how to write an essay on music video

How to Write a Music Essay with Examples

Writing an essay about music encourages you to think about how music influences emotions and behavior. Did you know that certain types of music can alter brain activity, influence memory, or even change how we perceive time? This kind of analysis can reveal insights that go unnoticed in everyday listening.

In this article, our custom essay writing service will walk you through the process of crafting an exceptional music essay. We've curated a list of thought-provoking topics to spark your inspiration. And to give you a clearer picture of what a stellar music essay looks like, we'll share a sample music paper.

What is Music Essay

A music essay goes beyond just describing your favorite songs or artists. It can merge analysis with personal reflection, allowing you to connect abstract musical concepts to real-world effects.

What makes an essay on music unique is its ability to dissect not just the sound but the meaning and context behind it. For instance, when analyzing a piece of classical music, you might consider how its composition reflects the political climate of the time or how it challenges traditional structures in music theory. If you're writing about a modern genre like hip-hop, you might explore its roots in social movements and how it has evolved as a voice for marginalized communities.

Related : Check our special guide on what is research essay .

Special Features of Writing About Music

Writing about music doesn't require you to be an expert in this field. The key is to listen attentively, reflect on what you hear, and share your unique insights. Like any effective paper, a strong music essay requires a clear thesis, logical structure, well-supported arguments, and polished writing. What makes essays about music distinct is the blend of specific musical analysis with imaginative language that brings the music to life.

Technical vs. Everyday Language

While technical terms can be useful for describing intricate details, they aren't always necessary. If you're not deeply familiar with musical terminology or if you're writing for a broad audience, focus on describing the music in your own words. The aim is to communicate your ideas clearly and concisely without overwhelming your readers with complex jargon.

For example, in discussing Debussy's Clair de Lune , you might say: "The melody flows gently, like moonlight shimmering on a calm lake. It's serene, yet there's a quiet intensity beneath the surface." Notice how this description uses everyday language to convey the piece's emotional atmosphere.

Metaphors can be especially powerful in illustrating the emotional impact of music. For instance, you might describe a jazz improvisation as "a spontaneous conversation between old friends, full of unexpected turns and familiar comfort." This metaphor helps readers visualize the music and grasp its underlying mood.

Well-chosen metaphors not only enhance your argument but also make your writing more engaging. However, it's important to ensure your metaphors are precise and relevant to the music you're describing. Always connect them to specific musical elements so that your readers can clearly understand your interpretation.

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How to Write a Music Essay in 7 Steps

Now, follow these 7 easy steps to understand how to write an essay about music. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to create an engaging and insightful paper.

Meanwhile, you can always leave your ' write my essay ' request to our expert writers and get a flawless music essay on any topic!

1. Listen and Note Initial Impressions

The first step in writing a music essay is to listen to the piece multiple times. Pay close attention to the music, noting your immediate feelings and reactions. What emotions do you experience? Are there any specific moments that stand out?

Here are some questions to consider:

• How does the music make you feel? Are there moments of joy, sadness, anger, or peace?
• What instruments are being used? How do their sounds contribute to the overall atmosphere?
• Is there a strong melody or rhythm? How do these elements shape the piece?
• Are there any recurring motifs or themes? What do they symbolize?

These observations will help you identify the key elements of the music and develop a deeper understanding of its meaning.

2. Analyze the Musical Elements

Once you've noted your initial impressions, analyze the various musical elements that contribute to its overall effect. Instead of simply listing the elements, try to understand how these elements work together to create a cohesive composition. For example:

• Melody and Harmony: How does the melody interact with the harmony? Does the melody follow the harmonic progression, or does it create tension and resolution?
• Rhythm and Timbre: How does the rhythm influence the timbre of the instruments? Do certain instruments accentuate the rhythmic patterns or create a sense of counterpoint?
• Form and Structure: How is the piece organized? Are there any recurring sections or themes? How does the form contribute to the overall narrative or meaning of the music?

3. Organize Observations Clearly

Afterward, organize your observations in a way that makes your essay easy to follow. Start by grouping similar ideas together. For instance, if you notice patterns in rhythm, melody, or instrumentation, keep those observations together in your essay.

Next, decide on the order in which you want to present these points. A logical progression usually works best—move from broader observations to more specific details. This structure guides your reader smoothly through your analysis, making it easier for them to understand your perspective.

Lastly, make sure each section of your essay transitions well into the next. Use connecting phrases or sentences to link your ideas so the essay reads like a continuous narrative rather than a series of disjointed points.

4. Develop a Strong Thesis

To develop a strong thesis, start by reflecting on your observations and analysis. What is the key insight or argument you want to convey?

Your thesis should be specific and debatable, not just a statement of fact. For example, instead of saying, "The music uses interesting rhythms," try something more pointed like, "The unconventional rhythmic patterns in this composition challenge traditional notions of time signature, creating a unique auditory experience that reflects the artist's innovative approach."

Make sure your thesis is focused and manageable. Throughout your essay, continually refer back to this thesis to ensure your analysis remains relevant and cohesive.

5. Add Historical Context

To add historical context, start by researching the time period and cultural background in which the music was created. Consider factors like the social, political, and musical trends of the time.

For example, if you're writing about a jazz piece from the 1920s, mention the impact of the Jazz Age on the music's style and composition. How did historical events or cultural shifts influence the artist's work?

Incorporate this context into your essay to show how the music fits into a larger narrative. Explain how historical events or cultural movements shaped the music and how it, in turn, reflects or challenges those influences.

6. Link Music to Broader Themes

Connecting the music to broader themes helps to show its relevance and significance beyond its immediate context. To do this, identify the larger ideas or issues that the music touches on. For instance, if the piece reflects themes of rebellion or innovation, explain how these themes relate to broader cultural or societal movements.

Start by examining how the music aligns with or challenges prevailing trends, beliefs, or experiences of its time. For example, if a piece explores themes of personal struggle, link it to universal experiences or social issues, such as mental health or resilience.

Additionally, consider how the music fits into larger artistic or cultural movements. Does it reflect or influence trends in its genre, or does it contribute to a broader dialogue about art and society?

7. Synthesize Into a Cohesive Narrative

To synthesize your analysis into a cohesive narrative, revisit your main points and ensure they align with your thesis.

Structure your essay so that each section flows logically into the next. Begin with an introduction that outlines your thesis and the main points you will cover. Follow this with a body where you present your observations and analysis, organized by theme or aspect of the music. Ensure each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next, maintaining a clear connection to your central argument.

In your conclusion, summarize how your analysis supports your thesis and highlight the broader significance of the music. Reinforce the key themes and insights you've discussed, showing how they come together to form a complete picture.

Music Essay Topics

When choosing a topic for your essay, consider your interests and the specific piece of music you want to analyze. Here are 15 potential music topics to write about:

• What is the relationship between musical form and narrative structure in Beethoven's symphonies?
• Discuss how music contributes to the storytelling and emotional impact of films or television shows.
• How opera reflects socio-political issues of its time.
• The Beatles' Influence on Rock Music: A look at their lasting impact.
• How does the concept of "syncopation" contribute to the rhythmic complexity of jazz music?
• What makes a song a classic?
• Discuss the issues surrounding music copyright and the fair use of copyrighted material.
• How has music been used to represent and challenge national identity in post-colonial contexts?
• What is the role of nostalgia in our appreciation of music, and how does it differ across cultures?
• The use of classical music in 20th-century film scores
• How does Mozart's use of coloratura singing enhance the dramatic impact of his operatic characters?
• Examine the connections between music and literary works, such as novels, poetry, or plays.
• Trace the development of rock over time.
• How does music help us cope with grief and loss, and what are the psychological mechanisms involved?
• Speculate on the future of the music industry and the potential impact of emerging technologies.

Got your essay topic ready? Don't wait around—just click ' write my paper ' and let the experts handle it!

Music Essay Examples

Here are the samples that illustrate writing about music examples and bring our earlier tips to life. Crafted by our thesis writing service , they show you how to explore music, develop your arguments, and spotlight key details effectively.

The Bottom Line

Writing an essay about music can be both fun and rewarding. With so many topics to explore, just follow our guide to create a standout essay every time. Be adventurous with your topic, keep the writing process straightforward, and stick to academic standards. Use our music essay samples as a model to craft your own polished paper.

Remember, if you're feeling stuck or short on time, our expert writers are here to help. Simply visit our website, submit a ' write my research paper' request, and get a custom-written essay with just a click!

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Though music essay writing is not the hardest job on the planet, there are still some questions that often pop up. Now that you have a writing guide and a list of essay topics about music, it's time to address the remaining inquiries. Keep reading to find the answers to the frequently asked questions. 

What is Music Essay?

