About composing....

Hello,

I've written a book full of songs for the voice and would like to understand how I can put it together with piano music.

I admire Alicia Keys and Vanessa Carlton and their styles are both different but I like a variety of mixtures of music.

I listen to all kinds of music, and play mostly classical and pop.

I've never had a piano teacher, my parents wanted me to learn on my own and I have done good so far, but their are places where I know I could greatly improve. I have like 3 books on piano playing, but none on composing or writing. So, I wanted to know if you could tell me which books would be really helpful.

Thank you a bunch.:D

I'm sure a lot of people will back me up on this when I say, get a good teacher. Do some research, ask around at music stores, and ask your parents to shell out fifty bucks a week for lessons.

I second that; get lessons. Shop around, you can find a decent teacher for less $$, if that's an issue.

I third that. Find someone to teach you stuff...

On the other hand, until you find one: Post your pieces here. People will give you feedback and you might get ideas.

But a teacher will do you enormous good, especially if you've never had any lessons. Even 6 months lessons might open your eyes. :)

Thank you all for the advice. I understand that a teacher would help me a lot. I will speak to my parents or look for a teacher on my own.:thumbsup:

I agree with them, you should get a teacher. In the meantime though, maybe we can help you.

Do you have any knowledge on harmony? That is top priority. If you don't have knowledge about harmony, then you can't arrange any music. If you don't we can always help you of course.

if she knew harmony, would she need help on writing piano to vocals?

if she knew harmony, would she need help on writing piano to vocals?

Well, I know that my question sounds kind of stupid, but she may have learned some voice conducting basics, and basic chord analysing at school. At least here that's the first thing you are taught about harmony. At that point you know how to conduct voicings effectively or how to write and/or analize SATB voicing, but not how use harmony for comping.

she may have learned ... basic chord analysing at school.

Fat chance if she went to school in the US

Hey guys, a teacher of what? Singing? How to play the piano? We're talking about putting the accompaniment to existing melodies, not learning to play an instrument. I agree that some good basic music theory lessons would help, or talking to someone who is already competent at arranging. And some of us can do harmonies in our sleep, but still needed to learn basic music theory.

Musicgirl, the way I started writing the accompaniments was to write the vocal harmonies with the melody as mid voice, and then use those as the basis for my chords. Start with a simple chord accompaniment, and then experiment with ornamenting it. Most songs have a really simple chord structure under them. You'll get better with practice. And find someone (in your community or online) to ask for constructive advice.

Alternatively get Band in a Box, put in your melody, and let it do the arrangement. Finale PrintMusic has B in a B as an add-on.

Keep on writing:toothygrin:

I have been studying up on harmony and chords. I'm spending lots of time at the piano playing and making up sounds. I will look at finaleprint music site.

That's a good way to become familiar with the different chord structures and sounds. Also have a look at some of the basic blues and jazz chord progressions, like 12-bar blues (lots of songs use that eg by Paul Simon), 16-bar blues (eg attached) 3/6/2/5/1, Nature Boy (great minor progression), Ray Charles. Start simple and keep working at it.

Unfortunately Finale is not free, but it's a great program for wherever you are in your writing (I think it's better than others like Sybelius or Motzart).

And remember, it's GOOD not to know much, because then you're not restricted by "The Rules" and you can find the style that suits you.:toothygrin:

Cheers

Joe

I Just Didn't See You Coming.MID

I like that song, thanks. Learning very much.

Here's an interesting one. It's one of the few jazz songs that stays in a minor key all the way through (most jazz has multiple key changes so a fairly simple chord progression sound interesting), and has a really interesting chordal structure.

Nature Boy.MID

Nature Boy.pdf