Music Matters
An Introduction to Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 13 (Pathetique)
An overview of Beethoven's Pathetique Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 13. This music analysis video provides a simple examination of the work. Through this study one begins to understand the structure and musical language of a famous piece, and...
Music Matters
Reading Notes in the Alto Clef - Music Theory
How good are you at reading notes in the alto clef? You may play an instrument that never needs to use the alto clef but you might want to grasp the essentials of reading notes in the alto clef. You might play with other instrumentalists...
Music Matters
The Plagal Cadence - Music Theory
Learn all about the plagal cadence, also known as the amen cadence, which chords it uses and how it sounds. Do you want to know about the plagal cadence? What is a plagal cadence? Where would you use a plagal cadence? How can you hear a...
Music Matters
How Did Brahms Compose - Composer Insights
How did Brahms go about composing music? Let's explore part of the opening section of the Intermezzo op118 no2 by Brahms as we try to answer that very question. We explain how Brahms handles the repetition of the opening phrase, which...
Music Matters
Modulation using Diminished 7ths - Music Theory
How to use a diminished 7th chord to modulate into a different key. Diminished 7ths are usually used as a means of adding harmonic colour and tension within the prevailing key. They can also be used as a means of modulation, which is...
Music Matters
Augmented 6th Chords - Music Theory
Understand augmented 6th chords, how to identify and use them in both major and minor keys. augmented 6ths fall into a category known as chromatic chords. They add colour, variety, an element of unpredictability, and tension to music. So...
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The Best Chords to Follow Chord VII (in Minor Keys) - Music Composition
Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord VII what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...
Music Matters
How to Harmonize a Melody - Music Theory
How to easily choose chords and harmonize a melody on the piano. Have you got a melody that you want to harmonise i.e. find chords to fit with it? In this music theory lesson we take a melody and work out how to find the best chords to...
Music Matters
Rhapsodic Brahms - Composer Insights
An analysis of Pp.79 no.2 G minor Rhapsody by Brahms. It takes Brahms a considerable number of bars to establish the home key and meanwhile he travels through a range of other keys. The melodic line is explored, including the growth of...
Music Matters
Why is Ear Training and Developing Aural Skills Important?
For a musician, ear training and aural skills are absolutely fundamental to what we're about and the ability to hear what we are doing is essential. The more we can develop our Aural skills the more refined our abilities will become....
Music Matters
Late Romantic Style - Composing for the Piano
In this episode of composing for the piano we talk about writing in a late Romantic style. We take the music matters theme and arrange it into a late Romantic style, discussing music composition techniques and tips when composing for the...
Music Matters
How Did Liszt Compose: - Composer Insights
How did Franz Liszt compose and what are some of the hallmarks of his compositional style? We try to get inside the head of Liszt and unpack the first page of his monumental Sonata in B minor for piano, of 1854. We explore the shielding...
Music Matters
Antecedent and Consequent Phrases - Music Composition
How to write and compose music with antecedent and consequent phrases, particularly useful when composing melodies. This music composition lesson explains how musical phrases often come in pairs as questioning and answering phrases or as...
Music Matters
Holst's use of Impressionist Colour - Composer Insights
An insight into the orchestration and harmonic language contained within Holst’s “Venus - the bringer of peace” from his Suite ‘The Planets’. Holst makes an original and colourful combination of a Horn solo with 4 Flutes and 3 Oboes,...
Music Matters
What is Texture? - Music Theory
Musical texture explained. Texture is the word we use to describe how sound is organised. Texture might be described as high or low, depending on the pitch; as thick or thin, depending on how many notes are sounding at any one time; as...
Music Matters
What to do with a Melody? - Music Composition
Wondering what to do with a melody you've written? How could you go about turning it into a piece? In this music composition lesson we start with a melody in a minor key, then work out how best to harmonise it, considering various...
Music Matters
Alto Clef and Tenor Clef Explained - Music Theory
Learn all about the alto and tenor clef, how to draw them and how to read the notes. Instruments such as the viola read music in the alto clef. Other instruments, such as the trombone, also use the alto clef some of the time. The tenor...
Music Matters
How to Resolve a Diminished 7th Chord - Music Composition
This music composition lesson explains the issues involved in resolving a Diminished 7th chord. After explanation about constructing a Diminished 7th, about key referencing it, and about inversions of the chord, the video explores the...
Music Matters
Which Key is this Piece of Music in? - Music Theory
Just by looking at a melody can you work out which key it is in? How can you tell just by looking at the notes which key a melody is in, especially when there is no key signature? Even if you can work it out how do you know if it’s in a...
Music Matters
Modulation by Semitone Shift - Music Theory
Learn how to modulate by semitone shift, sometimes known as the truck driver's gear change modulation, this technique is often used in pop music and musicals where the piece shifts up by a semitone towards the end of the song. By...
Music Matters
Musical Note Names in the USA and UK - Music Theory
There are two conventions used across the world for naming the rhythmic values of notes. This music theory lesson explains the two systems used either side of the pond. In both systems there is an element of logic that helps to grasp how...
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Swing Rhythm Explained - Music Theory
What is swing rhythm? Some people find playing swing rhythm a little tricky. In this music theory lesson, we explain what swing rhythm sounds like, how to play swing rhythm and how to count swing rhythm. Swing rhythms appear in jazz and...
Music Matters
Balancing Textures in Music - Music Performance
How to bring musical refinement to your playing and composing by balancing textures. When we are performing, balancing textures well can add an extra dimension to our playing or singing. Performers who fail to consider the balancing of...
Music Matters
Whitney Houston's Harmonic Warmth - Composer Insights
“Saving all my love for you”, made famous by Whitney Houston when she released her cover of the single in 1985. The harmony forms the focus of this composer insights lesson, with the use of extended chords and slash chords fully...