Creating Medleys
Found in: Curriculum, Foundation Songs
Sheri R., California
I am very interested for myself and my students to create medleys.
Inspired by Laurie Richards amazing SM Levels 1 through 4 medley.
I’m wondering if there are special things to know besides what I already
know.
What I already know is that one can play the 5th of the next key as a
transition (don’t know if that works just going to very next key or
switching to any key as haven’t tried yet.)
Also, you can leave out the last note of a song and use the second to
last note as the first note of the next song if it’s the same note.
Are there general rules? Can any song in any key be placed in any random
order or does it sound better when particular rules are followed? If
rules are necessary what are they?
I haven’t listened to medleys with a very careful ear to see what the
conventions are so I’m hoping someone might be able to outline
(Laurie?!) some tips so we can explore more easily making medleys.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
My method (Level 1 – 4 medley) was not based on anything theoretical
or rule-based. I’m sure it could be done better.
One thing I looked for was a passage that was the same, or similar, in
two pieces that would make a very smooth transition. For example, in
Chester, the V going up are the same 5 white notes in the first Minuet
in G pattern, so I morphed Chester into Minuet using those notes.
Sometimes it was only one note – end of Dreams, “above” note became
the first note of Lullaby. I just kept playing around with it and
listening to the songs in my head, or on the piano, to come up with
these transitions. Since there are many songs in the key of C, they
are fairly easy to string together.
I had to reorganize the order several times before I got them all in.
I am going to attempt to get a decent recording of the medley today
and post it on Youtube. I’ve never posted on Youtube, but I’m
assuming it’s not too difficult? I will post it here when I get it
all done, along with my notes, which hopefully aren’t too cryptic!
Original discussion started November 27, 2009