Composing with Music Theory
The Composer's LifePlay episode
Show notes
Music theory often gets treated like something separate from composing — as if you learn it first, and then apply it later. But in reality, most composers use theory in a much more fluid way, often without even thinking about it consciously.
In this episode of The Composer’s Life, I talk about how music theory actually shows up in the composing process, and how it can support ideas rather than restrict them.
Instead of thinking of theory as rules to follow, this is about using it as a way to understand what you’re hearing and guide your creative decisions when you write music. It’s less about knowing everything, and more about recognizing what’s already happening in your music as you compose.
The book Fundamentals of Musical Composition by Arnold Schoenberg is referenced along with the following pieces:
Symphony No. 5, 3rd Movement by Beethoven
Skylark by Glinka
Marriage of Figaro (Ouverture) K. 492 by Mozart
Drum loop samples were used from Dale, YouTube channel dalesnale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm0hN3Z5Jxc
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