On Teaching Harmony, Counterpoint, Orchestration, and Composition The standard training for a composer normally includes courses in harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration. But too often students are left with questions about whether, or how, learning these disciplines can help them as composers. Harmony and counterpoint taught as historical studies – harmony of the classical period, […]
Simulation IMPROVING ORCHESTRAL SIMULATION THROUGH MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE Introduction Computer simulation of the orchestra has now reached a new stage: Brute force memory and computing speed are now adequate for high quality work. However, as the quality, variety and size of available sample libraries increase, the main limitations have become musical: lack of […]
At the start of 2017 I began putting up an online course in modern harmony on YouTube. This course is an updated version of one I taught at Université de Montreal for many years. Here is the course plan. Part I Outgrowths of traditional voice leading: linear harmony Modes and scales, tonality and […]
Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow: Lessons for Composers I am a composer and a teacher. Like most composers, I want to communicate strongly with my listeners. And like most composition teachers, I want to give my students the tools to do the same. Throughout my career, I have found that these tools do not have […]