Music 1: Composing Music

I needed a course to fit around my life and OCA provides just that

Level:: 1
Credits:: 40
Length:: 12 months approx.
8hrs per week
Cost:: £595
payment options

Course Overview

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Throughout this course in musical composition, challenges to ingenuity and inventiveness will lead to an approach to music composition which has breadth. The constant questioning of contrasting means to achieve an end is an important ingredient of compositional skill. Trying a quick passage slowly, a loud passage softly, or changing the instrument playing it all – these aspects of ‘lateral thinking’ are all part of the composer’s skill. Becoming aware of this process and being able to apply it to all creative situations will, it is hoped, be the most lasting outcome. In addition, there is a wealth of practical information and demonstration designed to broaden a composer’s horizons.

The OCA expects students on its Composing Music courses to have a basic grounding in Music Theory. You will also be required to have access to a computer and have a music software package with which to compose music and listen to the playback and that is capable of accessing the Sibelius files which come with the course materials.

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About this course

Video interview with the course author Patric Standford.

Exploring rhythm
Exploring melody and scale
Rounds, descants, polyphony
Exploring counterpoint
Exploring harmony

To view a sample of this course online, click HERE or to download a PDF of the sample, click HERE.

This course aims for you to be able to:

write short pieces for untuned percussion;
compose melodic lines, add descants and explore less familiar scales;
write counterpoint more freely in two and three parts;
make some explorations with harmonic progressions.

Distance Tuition

You are allocated a tutor and receive their details in your course pack. You work from the course materials and send regular assignments to your tutor. These are returned to you with comment and advice. The course fee includes tutor feedback on your set assignments, but you can purchase feedback and comment on additional pieces of work if you wish.

Face to Face Tuition

You choose a tutor within travelling distance (call OCA on 0800 731 2116 to find your nearest tutor) and you meet them at mutually agreeable times and dates. You are entitled to an agreed number of hours tuition, typically five hours. Tutors work from their own studios or other suitable teaching space. You can find out where your nearest tutor is by contacting Academic Services on 0800 731 2116.

14 projects and five assignments. Students also maintain a listening log.

For more information on assessment, click here - Assessment and how to get qualified booklet - to download the booklet PDF.