Theory, Musicianship and Composition

Music Theory and Composition

Develop and apply your music theory knowledge in a dynamic new class that makes music theory fun. The class will look at several composition projects that will require the application of music theory knowledge. The same knowledge needed to proceed through AMEB theory exams. This class will run year long, with opportunities to compose for various film projects. Students will be supported to develop their musicianship skills. Such skills will have an enormous impact on their ability to be a successful member of any ensemble and in their ability to achieve high levels of success in high school music classes.

Available for beginners – advanced. From $90 per term when bundled with a 30 min lesson.

Beginner Music Theory

Beginner theory lessons and aural training for primary beginners.
-Understanding how theory works within the context of listening.
-Applying newly learnt theory to understand how it goes from the sound to the page, and the page to the sound.
-Writing the notes -understanding how to correctly notate music so that it is legible to all musicians.
-Understanding the patterns in music – particularly pitch, harmony, and rhythm, and how the patterns relate to the sounds. Begin to identify different styles of music using musical terms.
-AMEB theory or musicianship exams.

Beginners generally need to be at least 9 years of age and have a year’s experience on an instrument before taking theory lessons.

Intermediate Music Theory and Musicianship

Theory, aural training and Musicianship for intermediate students.

-Advancing skills already learnt
-Filling gaps in understanding of theory basic
-Extension towards later AMEB theory/musicianship grades.
-Extending page to sound/sound to page awareness to include more complex settings of pitch, harmony, rhythm in particular.
-Increasing knowledge of different genres of music, and underlying theoretical concepts that define these genres and styles.
-Developing basic score-reading techniques; working towards ‘hearing a page’ by sight
-Considering how to apply learnt theory: contextualise theoretical knowledge, and learn how it might be used practically as instrumentalist, composer/songwriter, ensemble member.

Intermediate theory lessons align with 3rd to 6th-grade theory levels. These classes provide full preparation for all AMEB theory curriculums including theory and musicianship.

Advanced Music Theory and Musicianship

For students grade 6 and up individual theory lessons are recommended.

Composition Workshops (weeks 3, 6 and 9 each term)

Each 1 hour session will give young composers and song writers the opportunity to experiment with composition, learn techniques and develop ideas with our head of composition Alison Beckett.

The point is to TRY THINGS OUT that you’re working on; to get help with ideas; to hear what your song or piece sounds like so far when played by others, so that you can have some distance and consider your options.

There will be other composers in the room who may help with ideas. It is a workshop, and finished pieces, works or songs are not necessary at all, unless that’s where you’re at with a piece, and want to try it out in a safe space before it goes to the performance or publishing stage.

Requirements: send in a brief idea of your piece – what it’s written for, (instrumentation) and where you’re at with it (if you know how to say it) THE WEEK PRIOR, via email to Alison.

This is so musicians can be found to workshop your piece, or the right equipment is present to hear it. It may well be that we already have players in the class, or they may need to be asked to join us. It may be that we have the equipment, or we may need to source it, or ask you to bring yours. Advance notice of the piece will ensure we can give it some time in the workshop.

If there are no ideas of yours being played you will still learn from others’ ideas. There will ALWAYS be ideas to hear. This is a workshop for ALL creative musicians: singer/songwriter composers; composers who use traditional notation; studio composers who compose audio scores (eg to/for image). Even just a place to hang out with other creative musicians.

We acknowledge the traditional Custodians of this Land, where the Aboriginal People have performed age-old ceremonies of storytelling, music, dance and celebration. As a traditional meeting place, many first nations peoples came to this region. Underneath our buildings and roads this Land always will be traditional Aboriginal Land. in the same way, all music making genres and practices come from our musical elders, so we acknowledge those on whose skills and wisdom we draw.