How to start an essay on music, how does music affect your mood essay.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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• Added new essay samples

Writing about Music: A Guide to Writing in A & I 24 . (n.d.). https://writingproject.fas.harvard.edu/files/hwp/files/ai_24_guide_to_print.pdf

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How to Write a Video Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

• by Joseph Kenas
• January 5, 2024
• Writing Tips

The video essay has become an increasingly popular way of presenting ideas and concepts in the age of the internet and YouTube. In this guide, we present a step-by-step guide on how to write a video essay and tips on how to make it.

While it is easy to write a normal essay, the structure of the video essay is a bit of a mystery, owing to the newness of the term.

However, in this article, we are going to define what is a video essay, how to write a video essay, and also How to present a video essay well in class.

What is a Video Essay?

A video essay is a video that delves into a certain subject, concept, person, or thesis. Video essays are difficult to characterize because they are a relatively new form, yet they are recognized regardless. Simply, video essays are visual compilations that try to persuade, educate, or criticize.

These days, there are many creatives making video essays on topics like politics, music, movies, and pop culture.

With these, essays have become increasingly popular in the era of video media such as Youtube, Vimeo, and others.

Video essays, like photo and traditional essays, tell a story or make a point.

The distinction is that video essays provide information through visuals.

When creating a video essay, you can incorporate video, images, text, music, and/or narration to make it dynamic and successful.

When you consider it, many music videos are actually video essays. 

Since making videos for YouTube and other video sites has grown so popular, many professors are now assigning video essays instead of regular essays to their students. So the question is, how do you write a video essay script?

Steps on How to Write a Video Essay Script

Unscripted videos cost time, effort, and are unpleasant to watch. The first thing you should do before making a video writes a script, even if it’s only a few lines long. Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of writing a script. All you need is a starting point.

A video script is important for anyone who wants to film a video with more confidence and clarity. They all contain comparable forms of information, such as who is speaking, what is said, where, and other important details.

While there are no precise criteria that a video essay must follow, it appears that most renowned video essayists are adhering to some steps as the form gets more popular and acknowledged online. 

1. Write a Thesis

Because a video essayist can handle a wide range of themes, video analysis essays lack defined bounds. The majority of essays, on the other hand, begin with a thesis.

A thesis is a statement, claim, theme, or concept that the rest of the essay is built around. A thesis might be broad, including a variety of art forms. Other theses can be quite detailed.

A good essay will almost always have a point to express. Every video analysis essay should have a central idea, or thesis, that ties the film together.

2. Write a Summary

Starting with a brief allows you and your team to document the answers to the most pressing project concerns. It ensures that everyone participating in the video production is on the same page.

This will avoid problems of mixing ideas or getting stuck when you are almost completing the project.

3. Choose a Proper Environment and Appropriate Tools

When it comes to writing your script, use any tool you’re familiar with, such as pen and paper. Also, find a writing atmosphere that is relaxing for you, where you can concentrate and be creative.

Consider what you don’t have to express out loud when you’re writing. Visual elements will be used to communicate a large portion of your content.

4. Use a Template

When you don’t have to reinvent the process every time you sit down, you get speed and consistency.

It’s using your cumulative knowledge of what works and doing it over and over again. Don’t start with a blank page when I sit down to create a script- try to use an already made template. 

5. Be Conversational

You want scripts that use language that is specific and targeted. Always avoid buzzwords, cliches, and generalizations. You want your audience to comprehend you clearly without rolling their eyes.

6. Be Narrative

Make careful to use a strong story structure when you’re trying to explain anything clearly. Ensure your script has a beginning, middle, and end, no matter how short it is. This will provide a familiar path for the viewers of your video script.

7. Edit Your Script

Make each word work for a certain position on the page when you choose your words.

They must serve a purpose.

After you’ve completed your first draft, go over your script and review it.

Then begin editing, reordering, and trimming. Remove as much as possible.

Consider cutting it if it isn’t helping you achieve your goal.

 8. Read Your Script Loudly

Before recording or going on in your process, it’s recommended to read your script aloud at least once. Even if you won’t be the one reading it, this is a good method to ensure that your message is clear. It’s a good idea to be away from people so you may practice in peace.

Words that flow well on paper don’t always flow well when spoken aloud. You might need to make some adjustments based on how tough certain phrases are to pronounce- it’s a lot easier to change it now than when recording.

9. Get Feedback

Sometimes it is very difficult to point out your mistakes in any piece of writing. Therefore, if you want a perfect video essay script, it is advisable to seek feedback from people who are not involved in the project.

Keep in mind that many will try to tear your work apart and make you feel incompetent. However, it can also be an opportunity to make your video better.

The best way to gather feedback is to assemble a group of people and read your script to them. Watch their facial reaction and jot own comments as you read. Make sure not to defend your decisions. Only listen to comments and ask questions to clarify.

After gathering feedback, decide on what points to include in your video essay. Also, you can ask someone else to read it to you so that you can listen to its follow.

A video essay can be a good mode to present all types of essays, especially compare and contrast essays as you can visually contrast the two subjects of your content.

How to make a Good Video from your Essay Script

You can make a good video from your script if you ask yourself the following questions;

• What is the video’s purpose? What is the purpose of the video in the first place?
• Who is this video’s intended audience?
• What is the subject of our video? (The more precise you can be, the better.) 
• What are the most important points to remember from the video?- What should viewers take away from it?

If the context had multiple characters, present their dialogues well in the essay to bring originality. If there is a need to involve another person, feel free to incorporate them.

How to Present a Video Essay Well in Class

• Write down keywords or main ideas in a notecard; do not write details- writing main ideas will help you remember your points when presenting. This helps you scan through your notecard for information.
• Practice- in presentations it is easy to tell who has practiced and who hasn’t. For your video essay to grab your class and professor’s attention, practice is the key. Practice in front of your friends and family asking for feedback and try to improve.
• Smile at your audience- this is one of the most important points when presenting anything in front of an audience. A smiley face draws the attention of the audience making them smile in return thus giving you confidence.
• Walk to your seat with a smile- try not to be disappointed even if you are not applauded. Be confident that you have aced your video presentation.

Other video presentations tips include;

• Making eye contact
• Have a good posture
• Do not argue with the audience 
• Look at everyone around the room, not just one audience or one spot
• Rember to use your hand and facial expressions to make a point.

Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.

• Scriptwriting

What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay

I n the era of the internet and Youtube, the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of expressing ideas and concepts. However, there is a bit of an enigma behind the construction of the video essay largely due to the vagueness of the term.

What defines a video analysis essay? What is a video essay supposed to be about? In this article, we’ll take a look at the foundation of these videos and the various ways writers and editors use them creatively. Let’s dive in.

Watch: Our Best Film Video Essays of the Year

Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.

What is a video essay?

First, let’s define video essay.

There is narrative film, documentary film, short films, and then there is the video essay. What is its role within the realm of visual media? Let’s begin with the video essay definition. 

VIDEO ESSAY DEFINITION

A video essay is a video that analyzes a specific topic, theme, person or thesis. Because video essays are a rather new form, they can be difficult to define, but recognizable nonetheless. To put it simply, they are essays in video form that aim to persuade, educate, or critique. 

These essays have become increasingly popular within the era of Youtube and with many creatives writing video essays on topics such as politics, music, film, and pop culture. 

What is a video essay used for?

• To persuade an audience of a thesis
• To educate on a specific subject
• To analyze and/or critique 

What is a video essay based on?

Establish a thesis.

Video analysis essays lack distinguished boundaries since there are countless topics a video essayist can tackle. Most essays, however, begin with a thesis. 

How Christopher Nolan Elevates the Movie Montage  •  Video Analysis Essays

Good essays often have a point to make. This point, or thesis, should be at the heart of every video analysis essay and is what binds the video together. 

Related Posts

• Stanley Kubrick Directing Style Explained →
• A Filmmaker’s Guide to Nolan’s Directing Style →
• How to Write a Voice Over Montage in a Script →

interviews in video essay

Utilize interviews.

A key determinant for the structure of an essay is the source of the ideas. A common source for this are interviews from experts in the field. These interviews can be cut and rearranged to support a thesis. 

Roger Deakins on "Learning to Light"  •  Video Analysis Essays

Utilizing first hand interviews is a great way to utilize ethos into the rhetoric of a video. However, it can be limiting since you are given a limited amount to work with. Voice over scripts, however, can give you the room to say anything. 

How to create the best video essays on Youtube

Write voice over scripts.

Voice over (VO) scripts allow video essayists to write out exactly what they want to say. This is one of the most common ways to structure a video analysis essay since it gives more freedom to the writer. It is also a great technique to use when taking on large topics.

In this video, it would have been difficult to explain every type of camera lens by cutting sound bites from interviews of filmmakers. A voice over script, on the other hand, allowed us to communicate information directly when and where we wanted to.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Lenses  •  Video essay examples

Some of the most famous video essayists like Every Frame a Painting and Nerdwriter1 utilize voice over to capitalize on their strength in writing video analysis essays. However, if you’re more of an editor than a writer, the next type of essay will be more up your alley. 

Video analysis essay without a script

Edit a supercut.

