Here’s the final “Capstone” composition project for the Developing Your Musicianship course.
It took me over a year to pick up the final part of this four-part course, despite so much enthusiasm to work on this “Capstone” project which was supposed to sum up what I’d learned so far. Part of the reason for the long hiatus was that at the time I wasn’t resonating with the restrictions placed on what you can write.
The end result is nothing I’d ever listen to or feel much personal connection to. It sounds more like a TV theme than anything else! But I did have some fun with the off-beat rhythm in the main section, which perhaps gives it some identity. I also really enjoyed stumbling on the surprising chord change (borrowed from the parallel minor key) just before the quieter B-section. There’s also a rhythmic change on the surprising chord - it comes a little early to heighten the surprise. If the piece ended by sustaining that surprising chord, it would definitely be reminiscent of a 1980s US TV sit-com scene transition. But maybe that’s just me.
Despite feeling a bit cold to the whole accidental TV theme which came out of this project, there was plenty of value in putting a piece of music together and recording it.