Welcome to the Composing and Songwriting page!

I'll be creating content for this webpage each week until schools go back so keep returning for ideas and videos to keep you making great music whilst you're stuck at home.

Before I go any further, if you haven't yet looked at the Technology page DO SO NOW! especially if you don't have Garageband on an iPad or iPhone at home. There are loads of music-making apps and websites on there for Android devices and laptop or desktop computers for you to access FOR FREE so that you can keep composing and songwriting whilst you're stuck at home. We'll also be putting How To videos up to help you get creating super-fast. Check it out...

THINGS TO DO #1 & #2

Composing with Smart Instruments in Garageband

Meanwhile, for those of you with access to Garageband, below is a video demonstration on creating a song just using Smart Instruments. Starting from nothing and ending up with a little song which might be best described as Hillbilly Disco.

Many of you have had a play around with Smart Instruments in the past but for those of you wanting to go a bit further and combine the instruments to create song backing tracks or instrumental pieces this video will show you how that can be done.

If you want to start with a quick reminder of all the Smart Instruments and how they work check out the Smart Instrument Overview video first on the Introduction to Garageband page, it's here...

Part Two

THINGS TO DO #3

Create a Sequence in Tone Pad

Tone Pad is an fun and easy App to use, with just a single sound and a 16x16 grid of buttons to select from it might seem limited but its simplicity is what makes it addictive.

Watch the How To video below, then see if you can programme your favourite tune or bass line. Going from left to right, each button is a semi-quaver long. There's 16 of them so that is just four crochet beats of music that you can create.

Remember : 1 beat = a crochet (4 crochet beats in a bar of 4/4). Split a crochet into 2 halves to make quavers (8 quavers in a bar of 4/4). Split a crochet into 4 quarters to make semi-quavers (16 semi-quavers in a bar of 4/4).

Once you've figured the grid out by recreating your favourite tunes (and no doubt writing your initials and drawing a smiley face) see if you can compose your own bar of music, using high notes, low notes, melodies and chords.