Rather than leaning on interview sound bites or voice over, the supercut video depends more on editing. You might be thinking “What is a video essay without writing?” The beauty of the video essay is that the writing can be done throughout the editing. Supercuts create arguments or themes visually through specific sequences. 

Another one of the great video essay channels, Screen Junkies, put together a supercut of the last decade in cinema. The video could be called a portrait of the last decade in cinema.

2010 - 2019: A Decade In Film  •  Best videos on Youtube

This video is rather general as it visually establishes the theme of art during a general time period. Other essays can be much more specific. 

Critical essays

Video essays are a uniquely effective means of creating an argument. This is especially true in critical essays. This type of video critiques the facets of a specific topic. 

In this video, by one of the best video essay channels, Every Frame a Painting, the topic of the film score is analyzed and critiqued — specifically temp film score.

Every Frame a Painting Marvel Symphonic Universe  •  Essay examples

Of course, not all essays critique the work of artists. Persuasion of an opinion is only one way to use the video form. Another popular use is to educate. 

• The Different Types of Camera Lenses →
• Write and Create Professionally Formatted Screenplays →
• How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with Music →

Video analysis essay

Visual analysis.

One of the biggest advantages that video analysis essays have over traditional, written essays is the use of visuals. The use of visuals has allowed video essayists to display the subject or work that they are analyzing. It has also allowed them to be more specific with what they are analyzing. Writing video essays entails structuring both words and visuals. 

Take this video on There Will Be Blood for example. In a traditional, written essay, the writer would have had to first explain what occurs in the film then make their analysis and repeat.

This can be extremely inefficient and redundant. By analyzing the scene through a video, the points and lessons are much more clear and efficient. 

There Will Be Blood  •   Subscribe on YouTube

Through these video analysis essays, the scene of a film becomes support for a claim rather than the topic of the essay. 

Dissect an artist

Essays that focus on analysis do not always focus on a work of art. Oftentimes, they focus on the artist themself. In this type of essay, a thesis is typically made about an artist’s style or approach. The work of that artist is then used to support this thesis.

Nerdwriter1, one of the best video essays on Youtube, creates this type to analyze filmmakers, actors, photographers or in this case, iconic painters. 

Caravaggio: Master Of Light  •  Best video essays on YouTube

In the world of film, the artist video analysis essay tends to cover auteur filmmakers. Auteur filmmakers tend to have distinct styles and repetitive techniques that many filmmakers learn from and use in their own work. 

Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most notable example. In this video, we analyze Kubrick’s best films and the techniques he uses that make so many of us drawn to his films. 

Why We're Obsessed with Stanley Kubrick Movies  •  Video essay examples

Critical essays and analytical essays choose to focus on a piece of work or an artist. Essays that aim to educate, however, draw on various sources to teach technique and the purpose behind those techniques. 

What is a video essay written about?

Historical analysis.

Another popular type of essay is historical analysis. Video analysis essays are a great medium to analyze the history of a specific topic. They are an opportunity for essayists to share their research as well as their opinion on history. 

Our video on aspect ratio , for example, analyzes how aspect ratios began in cinema and how they continue to evolve. We also make and support the claim that the 2:1 aspect ratio is becoming increasingly popular among filmmakers. 

Why More Directors are Switching to 18:9  •  Video analysis essay

Analyzing the work of great artists inherently yields a lesson to be learned. Some essays teach more directly.

• Types of Camera Movements in Film Explained →
• What is Aspect Ratio? A Formula for Framing Success →
• Visualize your scenes with intuitive online shotlist software →

Writing video essays about technique

Teach technique.

Educational essays designed to teach are typically more direct. They tend to be more valuable for those looking to create art rather than solely analyze it.

In this video, we explain every type of camera movement and the storytelling value of each. Educational essays must be based on research, evidence, and facts rather than opinion.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Movement  •  Best video essays on YouTube

As you can see, there are many reasons why the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of communicating information. Its ability to use both sound and picture makes it efficient and effective. It also draws on the language of filmmaking to express ideas through editing. But it also gives writers the creative freedom they love. 

Writing video essays is a new art form that many channels have set high standards for. What is a video essay supposed to be about? That’s up to you. 

Organize Post Production Workflow

The quality of an essay largely depends on the quality of the edit. If editing is not your strong suit, check out our next article. We dive into tips and techniques that will help you organize your Post-Production workflow to edit like a pro. 

Up Next: Post Production →

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• Practicing Rhetorical Analysis with Music Videos

Author: 

Deb Streusand

Image Credit: 

Screenshot by Deb Streusand from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg, Taylor Swift's video for "Blank Space"

            In my Rhetoric of Performance class, we begin each class day by watching and discussing a brief performance a student has brought in to share with the class. Since these performances are supposed to be 3-5 minutes, students frequently bring in music videos. With each performance, we do an informal rhetorical analysis.

             First I ask the students what they noticed about the performance while they were watching. They frequently make note of things like symbolism and imagery – in other words, they tend to close read the videos. The goal of my line of questioning after that, however, is to bring them away from that tendency and into the world of rhetorical analysis.

            I ask the students what they think the argument of the performance is. The argument of a performance is not like the argument of a written piece. With a good piece of persuasive writing, as a rule, everyone should come away from it with the same general idea of what the argument was. With a performance, it’s not a bad thing if we come away with some disagreement as to what the argument might be. The students often debate what the argument is, or bring in a multiplicity of answers, but they never have trouble finding some argument in the piece, even though music videos aren’t necessarily designed to make and defend a claim. One of the principles I put forth in teaching this class is that every performance has an argument. I believe this is true, but making the claim makes me a little nervous, because defending it is inevitably inductive – I will never conclusively prove that every single performance has an argument. However, each class day, my students add credence to my gradual inductive proof of this claim, because they have never failed to find an argument in any performance we’ve watched.

            After we’ve wrangled over the argument for a while, we start talking rhetorical appeals. They don’t know that’s what we’re doing yet, though. We haven’t actually entered the rhetorical analysis unit. But we’ve been doing this all semester, from the second class day. By the time they get to rhetorical analysis, they’re already going to be pros at doing it – all that will be new to them is the terminology.

            Every day, I ask them: what kind of persona does the performer present in making this argument? What is the intended audience, and how are they supposed to feel? How is the argument supported? What are the current social conversations to which this argument is contributing? Ethos, pathos, logos, kairos – all in a 4 minute video. My students practice rhetorical analysis 10-15 minutes per class day, all semester long. And because music videos are fun to watch and take apart, they have a great time while they’re doing it.

             We don’t always watch music videos. Some students bring in short dance pieces, or political rants, or slam poetry. I mention music videos because they would be easy to incorporate into a non-performance rhetoric class as a warmup for rhetorical analysis. To make it simpler, the professor might choose them instead of having students bring them in, to make sure there’s lots to talk about – I always start the semester with Beyonc é’s video for “Flawless,” which has never failed to spark dialogue. The main point is to get the students used to doing rhetorical analysis while talking about something that’s fun.

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115 Popular Music Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Music has always been a powerful form of expression, and popular music in particular has the ability to shape culture and society. If you are tasked with writing an essay on popular music, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of topics to choose from. To help you narrow down your options and get started on your essay, here are 115 popular music essay topic ideas and examples.

• The impact of social media on the music industry
• The evolution of music streaming services
• The role of women in the music industry
• The influence of technology on music production
• The rise of K-pop in the global music market
• The impact of the internet on music distribution
• The role of music in political movements
• The portrayal of race and ethnicity in popular music
• The influence of music on fashion trends
• The role of music in advertising
• The impact of music festivals on local economies
• The relationship between music and mental health
• The evolution of music videos
• The influence of popular music on language and slang
• The role of social justice in popular music
• The impact of music streaming on album sales
• The rise of TikTok as a platform for discovering new music
• The influence of popular music on youth culture
• The role of music in shaping identity
• The impact of music piracy on the music industry
• The portrayal of gender in popular music
• The role of music in shaping societal norms
• The influence of popular music on political campaigns
• The evolution of music genres
• The impact of music awards shows on the industry
• The relationship between music and nostalgia
• The role of music in protest movements
• The influence of popular music on film and television
• The portrayal of love and relationships in popular music
• The impact of social media influencers on music trends
• The evolution of music marketing strategies
• The role of music in cultural appropriation
• The influence of popular music on fashion trends
• The impact of music festivals on tourism
• The relationship between music and dance
• The role of music in shaping generational identities
• The influence of popular music on consumer behavior
• The portrayal of masculinity in popular music
• The impact of music education on academic achievement
• The evolution of music production techniques
• The role of music in branding and advertising
• The influence of popular music on language and communication
• The impact of music streaming on artist royalties
• The relationship between music and emotion
• The role of music in social movements
• The influence of popular music on body image
• The portrayal of sexuality in popular music
• The impact of music festivals on environmental sustainability
• The evolution of music journalism
• The role of music in cultural diplomacy
• The impact of music videos on artist visibility
• The relationship between music and memory
• The role of music in shaping cultural identity
• The influence of popular music on social media trends
• The portrayal of mental health in popular music
• The impact of music festivals on local communities
• The evolution of music distribution platforms
• The role of music in shaping political ideologies
• The influence of popular music on social justice movements
• The impact of music streaming on artist discovery
• The relationship between music and technology
• The role of music in healing and therapy
• The influence of popular music on consumer trends
• The portrayal of race and ethnicity in music videos
• The impact of music festivals on artist careers
• The evolution of music criticism
• The role of music in cultural assimilation
• The influence of popular music on social norms
• The impact of music education on creativity
• The relationship between music and spirituality
• The role of music in storytelling
• The influence of popular music on political discourse
• The portrayal of gender identity in popular music
• The role of music in cultural preservation
• The portrayal of love and relationships in music videos
• The impact of music streaming on artist exposure
• The role of music in shaping social movements
• The influence of popular music on body positivity
• The evolution of music journalism in the digital age
• The role of music in shaping cultural identities
• The portrayal of mental health in music lyrics

