Oonagh adds strings to our first words: Laugh no matter who you are. Laugh no matter how bazaar. Let’s laugh, let’s roar, let’s dance, let’s romance…and starts to build on the idea by adding F# and higher octaves to create some variation on our initial idea.

Ken talks about using music to create self expression! Here is a great example: one of the greatest musical geniuses who ever lived was Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827). Beethoven used to say that he wanted his music to travel ‘DIRECTLY FROM HIS HEART TO THE HEART OF THE LISTENER.’ This is a great way of thinking about the emotional power of music.

The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that there are 170,000 words used in the English language. But in music we only have 12 notes! With just these 12 notes, music can express any emotion imaginable. Music can make us happy or sad; it can make us want to dance or sit quietly; it can bring back wonderful memories which could otherwise disappear from our minds. 12 notes: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#. Music has 12 available notes, but it is not necessary to use all of them to create a catchy tune. The famous nursery rhyme Twinkle Twinkle only uses 6!  C, D, E, F, G and A: CC GG AA G- FF EE DD C.

If you are thinking of writing words as well as melody, Mary’s mind-map idea is brilliant for getting the imagination fired up. Starting with just 1 or 2 notes is also a good approach, and really thinking about what it is you’d like to express through music will help you to get motivated. Mary adds new lyrics: Laughing is great. Without laughing there‘d only be hate. You can always laugh bad things away. Average person laughs 210 times a day. Without laughter there would only be trouble. Make sure you only laugh with people in your bubble!

Starting with a firm, repetitive rhythm Mary adds chords C and A minor/notes C and A to continue building on this composition.

Exercise: think of 5 songs or instrumental pieces that effect you deeply and try to work out why they are special to you. Is it the words, melody, excitement, energy, harmonies – or some other reasons?