Leaving Cert Music Composing Guidelines Notes

Here are some of my notes that I have made to guide us students through the composing section of the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Music paper.


Music - Leaving Certificate – Composing Paper
Section B: Question 4, composing melody and bass notes from a set of chords.

• Input the notes of the chords into the chord-bank grid in the correct key of the
piece.
• Don't forget to add #/b (sharp/flat) and add the 7th to the dominant (V7).
• Study the music thats given first.
• Try to pick out any musical features or musical styles before you start.
• Using the chords given, compose melody notes and a bass to complete the
piece in the given style.
• C = C in the bass, C/E = E in the bass, C/G = G in the bass, C7 = C in the bass,
C7/E = E in the bass, C7/G = G in the bass, C7/Bb = Bb in the bass.
• If C/E or another inversion is in a major chord, don't use the 3rd (E) twice, don't
put the E in the bass and the melody.
• The bass and the melody have to be melodic and strong as a melodic line.
• Finish the piece on a long note in the tonic (note of the chord, e.g. C Major,
finish on C) in the melody and the bass.
• Fill in the bass notes first.
• Be sure that the rhythm is correct and that the bass notes are correct, with the
alignment included, written neatly and clearly.
• Think about the examiner correcting your work, it has to be easy to read.
• If the examiner finds your work difficult to read or play, marks will be lost and
your not showing respect for your work, be proud of your work!
• Avoid and don't include a 7th leap/jump or a descending 4th. Move in steps for
most of the piece, an 8ve (octave) leap is much better.
• Identify the cadences at the and of every 4 bars, how to deal with them and
maybe use a long or repeated note here.
• Be sure that there is continuity in bars 4-5, 8-9 and 12-13 especially.
• Make sure to develop the beginning and develop motifs and figures.
• Use auxiliary notes to move the melody along smoothly and to give it a better
structure.
• Try to add a sequence to the melody and to develop it, maybe in bars 9-12.
• Don't add a syncopated rhythm unless its part of the given style.
• Don't put a quaver before a dotted crochet. Be careful with the metre.
• Be sure that there is a wide range of notes throughout the piece.
• Try not to use the same notes over and over again.
• Be careful and don't forget to use the #7 in a minor key, you have to input it as
an accidental every time that its used.
• Use the #6 and #7 when the music continues to the tonic.
• The two lines have to be interesting, melodic and different from each other.
• Add contrast to the piece by using contrary motion, inversions and sequences