These popular music essay topic ideas and examples should help you get started on your essay and explore the diverse and fascinating world of popular music. Whether you are interested in the impact of technology on the music industry, the portrayal of social issues in music, or the role of music in shaping cultural identities, there is a topic for everyone in the world of popular music. Happy writing!

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Learn to write stories

Music video analysis (and how to write a music video script)

Analysis of music video scripts

How to write a music video script?

The era of the music video.

Since around 30 years, and especially since the incredible Thriller by Mickael Jackson , music videos have been a fascinating media not only for popular music , but also to develop the artistic and philosophical world of singers and bands . They are vital to guarantee the promotion and to spread a clearly identifyable public image.

There are funny and scary music videos ; simple and easy, or complex, tricky, stunning music videos ; hyper-realistic or poetic and philosophical music videos ; in sync, or not in sync, narrative and dramatic or contemplative and purely visual music videos etc.

Despite of this diversity and this richness, the basic materials are still narration and discourse , plots , characters , situations , places and themes .

To understand better what is going on in a music video , and to make yours, the best way is to study the best works of famous scriptwriters and filmmakers .

Writing a narrative video

You are an artist, singer, musician or group of rap / hip hop, rock, electro, pop music or any other genre, and you want to write a music video script?

Right away, you have a choice to make between two options:

• either you make a clip that represents you as an artist or a band playing and singing, with more or less staging, with or without danse scenes
• or you write and produce a real fictional film, a narrative video with a story and characters, a beginning and an end, dramatic tension and suspense

The first option seems largely flatter, poorer, less artistic and less original than taking your audience on an imaginary journey through a fictional story. Indeed, in this kind of clip nothing special happens on a visual level, and nothing on a narrative and fictional level. At best, impressive choreography is the only truly artistic aspect of this kind of clip.

The second option is that of many clips that have marked the history of music, and which are true works of art. These clips invent a world, tell a story, give the audience the opportunity to dream by identifying with a main character, and thus bring a real added value to the music.

Sometimes there is a mixture of both formulas, and the artist or the musical group is included in the fiction, either as a character or in the setting.

Music video analysis

As a writer and specialist in narrative, I have analyzed, scene by scene / shot  by shot , 14 of the greatest scripts of music videos in the history of music, listing all the noticeable details and effects . All of these clips are narrative:

• How were those videos built?
• How were the stories conceived?
• How were the plots written and arranged together?
• How were the characters designed?
• How did the scriptwriters and film-makers to offer their audiences a great show, using huge or minimum means, mixing horror, humor, political ideas, sex-appeal…?

To improve one’s technique and make one’s knowledge concrete, there is nothing better than analyzing masterworks , taking the best out of them to re-use it in your own works!

Our program of analysis

Michael Jackson – Thriller  – Director: John Landis Radiohead – No Surprises  – Director: Grant Gee Radiohead –  Karma Police  – Director: Jonathan Glazer Thom Yorke / UNKLE – Rabbit In Your Headlights  – Director: Jonathan Glazer Björk – All is full of love  – Director: Chris Cunningham Röyksopp – Remind Me  – Director: Ludovic Houplan & Hervé de Crécy (H5) Justice – Stress  – Director: Romain Gavras Skrillex – First Of The Year  – Director: Tony Truand Skrillex – Bangarang  – Director: Tony Truand Aphex Twin – Come to Daddy  – Director: Chris Cunningham Sebastien Tellier – Look  – Director: Mrzyk & Moriceau Etienne de Crecy – Am I wrong?  – Director: Geoffroy de Crécy Etienne de Crecy ft Camille – Someone like you  – Director: Marie de Crécy Bomfunk MC – Freestyler

How do you write a narrative music video script?

A music video script works just like a screenplay – the music video is simply a form of short film – with a few differences:

The visual narrative is silent

In general, the strategic importance of the soundtrack prohibits the use of dialogues , so the narration must adopt a purely visual mode, allowing only a few words or sound effects.

Indeed, the spectators who watch a clip watch it first to enjoy the music, so it is not a question of replacing it by the soundtrack of a film.

This constraint leads to a visual style made of rapid alternations between contrasting shots, close-ups and wide shots, fixed or moving camera, light effects, in short, everything that can have an intense visual impact in harmony with the music.

The music sets the pace of the clip

The scenario of the clip must stick strictly to the main phases of the music and respect its duration and rhythms – the intro, the verses, the choruses, the breaks etc. When the music changes, becomes silent or rises to a crescendo, the film must adapt.

Sometimes the clip lasts longer than the music, which is then inserted into a film that has an introduction and a conclusion.

The music inspires the world of the clip

The artist’s universe and the song’s universe must be related to the thematic universe of the film, without making a flat illustration of it: if the song says “I love you”, showing two people kissing on the screen does not bring anything.

The clip’s time is limited!

In a feature film, the screenwriter has the right to take time to set up the action, introduce the characters, build suspense, etc. But in a music video, you can’t take the time to set up the action, you usually only have 3 to 5 minutes to tell the whole story. So you have to set the scene, introduce the characters and get the action going, in less than 30 seconds.

The music video is a mass cultural product

A music video is intended to reach a large number of people: it serves as a vector in an artistic and commercial strategy that aims to popularize a piece of music.

Therefore, it is important to choose themes carefully and to build the story with the aim of producing a strong emotional impact on its target audience, and to deliver a strong message.

The main choices to make when writing a music video

Scripting a video clip involves the following operations:

1/ Defining a genre

Genres allow you to set a frame of reference that is already known and understood by the audience.

• A horror movie like in Thriller or Come To Daddy
• An erotic film in Look
• A love story in the form of a science fiction film in All is full of love
• A road movie and a chase in Karma Police

2/ Choosing a setting and locations

The setting and the places automatically bring meaning to the story, by giving it a visible and meaningful social and cultural reality.

• Freestyler takes place in an ordinary place, the subway, where something magical and wonderful will happen
• Remind Me takes place in the contemporary world and the everyday life
• Am I wrong? takes place in a hamburger joint – and shows an acid criticism of junk food
• Stress is set in the suburbs of Paris in creepy and scary places that inspire fear

3/ Telling an interesting story

The story is what will catch the audience’s attention, generate their identification with the hero, and have an emotional impact.

Depending on the case, clips can be more or less narrative and dramatic (so I call them perfectly narrative or imperfectly narrative), or they can be based on another mode of functioning, for example poetic or contemplative.

Perfectly narrative clips

• Thriller – the story  of a young man who loves to terrorize his girlfriend
• Stress – the story  of a group of merciless vandals
• First Of The Year – the story  of generous gangsters
• Bangarang – the story  of a little girl who tortures a pedophile
• Am I wrong? – the story  of an ordinary customer who disturbs a fast-food restaurant
• Freestyler – the story  of a teenager who dreams of controlling the world

Imperfectly narrative clips

• No Surprises – allegory of the tragedy of the human condition
• Karma Police – incomprehensible story  of hunted hunter
• Rabbit In Your Headlights – incomprehensible Hero of survival
• All is full of love – pure love, non-dramatic story  rejecting any conflict
• Come To Daddy – confusing story of anxiety and madness
• Someone Like You – illusion of a love story

Few narrative clips

• Remind Me – description of an all too technical, loveless world
• Look – poetic crossing of metaphors of pleasure and pain, of life and death

4/ Number of plots and actantial roles

In the majority of the narrative videos , we also find some variety especially in the number of plots , even if most of the stories only have one or two plots ( No Surprises , Stress , Bangarang , etc), sometimes three ( Am I wrong? – if we count the mini-plot of the greedy customer), while none have more than seven  plots ( Thriller ) – which can obviously be explained by the short format of the videos . Nevertheless, it would not be impossible to tell 20 mini-plots in a few minutes. If you like this idea, it can make for a good creative exercise 😉

The characters and actantial roles are rarely more than five or six, most of the time they are two or three, Hero vs. Antagonist or Hero + Helper vs. Antagonist .

