Week 3. Time to get Competitive: Composition Competition

Learning Goals

4.01 Know that the study of music is concerned with musical expression and communication

4.02 Know the uses of the elements of music

4.10 Be able to create or compose short pieces within specified parameters

4.12 Be able to make judgments about pieces of music, showing understanding, appreciation, respect

and enjoyment as appropriate

4.14 Be able to improvise, extend or create music to express emotion, ideas, creativity and

imagination

4.15 Be able to perform as part of an ensemble and contribute to the overall experience of the collaboration


In the previous task, we looked at music for news and current affairs programmes, and how we associate certain musical elements with ideas such as vigour and energy, being up to date, being involved in the action, excitement, etc. Understanding how these musical

elements work is essential if a composer is to be truly entrepreneurial.


In this activity, you will look at further examples of music composed for a commercial enterprise, namely music in advertising. Explore how composers can use music to reflect ideas, conjure moods and therefore help potential customers feel positive about a product.


  1. Analyse the musical aspects of effective adverts. Once you know what is effective and what works best see if you can:
  2. Compose your own music for a radio advert.


Class Activity.

The following are car advertisements have no spoken words. They rely wholly on images and music to get their ideas across. Watch these advertisements and see if you can work out the qualities that are suggested by the music: