Composition criteria
-
Your composition is based on the graphic score you created.
-
Reinterpret your graphic score by creating new musical material that could be represented by the same symbols.
-
Shows clear organisation of musical ideas into a musical structure
-
1-2 minutes long
Step 1: Fresh Eyes
This is a 4x4 Grid, with various symbols inside.
As discussed in the course, lines going up mean the sound is getting higher, and lines going down mean the sound is getting lower.
What's left up to interpretation is by how much the sounds are getting higher and lower, the direction you're reading it, and how you play the instruments chosen.
​
Using the grid as a guidelines, create and play a short 30 second piece using either a DAW or acoustic instrument.
Here is an example of this step, on a DAW.

Step 2: Musical Ideas
Use the same process in Step 1 with your own graphic score, by seeing how else the same symbols could be played. Consider different instruments, rhythms, distances between notes, or even turning your graphic score upside down!
​
After experimenting with that, choose 2-3 main musical ideas. The shorter and simpler the ideas, the better.
'Play' the graphic score using the new musical ideas that you have allocated to the symbols.
Here is an example using the graphic score example from Part 2.
In this example, the score was flipped upside down, changing the melodic material and instrumental roles.
Step 3: Beginning, Middle and End
Expand your composition into a full 1-2 minute piece, using the scaffold.
-
Is your new reinterpretation sounding like a beginning, a middle, or the end of the piece?
-
How will you lead into this, or build on from this, or move away?
-
When will certain musical ideas enter and leave?
You can still use your graphic score to give you ideas for musical material, but try to stick to the 2-3 musical ideas.