This formal simplicity makes the genre of music videos look like the genre of songwriting , which is often very simple too and distinguishes it from the complex narrative structures that we find in:

• Novels ( The little prince : 25 plots , 17 actantial characters having 54 actantial roles )
• Movies ( The Godfather : 27 plots , 15 actantial characters having 100 actantial roles ; Pulp Fiction : 10 plots , 19 actantial characters having 30 actantial roles )
• TV series ( Game of thrones , seasons one and two: more than 100 plots , 67 actantial characters having 174 actantial roles ).

5/ Universal themes

Despite fundamental differences of shape, of aesthetics, of structure, we often cross the same themes , especially a strong emotional element like:

• Love or eroticism ( Thriller , All is full of love , Remind Me , Look , Someone Like You , Freestyler )
• Violence, suffering, pain, anxiety, death ( Thriller , No Surprises , Karma Police , Rabbit In Your Headlights , Stress , First Of The Year , Bangarang , Come To Daddy , Look )

Those universal themes obviously guarantee a strong potential of identification from the audience to the stories .

Playlist of music videos we analyzed:

Learn storytelling and scenario techniques from the masters !

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About The Author

Ludovic bablon, similar posts, etienne de crecy ft camille – someone like you – music video analysis, freestyler – bomfunk mc – music video analysis, look – sebastien tellier – music video analysis, am i wrong – etienne de crecy – music video analysis, leave a comment.

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• Houston Community College
• Eagle Online

• Jon Lindsey

ESSAY #3 - Music Video Analysis

Music video analysis essay, due: thursday, april 24, 2012, assignment:.

Choose a music. Analyze, Interpret, Synthesize and Evaluate your video according to the guidelines in our "Critical Reading, Music Videos" lecture (on Learning Web)

Your essay should includ e:

A strong thesis statement about the video, which contains a Subject, an Opinion and Proof.

A descriptive summary of the video.

Three body paragraphs.

A conclusion, which restates your thesis and the main points of your body paragraphs.

900 words or more

For this paper there is no required number of outside sources.

If you choose to use outside sources they must be cited according to MLA format.

Include an MLA Works Cited page, which includes  your video and any outside sources you've cited.

Size 12 – Times New Roman font – double spaced

Paste your essay into the body of an email to:  [email protected]

Introduction –

• Hook your reader with your opening sentence.
• Introduce the video you’ll be discussing (Artist? Album? Year?)
• Write a thesis evaluating the entire video or an aspect of the video.

Body Paragraphs -

Support your thesis by analyzing, interpreting, synthesizing and evaluating the video.

Conclusion –

• Restate the topic of your article.
• Restate your thesis.
• Restate the main point from each of your paragraphs.
• Wrap your essay up and put a ribbon on it.

An Outstanding Essay Will:

• Present a clear thesis containing a subject, opinion and proof.
• Summarize the video identifying some or all Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? questions.
• Develop and organize ideas logically by connecting each paragraph in support of your original thesis statement.
• Identify, analyze and interpret important features of your video.
• Give specific examples from the video to support your thesis.
• Provide a strong conclusion restating the main points of your essay.

No books have been added to this reading list.

• Essay Topic Generator
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• Thesis Maker Academic
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Music Essay: Topics, How-to Guide, & Examples

How significant is music to our lives? Is it merely background noise for our great deeds? Or is it something that sets the tune of our whole existence? Whatever the answer is, one thing is sure: writing a music essay can be pretty tricky at times. After all, It’s a vast topic with a considerable history behind it.

Here, you will find some tips for going around this trickiness, along with 143 music essay topics for your piece, and 2 music essay examples . But first, we need to decide what exactly we are writing about.

• 🎵 The Basics
• 🎼 Music Essay: Writing Steps
• 🎸 143 Essay Topics
• 📻 2 Examples

🎵 Music Essay: What Is It about?

The idea of writing anything about music looks daunting at first glance. Thanks to the number of things you seemingly have to perform to write a good piece: using huge music theory words, analyzing all of the musical constituents, understanding the profound meaning behind every melody, and much other complicated stuff.

We’re delighted to inform you that none of that is essential to achieve the summit of a well-written music essay. It’s mostly about what response music invokes in you . Just tell people how it makes you feel. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that music is a very personal experience and talking about the subjective experience is something anyone can do. This can be done in several forms.

Here are some of them:

• Descriptive music essay . One of the simplest ways to describe something is to, well, describe it . It’s like painting but with a keyboard and a text editor. Here, you can connect to the reader through deep imagery of some musical pieces that you think are worth writing an essay about. Like describing a grimdark future inspired by some depressing lyrics you heard recently. Or you can simply go with picturing a classical music concert essay. Tell everyone how awesome classical music is and why they should spend their next weekend on an orchestra performance.
• Narrative music essay. Here you want to tell a story and use it to support your point of view. Create a tale about a young musician struggling to attain success to show how harsh and unforgiving the music industry can be. Or do the opposite and tell a story of a great artistic triumph to inspire others to never give up on their dreams. Keep in mind that you are writing a story, and every story has a character. And the characters communicate with each other. So don’t forget to include characters and dialogs.
• Persuasive music essay. This one is all about making the reader accept your point of view. This type of essay probably would be great for writing a work on the topic of “Why I love Linkin Park” or “My favorite jazz band of all times” since it probably involves a lot of emotional attachment. And emotions are something you definitely want to push in a persuasive music essay. You may also want to include some logical justification and checked facts. Statistics or sources you find reliable also can be cited.
• Compare & contrast music essay. The name of the genre speaks for itself.If you have difficulties choosing between two things you want to write about, you can compare them . And there are a lot of things to compare in music. Including but not limited to genres, singers, composers, music eras, the list is nearly infinite if you brainstorm hard enough. The structure here is plain and simple: Describe thing 1. Describe thing 2. Compare them.

🎼 Essay on Music: How to Write

Writing a music essay is no different from writing a piece on any other topic in the big picture. You will always need the argumentation, the overall structure, and exciting ideas.

But for music, in particular, you will also need to listen and set the listened things out the way that will set the reader on the same wavelength.

Here are some tips to help you with accomplishing that.

Music Essay: 5 Writing Steps

• Do the analysis. Before your fingers even touch the keyboard, just sitting back and reflecting on the things you’ll write about can be highly beneficial. This step can be applied to any music essay topic. If you make a statement about some lyrics you find beauteous, for instance, you can listen to the song again. And while relistening, try to observe details you haven’t noticed before. How does the melody frame the lyrics? What makes it sound so lyrical? Why does the music sound like it does when certain words are sung? The more questions you make and answer, the better.
• Thesis – A thesis statement is a part of introduction you will try to prove, disapprove or discuss in the body of your writing.
• Body – The biggest and the most informative part. In a regular 5-paragraph it consists of 2-3 paragraphs with all argumentation necessary to support your thesis statement.
• Conclusion – The final part. Nothing new needs to be told here. Just restate your thesis collect your body information in a couple of brief sentences. Plan on the details as well. And try to think of as many as you can. If you’re using a narrative style, what chronological order will there be? What characters will you insert into your narrative? Maybe you should let go of chronology and arrange the story’s events in order of significance? Or in the persuasive piece, you ought to think about the argumentation you’re going to provide. Check the viability of your sources and make sure the statistics you cite are not outdated. Do your research, simply put.
• Make a strong thesis statement. The thesis is the essential part of your essay. It’s not an argument, and thus you shouldn’t be trying to impose your point of view right from the get-go. If your thesis statement goes, “Rock music is undoubtedly the best genre out there with no considerable competition and here’s why.” you probably want to consider the possibility of a counterargument to your point. “The energy rock music gives and the majestic mood it can get you into makes it one of the best genres presented in today’s music industry” would be a better choice. If you have any difficulties formulating your thesis statement, you might want to use our free thesis-generating tool . Note that it is able to make various theses depending on the essay type.
• Don’t be scared of big music words. While it’s not obligatory to know every term out there, some of them can help express seemingly complicated ideas in a laconic way. It’s not wrong to say that you find the speed and rhythm of the music to be just suitable for the time it takes. But you can also phrase it into “I like the tempo” and be done with it. Although tempo might not be the most complex music word, it shows the point.
• Go sentimental. Music in itself is one enormous sentiment. Therefore, if you think you’re being too sensual with your essay, you’re probably not. Use metaphorical language and compare your favorite song to a trip to the stars. Or express your feeling towards a band you adore by putting it on par with antique gods. There’re no limits to your feelings, so don’t be scared to exceed them.

