Classical Piece for AP Theory

[BassChase]

Im enrolled in AP Music Theory in school. Im a sophomore and its been a fun class.

My final project is to write a piece in the style of Beethoven, Mozart or Haydn. The piece music consist of at least two eight measure periods in binary or rounded binary form. I must make use of inversions, including 6/4 chords, in appropriate ways.

I am screwed. I have no idea how to write this style of music. HELP!

[BassChuck]

Get a lot of different recordings of the composer you pick. I reccommend Haydn, he's a little more predictable. Listen to the pieces over and over... get totally immersed in the sound especially the melody. Construct (in your head) a melody that sounds somewhat like Haydn, write it down and fill in the other parts.

Good luck. If the job seems to be too difficult, you're probably doing to many things at once. Get the melody and the form, then the bass line and harmony... then orchestrate (if that's part of the assignement.

[CamMcIntyre]

Relax man.

You're writing sounds like 16 bars. Using basic harmony. For 6/4s remember that the only 'acceptable' ones are Pedal, Passing, and Cadential.

If you are having major problems-talk to your teacher. They should be more than willing to help you out with any questions-plus they can give you information that is specific to your assignment.

[Visirale]

Haha, you had to do work after the test? I remember that class... 3 or 4 years ago now. As soon as the test was done we just watched movies. And we had a hot teacher. That was definitely a fun class. Hope your test went well.

[BassChase]

I have talked to my teacher. He just tells me to listen to the given composers and write in their style.

Writing music and being creative is no problem for me. Im the frontman in my band and I write all the music. Im just having major problems with how to approach this.

Should I start in major/minor? What about key changes? "Classical" Chord progressions?

[Visirale]

Originally Posted by BassChase

I have talked to my teacher. He just tells me to listen to the given composers and write in their style.

Writing music and being creative is no problem for me. Im the frontman in my band and I write all the music. Im just having major problems with how to approach this.

Should I start in major/minor? What about key changes? "Classical" Chord progressions?

The most classical... The "best" harmonically speaking... is

I IV vii iii vi ii V I

Obviously, vii is diminished, I just don't have a little o on the keyboard.

At least that's what my teacher always taught us.

[BassChase]

i believe i will use that progression. thanks.
how do i approach the melody?

[BassChase]

also, how do I make use of 6/4 chords? I never really understood what one was.