Chapter Two: Swells and Phrases
Take your pitch combinations through the highs and lows of swells and phrases!
Make a new GarageBand file for this chapter (as seen in this video) and save it "Swells and Phrases".
Swells
Watch this video to hear and see what a swell (starting soft, getting louder, then getting softer) sounds/looks like!
Swells can be used to create different effect or change the mood/atmosphere. Try it!
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Choose one of your pitch combinations.
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Decide how long to play your pitch combination (e.g. 4 beats).
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Record it on this sheet. It will look something like this:
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4. Practice playing the pitch combination with a swell -
make sure everyone hits the loudest point at the same time!
5. Record playing this into your GarageBand file.
6. Repeat this with two different lengths (e.g. 2 beats and 6 beats).
7. Describe the effect of each swell.
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Extension:
Try each person swelling for different lengths.
Like this:
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Record it into GarageBand and save it if you like the effect!
Look at the piece overall - piece starts off soft, gradually builds in each section, then becomes softer again. It is like a giant swell! Keep this in mind for your composition.
Phrases
Similar to swells, phrases have high and low points. Watch this video to see some phrases in Light for the First Time.
Phrases are usually more melodic (a melody, more singable). Create some phrases to go with your pitch combinations!
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Choose one of your pitch combinations.
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While three people play one pitch, one person plays up and down the notes of the pitch combination. Play the notes with different rhythms and repeat notes. Try to make these sound like short melodies that you could sing.
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Once you find a short (5-8 notes) phrase, record it into GarageBand.
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Take turns so that each person creates a phrase and records it.
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Extension:
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Record your phrases in notation (decide what each square is worth depending on your phrase e.g. one square = one beat) on this sheet.
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Repeat steps 2-4 with different pitch combinations.
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Record it into GarageBand and save the phrases you like best!
Now that you have explored the ups and downs of swells and phrases, choose which chapter to explore next!
Make sure you explore AT LEAST two chapters, then the epilogue.
Chapter Two: Dynamics