In 1989 the American musicologist Alan W. Pollack started to analyze Beatles music. He published his first results on internet. In 1991 -- after he had finished the work on 28 songs -- he bravely decided to do the whole lot of them. About ten years later, in 2000 he completed the analysis of the official Beatles' canon, consisting of 187 songs and 25 covers.
"The experience was equal parts nostalgic -- who and where was I when I first heard this music -- and mind-expanding -- in terms of noticing many levels of sophisticated detail and form that I hadn't noticed before." There are many things that one can learn from an analysis of music and there are many PDFs available on the main site devoted to different topics, theory and composers.
The task for students in this lesson is to research a particular artist's composition and talk about his/her use of elements from music theory covered in lessons 2-9. Some students may come across composition techniques like counterpoint or complex jazz progressions, but should stay clear of doing any analysis of such advanced compositions and stick to music that is within their grasp. This assignment is to be done in consultation with their instructor. The instructor may wish to offer a list of acceptable compositions that are not too advanced for the student, such as:
- Menuet in F Major (Handel)
- Saraband (Handel)
- From Me To You (Lennon & McCartney)
- And I Lover Her (Lennon & McCartney)
- Something (George Harrison)
- Satin Doll (Duke Ellington)
- Evening In Paris (Quincy Jones)
- Composition in C (Alan Colquhoun)
It should be noted that compositions 6 and 7 are Jazz compositions -- and will likely prove to be the most difficult. With respect ot music theory, most jazz compositions involve advanced music theory involving extensions and chord modifications well beyond tyhe scope of both the desktop and mobile sites. We have only skimmed the surface on what is a very detail orientated subject. These compositions should only be given to students who show high enough strengths in use of 6th, 7th and 9th chords -- in their own compositions. During the core 8 lessons (lessons 2-9), students will have been asked to play example ARC compositions, as well as create their own compositions. COMPOSERS OFTEN LEARN TO COMPOSE FROM COPYING OTHER PEOPLE'S USE OF SCALES, CHORDS AND CHORD PROGRESSIONS.
At this point in time, students should be directed back to the main site. The mobile site is mainly for use during lessons 2 - 9.
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