Resources for composing and writing your own music
Getting started
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Shiva Feshareki gives advice on how to approach writing music from home
Shiva proposes some thoughtful points to consider when beginning your composition journey
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6 Ways to Unleash Your Musical Potential
We've asked some amazing composers, producers and songwriters to share their ways in unleashing their musical potential.
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How to get started with a composition
Don't know where to start with writing your own music? Here's some top tips from some amazing composers on how to begin writing your very own masterpiece.
Video game music writing
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Composing music for video games
Explore different elements of video game music and make your own
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Sound of Gaming: The secret tricks of video game composers
Composer Winifred Phillips joins Jessica Curry to unpick how to write video game music
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How to compose music for video games
Eimear Noone explains how she started composing for video games, what she loves about it, and what she hopes for the future
Film and TV music writing
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Compose your own film music - with Hans Zimmer and Ten Pieces
Find out how to make music for an animation.
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Discovering Music: Composing for the Silver Screen
Charles Hazlewood and Debbie Wiseman on composing for the cinema.
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Segun Akinola - Composer Q+A
Thirteen questions to the brilliant composer - Segun Akinola to get an insight into the music of Doctor Who.
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Sound of Cinema
Delve into and explore the many sounds of cinema - it could inspire your next composition!
Creating Hip Hop, RnB & Dancehall music
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Hip-hop and RnB
Learn about how you create your own hip-hop music using characteristics such as rapping, samples, programmed beats and DJing
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Hip Hop, RnB & Dancehall on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Sounds
Be inspired by Hip Hop, RnB and Dancehall programmes available on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Sounds
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Sampling
Discover how DJ and singer-songwriter Moby has written popular dance music tracks which sample music from other songs.
Making music inspired by the world around you
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Composing the World Around You
We chat to top music-makers on finding inspiration, getting your music heard and dealing with writer’s block and self-doubt.
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Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending
Molly Rainford talks about why Vaughan Williams wrote for the violin and how he found inspiration in the world around him.
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Composers’ Rooms: Chris Watson
Sara Mohr-Pietsch meets sound-recordist Chris Watson in Kielder Forest, Northumberland
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Found Sounds
Music doesn’t always need to be created using instruments. Many people use found sounds to make music. Find out how you can create music using sounds from the world around you.
Useful tips
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Dynamics and articulation
Learn about how you can use dynamics and articulation to create different sounds for your composition
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Tempo, metre and rhythm
Find out about a range of ways you can use tempo, metre and rhythm to mould your music
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Sonority (timbre) and general instrument techniques
Discover some great instrument techniques and sounds that could transform your composition
Writing for viola
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Writing for ... the viola
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú National Orchestra of Wales' Laura Sinnerton answers 5 questions about the viola and gives advice on writing for the instrument.
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What is the alto clef?
If you're thinking of writing for viola and the alto clef is new to you, here is a quick guide to learning the notes.
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Composer of the week: Rebecca Clarke
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of viola player and composer Rebecca Clarke
Writing for cello
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Writing for ... the cello
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Concert Orchestra's Ben Rogerson answers 5 questions about the cello and gives advice on writing for the instrument.
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'Postcard for Magdelan' by Errollyn Wallen
Be inspired by 'Postcard for Magdalena' composed by Errollyn Wallen, performed by Miwa Rosso (cello) as part of Radio 3's Postcards from Composers
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Composers' Rooms: Errollyn Wallen
Sara Mohr-Pietsch visits Errollyn's composing studio in Trinity Laban Conservatoire
Vocal writing
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Writing for ... mezzo soprano
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Singers' Ellie Minney answers 5 questions about being a mezzo soprao and gives advice on writing for the voice type..
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How to write a song
Learn about the building blocks of a song
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Sonority - voices
Find out more about voices and their timbre or sonority (the colour, character or quality of sound it produces).
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Writing lyrics
Getting started in your own lyrics for a melody
Writing for bassoon
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Writing for ... the bassoon
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Concert Orchestra's John McDougall answers 5 questions about the bassoon and gives advice on writing for the instrument.
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Sonority - woodwind
Find out more about woodwind instruments and their timbre or sonority (the colour, character or quality of sound it produces).
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This Classical Life: Jess Gillam with … Amy Harman
Jess Gillam and bassoonist Amy Harman chat about the music they love, from Bernstein's Candide Overture to music by Vivaldi, Miles Davis and Caroline Shaw.
Writing for violin
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Writing for ... the violin
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Scottish Symphony Orchesta's Laura Samuel answers 5 questions about the violin and gives advice on writing for the instrument.
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'Veiled Light' by Daniel Kidane
Be inspired by 'Veiled Light' composed by Daniel Kidane, performed by Molly Cockburn (violin) as part of Radio 3's Postcards from Composers
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Sonority - strings
Find out more about string instruments and their timbre or sonority (the colour, character or quality of sound it produces).
Writing for percussion
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‘ocean shadows on turqoise reflection’ by Belle Chen
Be inspired by ‘ocean shadows on turqoise reflection’ composed by Belle Chen, performed by Paul Patrick (marimba) as part of Radio 3's Postcards from Composers
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Percussion, drums and beats
Find out how a beat is put together on a drum kit and how to notate for it.
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This Classical Life: Jess Gillam with... Belle Chen
Jess Gillam presents her new show, with the former Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Introducing pianist and sound artist Belle Chen
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Sonority - percussion
Find out more about percussion instruments and their timbre or sonority (the colour, character or quality of sound it produces).
From Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Sounds: Music, Radio and Podcasts to inspire you
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Music Planet
Discover the world with music. Join local experts for a sonic journey around the globe.
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This Classical Life
Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too. Music, eclectic playlists and chat, with a new guest every week.
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Composer of the week
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 3's Composer Of The Week is a guide to composers and their music.
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Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Music Introducing Mixtape
An hour of fresh new tunes from Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Music Introducing handpicked by Tom Robinson each week in the early hours of Monday morning.
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In Tune Mixtape
In Tune's Classical Music Mixtape: an imaginative, eclectic mix featuring classical favourites, lesser-known gems and a few surprises thrown in for good measure.
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Unclassified
Elizabeth Alker with music by an exciting new generation of unclassified composers and performers, breaking free of the constraints of practice rooms and concert halls.
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New Music Show
The best and latest in cutting-edge and experimental new music. Kate Molleson and Tom Service present exclusive recordings, new releases, composer interviews and features from around the UK, Europe and across the world.
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Postcards from Composers
Culture in Quarantine: new 30-second works for solo instrumentalists by UK-based composers.