Composing for exams

Understanding the connections between, say, the melody in a Bach chorale and the Star Wars theme is critical to music exam success, writes composer and visiting teacher David A. Stowell

Adobe Stock / Brett

I came to the point of writing this article by stumbling upon something that appeared to work. I studied composition formally and now write music for concerts, film, TV and games. I was employed by the thriving Norfolk Music Service to go into a school to support its music teacher with composition. I did things the only way I know how, but luckily this seemed to work and it had a positive impact on exam results. I now visit many schools and ‘this’ is still working, so I thought I’d write an article that may help others, showing, if anything, that we are all in the same boat.