Year 9 - Music
Developing a sample-based composition
Approaches to contemporary composition
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils are introduced to contemporary compositional approaches and techniques. They learn about a range of current contemporary music and the differences in approach of how this is structured and put together from earlier classical style music and current popular music.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to combine pitched and unpitched samples in a composition.
Key Notes
- Pitched sounds, such as musical notes, vocals or buzzing machines can be sampled.
- These can create unique timbres and textures, particularly when they are altered and recombined.
- We can alter them in many ways, including changing the pitch and adding effects.
- By experimenting with different patterns of pitched samples, we can create unique hooks and riffs.
Vocabulary To Learn
- sample: a clip of pre-existing music or sound
- pitched sound: sound that has a clear pitch (e.g. a note)
- hook: a memorable, repeated musical idea
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Only musical instruments (and voices) produce pitched sound.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Pitched sounds, such as musical notes, vocals or buzzing machines can be sampled. These can create unique timbres and textures, particularly when they are altered and recombined.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'sample'
a clip of pre-existing music or sound.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Only musical instruments (and voices) produce pitched sound. Correction: Pitched sounds are everywhere. In fact, most sounds have a pitch, it is often just hard to hear it. You can probably hear a pitched sound now if you listen closely - electrical buzzing, distant speech, weather or animals all produce subtle pitches.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Music guide library.