What are Secret Composer's "Create Your Own" guides?

Once you've reached a reasonable comfort zone within one of the Composition Moods topics, it's time to create your own piece of music. Each Create Your Own guide provides you with a point of departure for your own unique work of art (or commerce). Cast off with a Create Your Own set of step-by-step instructions and then abandon it as soon as you feel ready to steer yourself through the remainder of your composition without our guidance.

Checklist

Make sure to have these items on hand before you commence your composition:

• Pencil (at the risk of stating the obvious).

• Manuscript paper. If you don't already have manuscript paper, you can click the Manuscript Paper links button at the top or bottom of the Create Your Own guide and then print out several sheets (as many as you'd like) on 8.5" x 11" paper:

• "Create Your Own" guide. If you intend to compose directly on your computer within a software program such as Finale or Digital Performer, you might want to print out the Create Your Own guide and keep it on hand for those times when it's inconvenient to switch back and forth between Secret Composer and the other program. Simply open the Create Your Own guide and then click the printer icon on your browser toolbar.

Reminders

• Click a "Fast Fact" button to get additional information regarding the current paragraph:

• Click a "Back" button to return to the previous topic:

• Click a "Further Info" button  to switch to a Secret Composer page that contains information which is relevant to the current paragraph:

• Click a "Related Topics" button to switch to a Secret Composer page that contains information which is relevant to the current Secret Composer topic:

• Click the "Review" button to jump to the location in the related Composition Mood topic that corresponds to the current paragraph:

• Click a "Theory Bit" button to see a quick on-screen movie containing information relevant to the topic at hand:

• Any time you are listening to a Secret Composer audio example, use the media bar to play, pause, stop, rewind fast forward, move to the end, or adjust the volume.

• You can also click and drag the button across the horizontal track at the top of the media bar to move forward or rewind through the current musical example.

• Any time you are viewing a Secret Professor instructional video, use the media bar to jump back to the beginning, rewind, play, pause, fast forward or jump to the end of the current instruction video.

• You can also click and drag the button across the horizontal track at the left of the media bar to move forward or rewind through the current musical example.

Return to Create Your Own Topic: