AboutClare Redfarn Expertise All aspects of the academic/theoretical side of music, including harmony, counterpoint, elementary composition, history, harmonic analysis, aural training, sightreading - the lot! Please note: I'm neither a professional composer (so I can't help with composition beyond what's required for Grade 8 theory or A'level) nor a singing teacher (so I can't answer questions about vocal technique or extending your vocal range). And don't ask me about psychoacoustics or music psychology as I have no knowledge of, or interest in, either subject.
Experience 50 years as pianist (professional soloist and accompanist); 35 years as harpsichordist (professional soloist and continuist); 10 years as violinist and 6 years as bassoonist (youth orchestras/chamber groups); 37 years as piano teacher, coach in performance/interpretation (all ages, instruments and levels) and private tutor (mainly the old O'level, Grade VI+ ABRSM theory/practical musicianship, A'level and undergraduates).
Organizations I've been a member of the Musicians' Union in Britain since 1978.
Publications I've written many programme notes and a few articles for an online magazine. During the '90s I was also a Music Assessor for London Arts and as such regularly wrote critiques of concerts given by recipients of Arts Council funding.
Education/Credentials MA in European Cultural Policy & Administration (Warwick University, 1994)
B Mus with Honours (London University, 1977)
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Administration (City University, 1982)
Licentiate of Royal Academy of Music in Piano Teaching (1976)
Licentiate of Royal Academy of Music in Harpsichord Teaching (1978)
Studied RAM Junior School (1966-74), then as full-time student (1974-78).
Question Hey - for my GCSE music composition "Music for a special event" my teacher wants me to write a section for saxophone giving it a blusey improvisation feel. I'm having so much trouble as I have no idea how to do this. I play the saxophone and improvise however I can't write what I play down and I can't use any software that will help me do this. I really really need help!
thanks
Answer Hello Holly,
Your teacher doesn't specify it has to be a 12-bar blues, but that's a good place to start because it has a fixed harmonic structure and a strong, regular 4/4 beat, and you'll find it's much easier to compose with these to help you than trying to write down a free improvisation. Melody and harmony always go together - even if you're writing a single melodic line, the underlying harmonies should always be clear to your audience. The standard harmonic structure of a 12-bar blues is I I I I IV IV I I V IV I I (major key) with one harmony per bar, so you can either stick with that or modify bits of it. You're the composer so it's entirely up to you.
Once you've decided on your harmonic structure, play through the chord sequence in whatever key you've decided your piece is in and get it firmly fixed in your head, then add your melody line. I'd keep your first draft fairly "straight" - in time with the beat and using the major scale - then once the melody starts to take shape you can play around with the rhythm (anticipating the beat or playing after it = syncopation) and throw in some blues notes by flattening the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees of the scale occasionally. As you're a saxophonist this should come naturally to you!
It's a useful discipline to compose away from the instrument - hear the music in your head, write down what you hear and then try playing it to see how accurate your internal hearing was. Bear in mind you don't have to be able to play an instrument in order to compose for it, and a common mistake people starting to compose make is to only write what they themselves are able to play, so don't be afraid to write something hard.
If you've composed your piece in your head but it's the "writing it down" part that's the problem, then here's where your theory and aural training come into play. Take it in stages - write down the note pitches first, then add the rhythm by putting in barlines, marking each beat and working out any subdivisions. You might find it useful to record yourself playing it, then you can treat the whole thing as an aural dictation exercise.
Hope this helps - get back to me if you're still stuck.
