Frank J Peter Composition, How Music Works, Improvisation

Composition & Improvisation

piano-ology-composition-and-improvisation-featured-image-by-gerd-altmann-from-pixabay Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Let’s learn to think about music-making like a composer, not like a computer…

For specific improv vocabulary in a particular genre, check out each school of music: Blues || Country || Gospel || Jazz || Pop–Rock ||

Introduction to Composition & Improvisation

  1. Why Study Composition & Improvisation?
  2. The Big Picture
  3. Theory & Practice
  4. Creativity
  5. Micro-Lessons

Composition & Improvisation Etudes

  1. Commonly-Used Major Triad Patterns
  2. Commonly-Used Minor Triad Patterns
  3. A Lesson in Tonality

Practice Tracks

A Case Study in Composition

  1. Lead Sheet
  2. What does the Lead Sheet Tell Us?
  3. Deep Melodic Analysis
  4. Form & Harmony
  5. Simple Chord Accompaniment
  6. Alberti Bass Accompaniment
  7. Change Register
  8. Change Articulation
  9. Change Tonality
  10. Shift the Melody
  11. Change the Meter
  12. Chord Tone Melody
  13. Scale Tone Melody
  14. Harmonic-Melodic Suspension
  15. Left Hand Melody
  16. Harmonize Melody in Sixths
  17. Subdivide Beat into Triplets
  18. Pedal Point
  19. Melodic Sequence
  20. Pickups
  21. Two-Handed Chord Melody
  22. Rhythmic Motives 
  23. Add an Introduction
  24. Add an Ending