BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
13356 / 18210 · Workshop 104 — Writing Strong Original Melodies: Motif, Contour, Repetition, Tension, Climax, and How to Make a New Tune Feel Inevitable Instead of Random← prev⊞ allnext →

104.178Conceptual study from “Mack the Knife”

Without reproducing its copyrighted melody:

study the abstract principle of a tune that remains recognizable through repeated choruses while orchestration escalates.

Compose your own melody that:

  • has strong rhythmic identity
  • tolerates repeated statements
  • leaves room for arrangement development
  • contains clear cadential landmarks

A melody intended for repeated variation should not already be maximally dense.