First Compositions

[fuel925]

I am a grade 8 pianist, and i'm interested in composing some small (half, 1 page) easy pieces for solo piano. This will be for my own pleasure, I don't want to be the next Chopin . Having never composed before, or had any lessons in composition, i'd like some tips on how to achieve my aim. I'd assume my first step would be to choose a key in which to compose the piece, and a time signature. Once I have decided this, would it be better to compose the melody first, and then the accompanying left hand? Are there any golden rules I should know? Any help whatsoever would be good, thanks

[danny elfboy]

I am a grade 8 pianist, and i'm interested in composing some small (half, 1 page) easy pieces for solo piano. This will be for my own pleasure, I don't want to be the next Chopin . Having never composed before, or had any lessons in composition, i'd like some tips on how to achieve my aim. I'd assume my first step would be to choose a key in which to compose the piece, and a time signature. Once I have decided this, would it be better to compose the melody first, and then the accompanying left hand? Are there any golden rules I should know? Any help whatsoever would be good, thanks

Compose your piano pieces as if you were writing for voices with the difference that instead of four staves you have a grandstaff. Melody and accompainment are not separate parts but interdependent harmonical progressions. You should start with a bass foundation and then harmony the bass and the move from there

[gruffalo]

why dont you try to compose something on a technical idea that you have trouble with? my first composition was on a technical trouble that i had, but one on the set of 5 notes that Chopin taught his students in his first lesson that it is the most natural position a hand can sit on the keyboard. although he may not have meant for pianists to start moving around these notes fast, i just found it allowed me to become more friendly with the piano and after that i just wrote more small pieces that expanded on and practised positions and movements that i found difficult on the piano and i added flavour and nice stuff to it. then i composed more, and more and more. and more.

[nightingale11]

Have a look at the composition book by william rosso mentioned in the link

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3034.msg26512.html#msg26512
(best theory books)

[rc]

You can take any approach you can dream up, it's the creative process.  I like gruffalo's idea of using technical challenges, that serves a double purpose.

Another idea would be to imitate your favorite composers.

Also, improvisation would be a useful skill to cultivate, which would provide you with a source of raw material you could put to form (improvise until you come up with something you'd like to keep, develop it, write it down and go from there).

Here's a site on composition you might find useful: https://www.musique.umontreal.ca/personnel/Belkin/bk/

A site on species counterpoint: https://www.listeningarts.com/music/general_theory/species/menu.htm

[keyofc]

Are you going to have words?
Or music alone?