i've written many pieces but i'm not sure if they're any good. my father went to college for music but i don't think i should show him my work yet. i would be so happy if someone listens to one of my midi files and gives me critical feedback
love.peace.music
I would prefer to see sheet music than midi, because it would tell me a lot more. Midi doesn't tell me information on dynamics or articulation, which should be integral parts of the composition process.
Things I like: 1) Chord progressions in both major and minor work well. There are no chords that seem out of place. 2) Melodies incorporate a good mix of leaps and step-wise progressions. 3) Good use of rhythmic moments (I especially like "Pain"). 4) You play with moving figures between voices. Really good job!
Things you might want to play with: 1) Your pieces seem to have a single continuous melodic line throughout. You have many different melodic ideas in each piece, but you tend not to finish one idea before starting the next. This can sometimes be very effective to create momentum into a new section. However, it losses interest if it is always done. Try making a larger event out of your cadences. This will allow you to build tension that can be later released, and give a more effective tonal trajectory in the piece (which if the larger harmonic form, which creates a more unified piece). It will also allow you to use techniques such as suspensions, tempo alterations, dynamic sensitivity, pivot modulations, and, my favorite, dissonance!
2) You have started to play with rhythm. I like this, do it more! Put more syncropation into the core of your melody, it provides contrasts as much as the notes you write. Add different measures into your piece. Try writing 7/4 Lento for 32 bars. When in 6/8 try adding a single bar of 3/8, 5/8, or 3/4 in the middle of a phrase. Add a quarter-note, drop an eight-note, switch to half/double time, or change from duple to triple metre. Do the unexpected, it's more interesting. Playing with rhythm will yeild melodic ideas you wouldn't have thought of otherwise; it makes you find solutions to new musical ideas. My favorite is rhythmic modulation (eg. take the dotted quarter note and making it the quarter note in a new section, or make the triplet the eighth-note).
3) One of the most powerful rhythmic and melodic ideas is silence. It needs to have the same level of thought as the notes you write. It should always have a purpose, and never be accidental. It is also represented worst through midi instruments :P (which operate on an on/off basis)
"Pain" for clarinet ensemble was probably my favorite. I really liked the bars of 32nd notes. I was hoping you would reuse these moments, and expand them each time they were presented. I also think that the parts interact the best in this piece. I would love to see what your thought on dynamics for it are, it has so much room for more
Like I say, my opinion might be different if I saw a real score (or live recording) instead of midi. I think you should definitely show these to your father. Having an experianced musician to talk with is probably the greatest resource you can have, and your pieces are definitely worth listening to. These are great compositions, keep on writting!
thank you so much for your advice i will be using it in my future writing. i'm sorry about the midi filies it's the only thing i have lol hopefully soon i'll find a program to put it on paper once again thank you so much
Finale Pro, NoteAbility (so cool!), and Illustrator for every thing those can't do. Unfortunately these all cost quite a lot, even with a student discount.
I suggest either you torrent finale or sibelius (you're a student so you don't have to feel bad about not paying :P) or try freeware: http://www.forte-notation.eu/en/index.htm, I've never tried it so I don't know if it's good or not, but it's something.
@notedude
Is there something specific you don't understand? I'd be happy to try to explain further. If you're interested in music composition I'd suggest looking at the Music Theory page on 8note, it's very well put together and is a good overview of music rudiments.
Is there stuff like that for the guitar O_o I suck at piano with music theory and guitar...
Well yeah bit tricky to understand with guitar. Well I know what the words mean but for some reason I go WHAT THE HECK!!!!
(Please note I am Ten O_o)
But there is one thing on my mind Im wondering about.
What is notes in first,second,third,and so on mean???
C D E F G A B, their associated numbers are
1(tonic), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, the chords associated are
I ii iv IV V vi vii(dim), uppercase are major / lowercase are minor
if we take a C major triad (tonic, major 3rd, perfect 5th) we get:
C E G;
1 3 5
I
this triad is in root position.
if we put it in the first inversion, the 3rd is on the bottom
E G C
3 5 8(1); the 8th interval is one octave higher than interval 1 (the tonic)
I 3/6
this chord is a I 3/6 because it has the guide tones for C major (1st, major 3rd, perfect fifth) and the intervals above the lowest notes are a 3rd (E->G) and a 6th (E-> C)
in second inversion,
G C E
5 1 3
I 4/6
this chord is a I 4/6 because it has the guide tones for C major (1st, major 3rd, perfect fifth) and the intervals above the lowest notes are a 4th (G->C) and a 6th (G->E)
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