Scott Rickard set out to engineer the ugliest possible piece of music, devoid of repetition, using a mathematical concept known as the Costas Array. In this surprisingly entertaining talk, he shares the math behind musical beauty ... and...

You may have read headlines suggesting that if you have allergies, you might be at greater risk of developing mental illness. But don't panic just yet. Hank unpacks these findings on this week's SciShow News.

Howcast - Learn how to use a rhythm motif in a solo with this keyboard tutorial from Howcast.

Howcast - Learn how to use a motif in a solo with this keyboard tutorial from Howcast.

We’ve covered a variety of tracking tips in our tutorials so far with Skunk Anansie guitarist Ace, but here, the ACM tutor has delved into the world of tactics for making your guitar melody stand out.



Here, Ace tells you his...

Pupil outcome: I can identify and explain how Hillary Clinton uses a motif in her speech about women’s rights. Key learning points: - A motif is a repeated idea within a piece of writing, that has symbolic significance. - Motifs give the...

Pupil outcome: I can describe how 'The Twisted Tree' follows the conventions of a Gothic text. Key learning points: - The Gothic genre is characterised by the use of desolate, remote settings and macabre, mysterious or violent incidents....

Pupil outcome: I can identify and analyse the motifs in the play 'Othello'. Key learning points: - Motif analysis should address both the overall purpose of the motif and the meaning of individual examples. - The motif of plants and...

Pupil outcome: I can explore Ian Beck’s use of symbolism and motif in his short story, 'Propping Up The Line'. Key learning points: - Writers use symbols and motifs to present key themes. - Beck uses the symbol of the canary to explore...

Pupil outcome: I can write about the structure of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ and how it links to key themes in the novella. Key learning points: - The power of human curiosity is key theme shown through the detective form and final narratives of...

Pupil outcome: I can explain Stevenson’s purpose in linking setting to characters in ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. Key learning points: - Stevenson uses times of day to convey his ideas about secrecy and truth. - The motif...

Pupil outcome: I can write the opening to an impactful narrative. Key learning points: - To create atmosphere, you might use similes, dialogue and motifs. - To avoid clichés, you might think about how you can add extra detail and sensory...

Pupil outcome: I can explore and analyse the motif of blood in 'Macbeth'. Key learning points: - Blood is a motif that is associated with guilt in 'Macbeth'. - Initially, both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's reference to blood reflects their...

Pupil outcome: I can emulate Brontë's use of motifs within my own writing. Key learning points: - Arguably, Brontë conveys the concept of exclusion through the descriptions of the windows in 'Wuthering Heights'. - Brontë uses the...

Pupil outcome: I can explain how Stevenson uses liminality in Chapter 7. Key learning points: - Twilight marks the transition between day and night; it is a liminal time. - Windows are often important symbols or liminal spaces in gothic...

Pupil outcome: I can explain and analyse Brontë’s use of the window motif in 'Wuthering Heights'. Key learning points: - Brontë uses a window motif throughout 'Wuthering Heights'. - Windows are a threshold space that might represent...

In this video, you will learn to create the landscape of the world being built. The video covers several key aspects of creating the land, including choosing the type of terrain, creating the physical features of the world, and...

Ever since the advent of the smartphone we’ve seen a rapid uptick in the influence of technology over our everyday lives. But Ray Bradbury predicted this, all the way back in the 1950s! In The Pedestrian, Bradbury projects his mind...

Learn all about the motif, what they are, famous examples and how to write your own. One way in which music is written is for it to be based on a motif or combination of motifs. So what is a motif and how would a composer work with a...

How to come up with a motif. Motifs need a musical identity, which is created through melodic design, rhythmic character, and articulation. All the notes within the motif need to be either harmony notes or inessential notes. The process...

Discover how Dobson uses the image of a workman on a hill to explore the experience of enduring life’s challenges.

It’s the end of a long day for a workman, trudging home at sunset. He pauses at the top of a hill to light his...

We continue our "Building Music" series, looking at how composers construct music. Today we look at how motifs, phrases, and periods can be used to construct themes. Music Examples: Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 Haydn - Emperor...

Pianist Stephen Hough shows us how the main motives in Liszt's Sonata are transformed throughout the piece.

Today we begin a series called "Building Music" looking at how composers construct music starting with the smallest element: The Motif. Music Examples Used: Beethoven - 5th Symphony, Movement 1 Brahms - Wiegenlieder, Op. 49, No. 4 Ravel...