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Monday
Monday
Monday
5 January 2026 - 23 March 2026 ( 22 hours, 11 weeks )
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre
Composition Workshop B is a course that will enable students to build pieces of music through a mixture of taught techniques and utilisation of students' own musical ideas. Students will be given frameworks and suggestions in which to write pieces and there will be continuous tutor feedback and class discussion of the works as they build up. Performances of pieces may happen in class, or by Morley groups that students write for. There will be a workshop of works in progress and an in-class performance at the end of the term that could be recorded. This is a course for composers and music-makers of all kinds. Most composers in the group use western notation to compose but feel free to join the course if you use text scores, improvisation or computer technologies as part of your practice. You do not have to have done Composition Workshop A to attend this class.
Classes will mix the analysis of existing repertoire with feedback on the development of student pieces in a roughly 30/70 ratio. Students will be guided on the rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, formal, conceptual and contextual aspects of their work in order to produce a piece suitable for consideration by performers.
A solid theoretical background (ABRSM 6 or equivalent), fluent reading and writing of standard music notation is ideal but not essential. The ability to perform on an instrument/voice in any idiom is ideal but not essential. The ability to use notation and composition softwares (Sibelius, Logic, Max/MSP, Reaper, Ableton, Audacity) is very positive but not essential.
Time will need to be spent out of class in inventing and developing musical idea to make pieces. You will need to complete homework on a weekly basis. Achievement on your course will be measured by whether you meet the following learning outcomes. At the start of the course you will have an opportunity to discuss these with your tutor and set your own personal targets, linked to the learning outcomes and future goals. Excellent attendance and punctuality is required from all students. This course requires study/completion of activities outside of class time.
Notebook, manuscript paper, data stick. During the first session, you will receive guidance from your tutor about how to access the online course material, such as recordings and sheet music.