🎸 143 Music Essay Topics

If the topic of your work is not assigned, it can be challenging to either come up with one or choose one of the many ideas you have. Here are some possible options for you to go with:

• The best ways to enjoy your favorite band’s new album.
• Classical music as a way of energy for the whole day.
• What Is Hip-Hop Subculture?
• Rap music and its characteristics.
• What makes music challenging to listen to?
• Social Commentary in Pop Music Industry.
• How does low-fi music chill you out.
• A perfect playlist for working out.
• Music Paper: The Type of Music Jazz.
• Motivational music and its effect on you.
• Music Education: The Descriptive Research Methods.
• Is there such thing as “Cooking music”?
• Effects of Music in Advertising.
• Choosing a song for your alarm clock.
• Social Use of Music in Contemporary American Society.
• Can your music taste define your character?
• Woodstock The Music Event and Festival.
• What is the best music to relieve your stress?
• Ethnomusicology in Analyzing Society’ Music.
• What is “Alternative” music?
• How can jazz music make you feel?
• Dance style: Capoeira.
• Why does music make us dance?
• The National Centre of Popular Music.
• Good and bad music. How to define?
• Hip-hop in Japan and cultural globalization.
• Defining features of The Beatles music.
• Popular music in the modern culture.
• What were the first rappers in history, and how were they different?
• Chamber Music in the Early Twentieth Century.
• What meaning can a song without lyrics have?
• The effect of music on culture.
• The future of electronic music.
• Choir Director & Participants in Music Making.
• Live music and the wonders it can do.
• Popular music in America.
• The mix of traditional and modern music and its specifics.
• Folk Music: Evolution of the Term and Scholars’ Works.
• How important is appearance for a musician?
• Feminism in the hip-hop culture.
• Musical instruments and the mood they bring.
• Sound analysis and aural experiences from music.
• Defining qualities of Elvis Pressley’s music.
• The Use of Violin in the Baroque Concerto.
• Ambient music is not a background.
• Descriptive Qualitative Research in Music Education.
• My first time seeing an orchestra concert.
• Hip-Hop Culture: What Philosophy to Choose?
• The struggles of an amateur musician in modern days.
• Teachers Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education.
• The story of Queen’s success.
• Use of Music in Classrooms of in-Service Teachers.
• The day I fell in love with underground music.
• The first date and how the choice of music can affect it.
• The Effects of Hip-Hop, Rap Music on Young Women in Academia.
• My music taste progression.
• When did the music I love become old?
• Presentation for the Russian Musical Society.
• The two-faced reality of the music industry.
• Frank Zappa: composer & social critic.
• Why do I feel threatened at a punk-rock concert?
• The great triumph of 80’s rock music.
• E-concert report: Pieces by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
• The role of music in fighting prejudice.
• The origins of hip-hop culture.
• The most fantastic song I’ve ever heard.
• The magic of Christmas music.
• The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – the touring years.
• The origin story of Coldplay.
• My appreciation of heavy-metal bands.
• History of jazz music.
• Music effects on unborn children.
• American Popular Music and Its Styles.
• The effectiveness of music therapy.
• Hip-Hop and Theatre, Hip-Hop in Theatre or Hip-Hop Theatre.
• Heavy music and aggressive behavior.
• Teaching and Learning Music Technologically.
• Rap music and its influence on crime rates.
• Minimalism in Music and Its Development.
• The coexistence of traditional and modern music.
• How effective is music in pushing propaganda?
• Popular Music and Its Impact on the Economy and Politics.
• The importance of a national anthem.
• The Illegal Downloading of Music.
• The most ear-pleasing instrument.
• Music industry: the downfall caused by technology.
• The psychological and physiological impact of music.
• The problems of music piracy.
• DMCA pros and cons.
• Personality traits and musical elements preferences.
• The music and the freedom of speech.
• Is the music industry accessible?
• Music, media and culture influence on behavior.
• Can drugs help you to write lyrics?
• Manufactured bands. Good or bad?
• African music’s contribution to contemporary genres.
• Why is pop music popular?
• Visual Music: The Concept of ‘Visual Music’ and Historical Excurse.
• Should we listen to less music?
• Do physical copies of music still make sense?
• Heavy metal music gender trends.
• The importance of background music in movies?
• The world without music. Better or worse?
• Studying Music Evolution.
• The extreme difference between jazz and acid jazz.
• Historic Violin Pedagogical Treatises and Teaching.
• How different can the tastes of people from various countries be?
• Sociology of Music: What Music Means in Our Life.
• Comparing rap: old vs. new.
• Your today’s music taste. Better or worse?
• The History and Concept of Rock Music.
• Professional and amateur music.
• Presentation on Articulation Related to the Violin.
• The idea of depression in different songs.
• Gender and Sexuality in Popular Media.
• The 80s and 2000’s rock: compare and contrast.
• Debussy’s String Quartet and Influence on Symphonic Music.
• Office with background music vs. office without it.
• Performing Forces Related to Violin in the 19th Century.
• The difference between rap and hip-hop.
• Music Education Pre-Service and Beginning Teachers’ Learning.
• The visions of the future in various music genres.
• Philosophy Scenario in Music Education.
• Listening to music or listening to lyrics?
• Debussy’s String Quartet and His Influence on Symphonic Music.
• Does it matter to listen to music outdoor or indoors?
• French Romanticism Features in Camille Saint-Saens’s Music.
• Western and eastern traditional music.
• History of Community Jazz Bands in Floridoniaville City.
• Baroque and renaissance classical music comparison.
• Folk Music Definition and Development.
• The usage of acoustic guitar in happy and depressive songs.
• The Mind of Music: Psychology of Musicians.
• Calm or energetic music for driving. What’s better?
• Rave parties vs. country festivals.
• Is there a difference in men’s and women’s music tastes?
• The Violin Trio Music in the Early Twentieth Century: Specific Features of Aram Khachaturian’s and Bela Bartok’s Contrast.
• How do your high school and college music differ? And why?
• Mozart’s Third Violin Concert Performance Skills.
• Music therapy. Active or receptive?
• Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major: A Western Form of the Russian Music.
• Importance of a Choir Director in Music Making.

Haven’t found anything suitable in the lists above? Feel free to use our essay topic generator for more ideas.

📻 Music Essay Examples

Here we will look at two simple examples of a written music essay with a brief parsing of principal components for each.

Classical Music Concert Essay

If we’re going to write something about a classical concert, the narrative essay would be one of the best ways to do that. Remember that introduction and thesis are in the same paragraph. Pay attention to the absence of thesis. It’s a common thing in a narrative style essay.

Essay on Music Therapy

Going with a persuasive style for this topic might be a decent idea. Many people are doubtful about music being somehow related to health, and an essay on music therapy is a proper tool to convince them.

Overall, you need to bear in mind that a music essay is no different from any other type. Make sure to keep the structure, logic, and coherence together, and you’ll be good to go. Make sure to let us know if the article was any use for you, good luck with your assignment, and thank you for your time!

🔗 References

• Writing about Music: A Guide to Writing | Harvard College
• 6 Tips for Writing About Music – Writer’s Digest
• Music – UNC Writing Center
• The music essay – The Guardian
• Write Your Essay | UNSW Current Students
• How to Write an Essay

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Blog > Essay Advice , Personal Statement > How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)

How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Alex McNeil, MA Admissions Consultant

Key Takeaway

Ask any admissions officer if they’ve read a college essay about music, and they’ll definitely say yes. Between music extracurriculars and academic interests in music, it’s is one of the most common college essay topics.

So does that mean that you shouldn’t write your college essay about music?

Not necessarily. But as with any common college essay topic, some approaches are better than others.

Let’s get into it.

Why you should (and shouldn’t) write your Common App essay about music

As we explained in our Stanford Items exercise , writing your college essay on a common topic isn’t off-limits. In fact, most college essays share common topics and themes. Trying to find a completely unique, never-been-done-before topic is almost impossible. And writing about a quirky topic in hopes of coming across as unique usually backfires.

In other words, it’s likely that you’ll write about the same topic as someone else.

The problem arises, however, when you write about a common topic in a cliche way . Cliches are always a danger in college essays, but in especially college essay topics that tend to surface again and again.

To avoid cliches, your college essay about music needs to be deeply personal, specific, and meaningful. You’ll want to let go of any over-generalizations or truisms and focus on the details of your own story.

Because you’ll need to write meaningfully and vulnerably, you should only write your college essay about music if you have something genuine and significant to say.

The Best Ways to Approach Your College Essay about Music

College essays about music aren’t off the table, but you should be thoughtful in how you write about them. The following two approaches will help you avoid cliches and find an authentic, meaningful story that fulfills all the requirements of a personal statement .

Writing about music as an academic interest

If you’re interested in studying music in college, then you can consider writing your college essay about music as an academic interest. A college essay about your academic interest in music can show fantastic intellectual fit with a school.

Let’s say you want to study music theory or composition. You might write about a topic you find compelling, a problem you’ve solved, or even a recounting of your journey becoming interested in the subject.

Or maybe you’re an aspiring performer planning on studying music performance. As an admissions officer, I read outstanding essays about students performing their favorite pieces, creating emotional music projects, and teaching lessons to young children.

