Sound Experiments
Compose a Small Score with a Choice at the Crossroads
A score can give a performer a decision rather than one compulsory route. Try making a tiny piece whose identity survives two different paths through it.
Good sounds. Fresh ideas.
On the record
Music, Unpacked
Divide One Comfortable Pulse into Two Sounds, Then Three
Keep a slow, comfortable pulse with one hand. Between each pair of taps, try saying two evenly spaced syllables, then three. The pulse can stay steady while…
Music, Unpacked
Build a Musical Round by Entering Late and Continuing Together
An echo waits for a sound and answers it. A round adds another possibility: the second person begins the same phrase later while the first person continues.…
Sound Experiments
Compose a Tiny Piece Around Where a Sound Comes From
Two identical taps can feel different when they arrive from different places. A small spatial composition explores that change without requiring louder…
Sound Experiments
Make a Tiny Musical Ending Without Getting Quieter
An ending does not always need a fade. For a small composition exercise, keep your sounds at a comfortable, steady level and find another way to suggest…
Listening Room
Draw the Attack of a Sound, Not Just Its Pitch
Some sounds seem to arrive with a clear edge; others seem to emerge gradually. You can listen to that beginning without identifying the note or the instrument.
Music, Unpacked
A Duet Can Begin with One Person Refusing to Fill Every Gap
Two people making sounds together can quickly produce a crowded texture. A simple agreement—leave some openings unanswered—creates another possibility for a…
Sound Experiments
Turn a Spoken Name into a Rhythm Without Copying Its Pitch
A spoken name already has timing, emphasis, and pauses. Using your own name or an invented phrase, you can turn those features into a short rhythm without…