William Hay » noteflight

Sea Idylls Composition Project 2012

Will Hay — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:27:18 +0000

The composition project this term has a nautical theme. Students must compose a backing track to the associated video which is 1 minute and 21 seconds in length. A template score has been provided in Noteflight which already has the correct number of empty bars laid out for each section. Providing the tempo remains unchanged and the number and position of bars are left as they are then notes input onto this score should fit in with the video.

The piece must be in rondo form, taking as the three themes, the poetic ideas of “Waves”, “Pebbles & Shells” and “Lighhouses”. The closing date for completion of the project is 24th March, 2012 which is a week before the next concert.

(Please note that at this stage it is not possible to hear the notes composed AND playback the video within noteflight, it has to be one or the other. If you open the video in a seperate browser window to the one in which you are running noteflight then it is almost possible to synchronise the two!)

Students taking piano and keyboard lessons in school will have been organised into groups to work on this project in their own time with tutorial guidance during lessons.

More information about the project along with links to some more sample scores have been posted on my noteflight forum

Autumn Leaves Composition Project

Will Hay — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:30:53 +0000

Over the next half term I am running a composition project in which all my students are entitled to take part.

The composition entitled “Autumn Leaves” must fit with the video and could take the form of a backing track or a song. There is a score of the appropriate length already set up on my noteflight studio with the associated video.

The composition does not necessarily have to be realised in notational form within noteflight however it must be able to be performed in synchronisation with the video.

It must be in ternary form, having two contrasting themes (prompted on the video template by the Autumn Leaf and the three trees).

It must be completed and submitted by December 1st. The winning composition(s) will be shown/performed at the next concert on Saturday 3rd December, 11am at All Saint’s Church, Hoole.

An example score with synchronised video by A. Student is shown below:

“Share one, Comment two” week

Will Hay — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 07:49:20 +0000

Now that the pressure of exams is relaxing for many students I am encouraging everybody to explore composing more. The Noteflight Studio is such a powerful tool and I would ask all my students to share at least one of their compositions (enabling commenting) even if it is still a work in progress.

Browsing the scores which other students have shared is a good way to get ideas of what might be possible in your own compositions. Try to add useful comments as this aids your own critical thinking as well as helping the person whose score you have just viewed, even if it’s only just “dropping by” and telling them that you enjoyed listening to it.

The new features in version 2.5 including MIDI input and video/audio sync really add value to the resource. See the example below from the last concert.

Tickertape

Thankyou card from Kampala Music School

Will Hay — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:02:42 +0000

I received a lovely card through the post today from Fiona Carr of Friends of Kampala Music School acknowledging receipt of the £300 raised for Betina’s lessons last year. The concerts actually raised £430 but I have kept the surplus aside to provide any other disbursements Betina may need in the course of her lessons (exams, music etc).

Fiona requested that I might share the card with my students, so with thanks to Oliver who created the backing track on Noteflight, please see below the embedded video presentation of the delightful Ugandan craft card!

Duet arrangements for beginners

Will Hay — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:44:32 +0000

It is often the case with piano duets that one part is much harder than the other. Younger beginners deserve the opportunity to collaborate with their peers at the piano. The four arrangements below, kindly input into noteflight by Becky , are pieces from Tunes for Ten Fingers. Both parts should be suitable for those who have recently worked through this book or are currently studying from it. As they are embedded noteflight scores this allows the pianist the chance to practise either part and get the duet effect even if their duet partner is not present. You may print a copy of the scores for practise at the piano by clicking on the embedded printer icon.