No matter your topic, your goal with this approach is to show an intellectual spark, a curiosity and passion that will demonstrate to your admissions officers that you’ll be a great addition to the music community on their campuses.

Writing poignantly about a deeply meaningful extracurricular

The previous approach is great if you want to study music, but what if music is just an extracurricular passion of yours? Don’t worry—you can still write about it.

In that case, the best way is to focus on meaning. Remember: personal statements should be deeply-meaningful reflections on your personal strengths.

To start, reflect on your music extracurricular. Is it playing guitar in a band? Playing trombone in your school’s symphony? Learning piano from your grandma? How your love of poetry turned into a love of songwriting?

Next, think about what strengths you have to showcase. If you play guitar in a band, maybe you want to highlight your collaborative spirit. If you love poetry and songwriting, perhaps you focus on your creativity.

Writing about your love of music in a way that draws upon your strengths will make sure that your Common App essay avoids the following two approaches and gives admissions officers a reason to admit you.

Approaches to Avoid

While the following two approaches aren’t necessarily bad, they are the most cliche ways of approaching a college essay about music. You might want to consider avoiding them.

An inauthentic tale of triumph

Let me tell you a cliche story.

When I was in fourth grade, I decided to join the school orchestra. I found it exceedingly difficult at first. No matter how hard I tried, I never could seem to place my fingers correctly on the fingerboard. Every sound I made mimicked a screeching cat. But I decided not to give up. I practiced every day after school and on the weekends. By the time I was in ninth grade, I had made it into my high school’s top orchestra.

Is that a lovely story? Yes, absolutely. Is it hearty enough for a college essay? No. While it tells a good narrative of growth and progress, it remains on the surface of the writer’s life. It comes across as a convenient way to brag about your strengths instead of exploring them in a genuine way. In this example, the story also focuses on events that happened way too far in the past.

A song that changed your life

This approach is by far the most common cliche in college essays about music. We’ve all been there: a favorite song that transports you to a moment in your life whenever you hear it. It makes sense that you’d want to write about yours.

But there’s a problem with this approach. Too often, it reads as trite or unoriginal, and the end result usually doesn’t say much about the writer. And when it does, the message an admissions officer gets doesn’t typically give them any more reason to admit you. Since you want your college essay to be meaningful, even vulnerable, and strengths-based, you’re better off choosing another topic that better speaks to who you are.

Key Takeaways + Examples

College essays about music aren’t for everyone. But when you get it right, you can strike the perfect chord with admissions officers (you’re welcome for the pun).

As you go, dig deep, find something genuinely personal, and try to avoid the most common and cliche ways of approaching the topic.

Want to see some examples of college essays about music before you get started? Check out our examples, The Time Machine and The Band .

Liked that? Try this next.

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How to do a Video Essay: The Video Essay Process

• Plan, Prepare & Create

Storyboarding

• Finding, Filming & Editing
• References & Credits
• The Video Essay Process

This section will give an introductory overview of the stages required to create a video essay.  Video essayers advice is to start simple and work through each stage of the video production process. Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

Identify what is your argument? What is it that you want to communicate to the viewer? Write this down in a few sentences, refer and modify it as required.

Watch Video Essays

Watch a selection of video essays, read blogs and web pages from video essayers and decide what type of video essay you would like to create. Start simple.

A storyboard is a detailed outline (similar to an outline in a written essay) that helps you to organise and visualise the video essay as to what is on the screen, text, media, message and transitions between shots.

Storyboards assist in determining the length, message and meaning of the video essay and help save time with editing and post production processes.

• Free Storyboard Templates

Collect & Edit

Collect video material as downloads, ripping DVDs, screen grabs, mobile phone footage and create voice-overs. Use research skills to find information and statements to support your argument. Maintain a standard of quality and manage your videos by naming conventions and storage.

Use editing software and experiment with available functionality to enhance and support your argument. Add a voice-over, sound effects, music and other aspects of multimodality. Be sure to include references and credits to all sources used in creating the video essay.

Revisit elements of your video essay and modify as required.

Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

• Where to find video and how to capture it
• Video Editing Basics - iMovie
• Software Guides

References & Credits

References to cite sources used in the Video Essay. Referencing is a formal, systematic way of acknowledging sources that you have used in your video essay. It is imperative that you reference all sources used (including videos, stills, music, sfx) and apply the correct formatting so that references cited can be easily traced. The referencing style used at ECU is the APA style, 6th ed. 2010. Refer to the ECU Referencing Library Guide for accurate citation in APA style.

Production credits Individuals: acknowledgement of individuals and their role in the production. Purpose: A statement for internal use, e.g. “This video was produced for [course name] at [institution’s name] in [semester, year]”

• Referencing Library Guide
• << Previous: What is a Video Essay?
• Next: Modes, MultiModality & Multiliteracies >>
• What is a Video Essay?
• Modes, MultiModality & Multiliteracies
• A Pedagogy of Multiliteracies
• Modes Of Multimodality
• Video Essay Journals
• Video Essay Channels
• Weblinks to Video Essay Resources
• Weblinks to Creative Commons Resources
• Titles in the Library
• Referencing & Copyright
• Marking Rubric
• Last Updated: Aug 28, 2023 2:57 PM
• URL: https://ecu.au.libguides.com/video-essay

Edith Cowan University acknowledges and respects the Noongar people, who are the traditional custodians of the land upon which its campuses stand and its programs operate. In particular ECU pays its respects to the Elders, past and present, of the Noongar people, and embrace their culture, wisdom and knowledge.

How to Write a Music Essay? Music Analysis Essay Sample, Music Essay Topics

So, you’ve been assigned to write an essay about music. It might seem a bit confusing at a glance. After all, musicians are more used to dealing with notes, not words. But in actuality, music is a very rich topic that can be approached from a great multitude of various perspectives.

Every person has some degree of passion for music. And as such, every person can muster at least some inspiration to address this sort of assignment.

What Is a Music Essay

There is little sense in googling “What is music essay” or similar prompts. At its core, a musical essay has very little difference from your plain old essay writing assignment. It follows the same principles and structure. And you still have to make an adjustment for the essay type.

Any essay writing music enthusiast can come up with a dozen interesting topics off the top of their head. It can be about the abstract and the feeling certain melodies or instruments provoke within you. Or it can be as dry and technical as possible, discussing the intricacies of musical theory.

Music Essay Outline

A 5 paragraph essay setup is the golden standard of essay writing. In case you are not familiar with the basic essay writing music structure, let’s go over it again. Here’s how it looks:

• Body paragraphs (3-5)
• Counterpoint paragraph

You always start with a general introduction to the subject of your essay and an explanation of why you've chosen this particular topic. You don't usually go into details here, but it depends on your target audience. You follow it up with a thesis - a factual statement that serves as a foundation for the rest of the essay.

Body paragraphs contain your arguments. It’s usually one paragraph per argument. You can then dedicate a separate paragraph to an overview of possible counterpoints. Finally, you make a short summary in conclusion, reiterating your points and stressing your thesis once again.

Types and Formats

There are many different types and formats of a music essay. And it’s not just the genre that makes the difference. Apart from basic types like an explanatory essay and argumentative essay that you are familiar with - there are many variations. We will go over some of the most common and interesting types of music essays. We will also provide some music analysis examples for you to draw inspiration from.

Music Therapy Essay

A music therapy essay deserves its own spot on the list of types and formats. It's a very interesting type of music essay that overlaps with clinical psychology and its applications. Music therapy and its effects on people have been studied for a long time. Yet as music changes, students get an opportunity to explore different effects of it on the human psyche. 

Concert Report

A concert report is a pretty straightforward choice if you are a fan of these sorts of events. But even if you are not  - visiting one out of interest is an experience in and of itself. There’s nothing like being in the middle of a crowd united in their passion for music.

You may like the band, and you may dislike the noise. Whatever your personal feelings may be, they are guaranteed to be strong enough for you to be able to easily work the essay writing music. And this, in turn, will help you structure your thoughts showcasing all the benefits of music essay writing.

Song Analysis

Song analysis is probably the best choice for an essay on music, especially if you have never done essay writing music analysis before. You have definitely done something like this in your head before - listening to the song, thinking about what it makes you feel, analyzing the melody, the drums, the lyrics. A song analysis essay is pretty much the same thing. When dealing with the lyrics alone, you might find that a poem analysis has the same flow. Just this time, you’ll have to put it in writing.

Pick a familiar song, put it on, and start working. You’ll notice that thoughts form themselves, and the process is almost seamless. Below you will find the first of our music essay examples.

Song Analysis Sample

Performance or media comparison.

When you write an essay on music and don’t want to focus on one composition (or a single version of a composition) - you can opt for performance or media comparison. It will allow you to work with several sources at the same time. For example, you could compare two covers of a single song.

If you are making a comparison for the first time, it might be a good idea to pick tracks that are very much different from each other. A rock and a lofi version of the same composition is a great place to start.

