Study Guides

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Lesson Summary

You will learn to experiment with timbre and colour to create a short composition.

Key Notes

• When writing for instruments music has to be playable and maximise the unique characteristics of the instrument.
• Range, intervals and how the instrument can be played is important in idiomatic writing for an instrument.
• Some instruments can change timbre i.e. strings can play bowed or pizzicato.
• Timbre can also be changed for expressive purposes, including using vibrato.
• Creative use of timbre can add interest and variety to compositions.

Vocabulary To Learn

• timbre: Timbre is the distinctive sound of an instrument or voice. This might also be referred to as sonority.
• idiomatic writing: Idiomatic writing is composing for an instrument (acoustic or electronic) or voice that makes the best use of the distinctive properties of that instrument or voice.
• vibrato: Vibrato is when the pitch fluctuates up and down very slightly to intensify the sound and add expression.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• An instrument only has one timbre.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Composing rhythmic ideas Study Guide
• Creating a musical melody Study Guide
• Creative chord progressions Study Guide
• Experimenting with texture Study Guide