Music Matters
Name the Composer Quiz! #24 Do you know your classical composers
How well do you know your classical composers? Find out with our name the composer quiz! We present ten facts about a random composer, see if you can guess the correct answer by the end of the video.
Music Matters
How to Use Diminished 7th Chords - Music Composition
How to use diminished 7th chords. This music composition lesson explains how to construct a diminished 7th chord and how to key reference it, clearing up various common misunderstandings on the way. We explore the diminished 7th chord in...
Two Minute Music Theory
The Magic Hidden in the Harry Potter Theme (Score Study)
Introducing a step-by-step guide to music analysis. Complete with helpful questions, and exercises to guide you through the wide world of studying scores.
Music Matters
How to Harmonize a Melody in a Minor Key - Music Theory
This music theory lesson teaches you how to harmonize a melody with chords in a minor key on the piano. The video focuses on how to choose the most effective chords for the given melody and also investigates the particular challenges of...
Music Matters
How to Resolve a Dominant 7th Chord - Music Composition
How to use diminished 7th chords. This music composition lesson explains how to construct a diminished 7th chord and how to key reference it, clearing up various common misunderstandings on the way. We explore the diminished 7th chord in...
Music Matters
The Most Effective Way to Transpose Music - Music Theory
Musicians often need to transpose music from one key to another, in order to accommodate transposing instruments or to realign music in a key to suit singers, for example. Some people need to understand the theory behind writing out a...
Music Matters
How to use Neapolitan Chords in Major Keys - Music Composition
How do you use Neapolitan chords? How does a Neapolitan sixth chord resolve? What are the best approach chords to use before a Neapolitan? This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Neapolitan chords...
Music Matters
Combining Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales - Inside the Mind of Bach
How do you know when to use the harmonic or the melodic minor scale? Let's take a look at how Bach combines them in one of his chorale harmonization. We examine the choice of harmony and modulation, the part writing, the use of accented...
Music Matters
True or False Quiz - Music Theory
Test your knowledge by answering true or false to these random musical questions and see how many you can get right. This light-hearted musical quiz poses 10 questions covering a range of musical issues. Some of the questions are theory...
Music Matters
Using Sequence when Composing Music - Music Composition
How to use sequence as a compositional tool to expand a musical idea. This music composition begins with a simple four note idea. It then shows you how to build these four notes into a 16 bar piece using melodic and harmonic sequence....
Music Matters
How to use Neapolitan Chords in Minor Keys - Music Composition
How do you use Neapolitan chords in? How does a Neapolitan sixth chord resolve? What are the best approach chords to use before a Neapolitan? This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Neapolitan...
Music Matters
Modulation using the Neapolitan Chord - Music Theory
Learn how to modulate using the Neapolitan chord, a more advanced modulation technique that allows you to move keys quite dramatically. In this music theory lesson we explain how to use the Neapolitan Chord as a means of modulating to a...
Music Matters
Classical Style - Composing for the Piano
In this episode of composing for the piano we talk about writing in a classical style. We take the music matters theme and arrange it into a classical style, discussing music composition techniques and tips when composing for the piano...
Music Matters
How to Realize Simple Figured Bass - Music Theory
How to realize and read diatonic chords in figured bass and how to play a short passage from a figured bass. This music theory lesson explains the figured bass system in relation to all the diatonic chords in root position, first...
Music Matters
Why Should You Practice Scales & Arpeggios?
Learning and practising scales and arpeggios can seem like a waste of time to many students. In this video, we explore the why spending time practising scales and arpeggios can really help improve your playing technique. “Oh no, not...
Music Matters
How Motifs are Used in Baroque Style - Music Composition
This music composition lesson unpacks Bach’s Sinfonia in B minor, drawing attention to the three motifs used to compose this piece. The three motifs are unpacked and we explore both the differences and the common ground between them. We...
Music Matters
Escape Notes (Non-Harmonic Tones) - Music Theory
This music theory lesson explains escape notes, what they are and how to use them. When it comes to inessential notes many musicians understand passing notes, understand auxiliary notes, and are happy about anticipatory notes. But what...
Music Matters
How to use Augmented 6th Chord in Major Keys - Music Composition
Learn how do to construct and use augmented 6th chords in major keys. This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Augmented 6th chords and the best ways to resolve them. After explaining how to form...
Music Matters
10,000 Hours to Master the Piano? - Music Performance
Does it really take 10,000 hours to master the piano? This music performance lesson explores the theory that 10,000 hours is what is needed to produce a great pianist. The idea comes from Malcolm Gladwell, that it takes about 10000 hours...
Music Matters
Can You Name the Key of this Piece of Music? - Music Theory
Can you name the key this piece of music is in? This music theory lesson explains how to look at a short extract of music and figure out the key without hearing it. This types of exercises are often met in theory exams, where you are...
Music Matters
Twelve Tone Technique - Music Composition
How does serialism work? We look at writing a piece of music using the twelve tone technique, creating a note row, exploring different ways to treat it and explore the fundamentals of the 12 note Serial technique devised and adopted by...
Music Matters
How to Build Major and Minor Chords - Music Theory
Learn how to build and recognise major and minor chords. This music theory lesson teaches you how to construct major and minor chords above any given note. Two techniques are explained, one based on intervals and the other based on...
Music Matters
Writing BAD Four-Part Harmony?! - Music Composition
Writing bad four part harmony?! Lots of people manage part of the journey with four-part harmony then get stuck or struggle to develop an outcome that is musically satisfying. This music composition lesson starts with a piece of...
Music Matters
An Introduction to Bach's Prelude & Fugue in F# Minor (BWV859)
An introduction to the 48 Preludes & Fugues and Bach's Prelude & Fugue in F# Minor (BWV859). This music analysis video provides a simple examination of the work. Through this study one begins to understand the structure and musical...