resolved yet open to further exploration.

 

Assignments for the Final Week

Review with Rhizomatic Perspective: Revisit your composition, considering the interconnectedness and multiplicity of musical ideas. Reflect on how each segment offers paths to new explorations.

 

Subtle Refinements: Focus on detail-oriented tweaks that enhance the interconnected themes, ensuring each motif contributes to the overall rhizomatic structure.

 

Seek Feedback: Gather diverse perspectives on your composition's rhizomatic nature. Use this feedback to open new paths within your work.

 

Embrace Evolution: Allow your composition to develop organically, exploring alternative paths and creative experimentations.

 

Maintain Your Vision: Ensure your rhizomatic composition remains true to your original intent, even as it evolves and expands.

 

Final Presentation: Prepare to share your composition here on Tonebase on February 20th (watchparty) 

 

As we conclude this workshop, remember that composing with a rhizomatic perspective enriches your creative process, offering endless possibilities for growth and exploration. Your compositions become living, breathing entities, constantly evolving and inviting new interpretations. Thank you for joining me on this unconventional journey!

242replies Oldest first
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    • Michael Bruce
    • Software Architect - but.. really a musician.
    • Michael_Bruce
    • 10 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    1.20.2024 (Saturday)
    This piece is a cycle of emotions. A lot of reflection of the past adventure, the desire to "go back" to those times and the realization that it is up to me to pave a brand new path and the cycle begins again. 

    This morning I sat down and figured out what timing and structure I was playing and polished it a bit.

    https://youtu.be/bakGVks16r0

     

    Chords
    reflection
    C Cmaj6 Bb Bb#4

    bit of nostalgia creeping in
    AbMaj7 Gmin F#maj6 .. c7sus4-9 ??

    Intrigue, curiosity and beauty
    Fmaj9 Fdim Bmin/F Fmaj

    Adventure and gratefulness of life
    Gmin F#Maj F
    Gmin Abmaj7 ---

    (abrupt realization)
    Am Abmaj (new idea Gmin)

    Returning home
    C maj  

    I have a video of me walking through the piece. Anyone resonate with this direction and my playing style? If so perhaps collab?

     

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1.19.24 (Friday)
    Well, I wrote some music. And here is what I ran in to...

    - I wanted to write something classical, but I am not sure how.
    - I already want to start over. This is common when I try to be creative. I also would like to finish, but I think it is out of my league. These are the types of judgements.
    - I also started out with the story (scenes) in mind, then I just went off the rails and wrote without any sort of boundaries.
    - Even though this is much simpler, I have been listening to Chopin Ballade 1-4 quite a bit the last month as well as liszt benediction de dieu dans la solitude and perhaps I got some ideas from these. 

    Here is a draft idea snippet here. It's definitely melancholy. 
    https://piano-community.tonebase.co/media/download/q520pmrgjkbjrorpgoi6eqs4nwm3wbbssh4ttgeqgkcgr2spyd35ug5knq/idea-week%201.mp3

    1.18.23 (Thurs)
    Wrote some draft music in key of c and key of f with modulations.

    1.16.24 (Tues)

    i am not sure why, but when I go to create, the self judgement starts to surface. I went ahead and came up with the scenes which is nice because I haven’t actually created music yet, but I know what it’ll be about. This is a good start for me because I’ve already judged myself even at this level.
     

    what is gonna be about about the feeling of leaving home and landing in a country where I didn’t know anybody and I was alone. The adventure was at peak level. I loved it. However, I was scared at the same time and that was OK. Music pieces about the memory and the nostalgic contrast of now. This present a strong question about my purpose and it happens in a brief moment and it’s easy to push that down and not deal with that.

     

    1.13.24

    I look forward to this!

    • Michael Bruce  feel free to ask any question or share what you are working at!

      Like 1
      • Michael Bruce
      • Software Architect - but.. really a musician.
      • Michael_Bruce
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Antonella Di Giulio I thought I already signed up for this and received an email for first assignment. I cannot find that email or what group I am in.

      Like 1
    • Michael Bruce This group is fine :)

      Like 1
      • Michelle R
      • Michelle_Russell
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Michael Bruce I'm really looking forward to hearing what you create. 

      Like 2
      • Michael Bruce
      • Software Architect - but.. really a musician.
      • Michael_Bruce
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      1.20.2024 (Saturday)

      This piece is a cycle of emotions. A lot of reflection of the past adventure, the desire to "go back" to those times and the realization that it is up to me to pave a brand new path and the cycle begins again. 

      This morning I sat down and figured out what timing and structure I was playing and polished it a bit.

      https://youtu.be/bakGVks16r0

       

      Chords
      reflection
      C Cmaj6 Bb Bb#4

      bit of nostalgia creeping in
      AbMaj7 Gmin F#maj6 .. c7sus4-9 ??

      Intrigue, curiosity and beauty
      Fmaj9 Fdim Bmin/F Fmaj

      Adventure and gratefulness of life
      Gmin F#Maj F
      Gmin Abmaj7 ---

      (abrupt realization)
      Am Abmaj (new idea Gmin)

      Returning home
      C maj  

      I have a video of me walking through the piece. Anyone resonate with this direction and my playing style? If so perhaps collab?

      Like 3
      • Michael Bruce
      • Software Architect - but.. really a musician.
      • Michael_Bruce
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      I’m curious if we’re gonna be writing many compositions or are we gonna take the same one and just Keep building it?

       

      also, considering that I just went a huge direction with possibly not writing a detailed story and not writing the music to sheet music yet is there anything you suggest as far as I can take this to the next level?

      Like 2
    • Michael Bruce The goal is to bring an initial idea to a complete composition. I like your ideas. It sounds all very beautiful, now you would need to connect everything together, create the transitions, then eventually expand.

      Like 1
    • Michael Bruce (please, tag me in the post, as I had missed this :D)

      Like 2
      • Michelle R
      • Michelle_Russell
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Michael Bruce You have such an engaging and, well, likeable video presentation style. I enjoyed your compositional ideas very much. 

      Like 2
      • Michael Bruce
      • Software Architect - but.. really a musician.
      • Michael_Bruce
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Michelle R I appreciate that a lot. It’s very unexpected to get that sort of comment.

      Like
      • Michael Bruce
      • Software Architect - but.. really a musician.
      • Michael_Bruce
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Antonella Di Giulio I was curious about next steps here, perhaps get more organized with the idea or should I keep writing? I like these as main sections, but I am unsure what to do next (that wouldn’t be the same I do - which defeats the purpose of a challenge)

      Like 1
    • Michael Bruce The next step will be to organize and structure the material you composed this past week.

      Like
    • Letizia
    • Letizia
    • 10 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm in! 🌞😎✌🏻

    Like 3
    • Letizia Glad to have you here!

      Like 1
    • Marc M
    • Amateur piano enthusiast
    • Marc_M
    • 10 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi group 1, and Dr. Di Giulio! I haven't really composed anything in the last 15 years, and I've never composed under the direction of anybody, so I'm looking forward to this course as being a great learning experience.

    Like 3
    • Marc M I will just give you some suggestions here and there, but I think that once somebody has unleashed the creativity within, the rest is easy.

      Like 1
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Antonella Di Giulio I was inspired by how you spoke about using different elements of composition as ingredients in a dish, so I’ve decided to do a theme and variations based on the theme from Riko’s Cooking, a piece from the soundtrack of Made in Abyss (an interesting but rather creepy anime). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MpGsTftTbgY

      Still thinking up ideas for what to do with the variations. Maybe I could make up a story about how her cooking process goes. Reference material could be…Goldberg Variations and Rzewski’s People United variations. Should be fun! But might end up being hard to keep it short.

      Like 2
    • Marc M A student of mine wrote a piece based on Bell and Sebastian (Lalaland's soundtrack.) It came out pretty well. She took the harmony, modified the melody, and then combined some new elements. 

      Like 1
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Marc M I can’t wait to hear what you come up with!

      Like 1
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Marc M This starting piece is exactly the concept I was hearing in MY head, LOL!  Haven’t started yet, though…

      Like 1
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Gail Starr How is that even possible?? Haha.

      Like 1
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Marc M I guess we just like listening to the same not-overly-played music??  What was YOUR favorite composer when you first started piano?  (I loved Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Mahler.  I was one weird little kid, as my sister occasionally reminds me…)

      Like
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Life's been busy and I'm behind! Haven't quite gotten something presentable together for the week 1 assignment yet. I'm starting to get comfortable writing in Sibelius on my iPhone, though!  I hope to post something tomorrow, and then to get cranking on week 2.

      Gail Starr When I was first starting piano...hmmm...probably Yasunori Mitsuda, a video game music composer, haha. Videogame music eventually made me interested in classical music. I listened to a lot of the big name composers, but some other enduring favorites were Scriabin, Prokofiev, Piazzolla, and Albeniz.

      Like 2
    • Marc M Maybe you could think about thematic strings, like in video games music :P

      Like 1
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