Music Matters
Writing Counterpoint - Combining Counterpoint with Harmony
Learn how to write and compose counterpoint combined with homophony. Counterpoint is an advanced music composition technique that involves weaving together multiple melody lines. Working in a Baroque style, this video demonstrates how...
Music Matters
Reading Chords On a Lead Sheet - Music Performance
How to read chords on a lead sheet on the piano. Many pieces of music are presented in lead sheet format i.e. where a melodic line is printed with chord symbols above. What do these symbols mean and how does one play from a lead sheet?...
Music Matters
Name the Composer Quiz! #22 Do you know your classical composers
How well do you know your classical composers? Find out with our name the composer quiz! We present ten facts about a random composer, see if you can guess the correct answer by the end of the video.
Music Matters
Name the Composer Quiz! #17 Do you know your classical composers
How well do you know your classical composers? Find out with our name the composer quiz! We present ten facts about a random composer, see if you can guess the correct answer by the end of the video.
Music Matters
How to use Augmented 6th Chord in Minor Keys - Music Composition
Learn how do to construct and use augmented 6th chords in minor keys. This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Augmented 6th chords and the best ways to resolve them. After explaining how to form...
Music Matters
The Perfect Cadence - Music Theory
Learn all about the perfect cadence, which chords it uses and how it sounds. Do you want to know what a cadence is? More specifically, do you want to know what a perfect cadence is? Would you like to play one or to write one? Would you...
Music Matters
Name the Composer Quiz! #18 Do you know your classical composers
How well do you know your classical composers? Find out with our name the composer quiz! We present ten facts about a random composer, see if you can guess the correct answer by the end of the video.
Music Matters
Name the Composer Quiz! #24 Do you know your classical composers
How well do you know your classical composers? Find out with our name the composer quiz! We present ten facts about a random composer, see if you can guess the correct answer by the end of the video.
Music Matters
How to Use Diminished 7th Chords - Music Composition
How to use diminished 7th chords. This music composition lesson explains how to construct a diminished 7th chord and how to key reference it, clearing up various common misunderstandings on the way. We explore the diminished 7th chord in...
Music Matters
How to Harmonize a Melody in a Minor Key - Music Theory
This music theory lesson teaches you how to harmonize a melody with chords in a minor key on the piano. The video focuses on how to choose the most effective chords for the given melody and also investigates the particular challenges of...
Music Matters
How to Resolve a Dominant 7th Chord - Music Composition
How to use diminished 7th chords. This music composition lesson explains how to construct a diminished 7th chord and how to key reference it, clearing up various common misunderstandings on the way. We explore the diminished 7th chord in...
Music Matters
The Most Effective Way to Transpose Music - Music Theory
Musicians often need to transpose music from one key to another, in order to accommodate transposing instruments or to realign music in a key to suit singers, for example. Some people need to understand the theory behind writing out a...
Music Matters
How to use Neapolitan Chords in Major Keys - Music Composition
How do you use Neapolitan chords? How does a Neapolitan sixth chord resolve? What are the best approach chords to use before a Neapolitan? This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Neapolitan chords...
Music Matters
Combining Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales - Inside the Mind of Bach
How do you know when to use the harmonic or the melodic minor scale? Let's take a look at how Bach combines them in one of his chorale harmonization. We examine the choice of harmony and modulation, the part writing, the use of accented...
Music Matters
True or False Quiz - Music Theory
Test your knowledge by answering true or false to these random musical questions and see how many you can get right. This light-hearted musical quiz poses 10 questions covering a range of musical issues. Some of the questions are theory...
Music Matters
How to use Neapolitan Chords in Minor Keys - Music Composition
How do you use Neapolitan chords in? How does a Neapolitan sixth chord resolve? What are the best approach chords to use before a Neapolitan? This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Neapolitan...
Music Matters
Piano for Beginners Lesson 1 - Hand Shape, Playing Position, the Keyboard & Middle C
In this video you will discover how to sit at the piano, and the layout of the piano keyboard will be explained so you know the pattern of the keys enabling you to find notes easily. The musical alphabet (A-G) is explained and you’ll...
Music Matters
Modulation using the Neapolitan Chord - Music Theory
Learn how to modulate using the Neapolitan chord, a more advanced modulation technique that allows you to move keys quite dramatically. In this music theory lesson we explain how to use the Neapolitan Chord as a means of modulating to a...
Music Matters
Classical Style - Composing for the Piano
In this episode of composing for the piano we talk about writing in a classical style. We take the music matters theme and arrange it into a classical style, discussing music composition techniques and tips when composing for the piano...
Music Matters
How to Realize Simple Figured Bass - Music Theory
How to realize and read diatonic chords in figured bass and how to play a short passage from a figured bass. This music theory lesson explains the figured bass system in relation to all the diatonic chords in root position, first...
Music Matters
Why Should You Practice Scales & Arpeggios?
Learning and practising scales and arpeggios can seem like a waste of time to many students. In this video, we explore the why spending time practising scales and arpeggios can really help improve your playing technique. “Oh no, not...
Music Matters
Escape Notes (Non-Harmonic Tones) - Music Theory
This music theory lesson explains escape notes, what they are and how to use them. When it comes to inessential notes many musicians understand passing notes, understand auxiliary notes, and are happy about anticipatory notes. But what...
Music Matters
How to use Augmented 6th Chord in Major Keys - Music Composition
Learn how do to construct and use augmented 6th chords in major keys. This music composition lesson explains the best ways to write approach chords to Augmented 6th chords and the best ways to resolve them. After explaining how to form...
Music Matters
10,000 Hours to Master the Piano? - Music Performance
Does it really take 10,000 hours to master the piano? This music performance lesson explores the theory that 10,000 hours is what is needed to produce a great pianist. The idea comes from Malcolm Gladwell, that it takes about 10000 hours...