Computer-Music.com contains articles and product reviews related to making music using computers and creating 3D computer animation in sync with music. Computer-Music.com is also the home page of  Donald S. Griffin, an experienced professional composer, sound effects designer and audio consultant with an emphasis on computer games,  video games and internet music and sound effects. For pricing and contract availability send email to: DGriffin (@) Computer-Music (.) com

Computer-Music.com  contains articles and product reviews related to making music using computers and creating 3D computer animation in sync with music.
Computer-Music.com is also the home page of  Donald S. Griffin, an experienced professional composer, sound effects designer and audio consultant with an emphasis on computer games,  video games and internet music and sound effects. For pricing and contract availability send email to: DGriffin (@) Computer-Music (.) com



 

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Gather Musical Examples As Reference Points

Once you have a strong sense of all the parameters constraining the music, you can begin the process of actually composing the pieces. Try to start by collecting musical examples of the style you would like to use. For a turn of the century march, you might look to John Phillip Souza. For a powerful space theme, you might listen to John Williams. The purpose of this exercise is not to learn how to imitate their styles but rather to explore what it is in their music that evokes the sense of time or place that makes their music so successful. You may end up using a technique that they used, but just as often you might see an alternative way to achieve the same end. Either way, the process of analyzing another composer’s work as you break it down into elements and decide what effect each element has on the composition as a whole can help you decide what elements to bring into your composition to create the desired effect.

During these listening sessions, you may find yourself in a groove as you’re singing along with a particular part of a catchy tune. This in turn may lead you to compose your own musical phrase with a similar effect. On the other hand, all of this listening is just as likely to give you a long list of things you do not want to do with your composition, along with the reasons why.

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