Historical Analysis of a Piece

For this type of essay on music, you’ll have to be a bit of a history buff. Some people prefer to enjoy the sound itself without getting too much into who performs the composition. On the other hand, hardcore music fans frequently dive deep into the personal life of their favorite singers and musicians. And it doesn’t really matter whether you prefer rock songs or classical music.

If you are one of the latter, you’ll have no trouble writing a historical analysis essay on one of your favorite tracks. And even if you're not - you might find yourself uncovering some interesting facts about your playlist that add to its charm. That’s another one out of the long list of benefits of music essay writing.

How to Write a Music Analysis Essay?

When you are writing a music analysis essay, your best bet is to take your source material and break it down into separate components. It’s much easier to do when you are familiar with how music theory works. But even if you don’t - it’s not that hard to do. Try to look for aspects you understand well.

For example, you could break it up by instruments. Vocals, strings, keys, drums, etc. Each part of a band contributes to the overall sound of the composition in its own unique way. And if you dissect the song, you might find that even when analyzed separately from each other, each instrument creates its own melody.

To put things bluntly, writing an informative essay is pretty time-consuming. Dedicate enough time for essay writing. Ideally, you want to be able to take your time, allow yourself some breaks, have a buffer for proofreading and editing, and then still have a safety gap before the due date. You shouldn’t be in a rush when you are writing an essay on music (or any essay for that matter). Otherwise, you will find the quality of your writing deteriorating rapidly. Below you’ll find another one of our music essay examples. It’s an example of a music review essay.

Need help with nursing essay? Get medical school personal statement help .

Tips on Writing a Music Essay

Here are some tips on how to write a decent music essay. Before you even get to your music essay introduction - have another go at your subject. Listen to the song you’re going to write about. Read about the history of a band member. It doesn’t matter how well you know the subject of your writing. Refreshing the memories in your mind will put you in the right creative mood.

When looking through music essay titles, don’t think too much about which one to pick. Just choose the one that speaks to you and go with it. Time is money, and you don’t want to waste it on such a basic thing.

Once you figure things out with your music essay titles, find a music analysis essay example to reference in terms of structure and writing style.

Try not to get carried away too much. Music is a topic that inspires creativity. But you should always keep the essay structure in mind. It’s very easy to go overboard in your body paragraphs. Stick to your plan, keep it short. If you can’t fit all your thoughts into one paragraph - make it two or spend some time editing the unnecessary stuff out.

How to Choose Music Essay Topic

Normally, in an academic setting, whenever you write an essay on music history or theory, your professor will provide you with a topic. However, there are instances where you’ll be allowed free reign. This is your opportunity to show your creativity and passion for music.

Your best bet is to pick either a topic that you are knowledgeable about or one you are interested in learning more about. It can be the history of your favorite band or the musical analysis of an unusual composition you’ve heard recently. Choosing a complicated topic is probably not a good idea unless you are sure you can take it. It might sound interesting, but if it’s too much hassle - you’ll get bored pretty quickly.

Music Essay Topics: List

If you can’t muster enough inspiration to come up with a decent topic (something like “what is music essay” is probably not the best choice) - don’t worry. Here is a list of 30 cool music essay topics you can pull from essay service review or get inspired by:

30 Best Music Essay Topics

• What Influence Has Music Had on the World's Biggest Cultural Events?
• The History of Music Production
• Evolution of Music in Different Countries
• How Different Music Genres Connect
• The Difference Between Contemporary Culture and Popular Music
• How Music in Your Own Country Connect with Music in Other Countries
• How Social Class Is Connected to Music Genre
• How Has Culture Contributed to Music Production?
• The Importance of Music Theory as Far as Music Production Is Concerned
• How Is Poetry Related to Music?
• The Role of Music in Impacting the Society
• The Role of Classical Music in The Current Music Production Industry
• What Music Does to The Human Brain
• The Role of Women in Music Production
• The Hardships That Minority Groups Face in Today’s Music Industry
• The Trend of Culture That Is Propagated by Music Over the Years
• Challenges That Advancements Have Brought to The Music Industry
• How Music Creation Affects Peoples’ Way of Thinking
• Cultural Characteristics That Are Prevalent in Modern Music
• The Connection Between Modern Music and Music in The Past Time Periods.
• The Role of Music in Creating Political Propagandas
• What Is High Culture and Low Culture According to Current Music?
• The Impact of Modern Music on The Society
• The Connections Between Music and Other Media Types
• The Origin of Different Musical Instruments
• Important Processes in The Current Music Production Industry
• Why Should a Musical Artist Find Someone Else to Write Music for Them?
• Vital Components of Skilled Musicians in Music Production
• The Differences Between Music and Poetry in The Way They Influence Society
• Is It Important for One to Read Music in Order to Succeed?

Music Style Essay Topics

• Does metal music lead to violent behavior?
• How can playing a musical instrument help a person's mental state?
• The protest music of Northern Ireland
• How has rock music changed since the 70s?
• Exploring the culture of punk rock in the United Kingdom.
• The tones and scales of Middle Eastern music
• Why is “praise and worship” a separate genre of music?
• The most popular misconceptions about country music in the United States
• The songs of war and protest in the United States
• The stress relief through the lens of extreme styles of metal music

Music Argumentative Essay Topics

• How has rap music affected modern social movements?
• The role of music education in the United States
• How can cultural conflicts be settled down with the help of music?
• The role of musical collaborations during pandemic times
• John Lennon: from children of the flowers to strong political statements.
• Military matters: the presence of music in the military
• Popular music and its effect on the distorted body image model
• Copyright issues and protection of intellectual property
• The use of music education in elementary school curriculums
• Should music created by the computer be considered art?
• The use of music in political campaigns
• Can a person's character be identified by their musical tastes?
• Does playing a musical instrument lead to better writing skills?

Music Essay Sample

Here is the music essay sample from law essay writer for you to check:

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• Writing Tips

8 Tips on How to Write a Music Review

• 3-minute read
• 16th May 2020

When you write a music review, you’re aiming to share your impression of the music with the reader. And when you’re reviewing an album, these tips will help you to write something that is readable and engaging.

Before you start writing a review, listen to the music from start to finish at least twice. As you listen, note down your initial thoughts and feelings.

Next, think about how you will introduce and summarize the music. As well as sitting down to listen critically to the music, it might help to listen through speakers or headphones as you go about your day.

2. Research Is Key

Once you’ve listened to the music, do your research. Read articles and interviews with the artist to gather facts about them and the music you’re reviewing. It can also help to read other people’s reviews so you become familiar with the language used in music writing.

3. Think About Context

Think about the music in the context of its genre and the artist’s history. How does it compare with the rest of its genre? Is it a classic example of bubblegum pop, or does it bend the boundary between heavy metal and hardcore punk? And how does it compare to the artist’s previous work?

4. Consider Different Angles

Think about all aspects of the album: how it works as a whole, the individual songs, the lyrics, the artwork , the instrumentation, and its production. Set out your overall impression and go into detail on anything you find interesting (e.g., a theme running through the lyrics or a repeating melody).

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5. Avoid Bias

If you write for as wide an audience as possible, try to be objective. Whether it’s music by your favorite artist or a band and genre you hate, try not to let this cloud your judgement. If you don’t like an artist or a genre, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of the music is bad.

6. Be Honest

It might be tempting to copy what everyone else is writing about the music, but your review should give your honest opinion. If you loved an album that the rest of the world seems to despise, let everyone know!

You can acknowledge other people’s opinions and general attitudes to the music, but it is your review and therefore your own opinion matters most.

7. Write Clearly

Your review should be clear and readable. For longer reviews, use subheadings and cover different aspects of the album in separate sections to make it easy to follow. You can also include images of the artist or the album artwork to break up the text and illustrate your writing.

8. Edit Your Review

Once you’ve written a first draft of your review, think about how to edit it. Look for ways to make it clear and memorable. It may help to read it aloud or ask others to give you feedback. Make revisions where necessary, and remember to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation .

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632 Music Essay Topics & Samples

The scholarly analysis of musical history, theory, and cultural aspects of music is called musicology. If you are studying this subject, our team has prepared 507 amazing topics about music for your paper.

📑 Aspects to Cover in a Music Essay

🏆 best topics about music, 👍 good music topics for research papers, 🎓 simple & easy music essay topics, 📌 unique music topics for essays, ⭐ interesting music topics to write about, 🥇 insightful music titles for essays, ❓ music essay questions.

You can write about many different types of music, ranging from classical arrangements of Mozart and Beethoven to pop compositions made via computers. Look through our music essay examples to find the best idea!

Whether you understand the subtleties of terminology or are taking a course to begin your journey, writing a music essay requires more than the knowledge of various musical pieces.

Tackling different topics, ranging from contemporary to classical music, is possible if you can explain a few cornerstone moments to your readers. To begin your essay, make sure to:

• Research your assigned piece in different ways, from listening to reading about it;
• Immerse yourself in the material;
• Search for additional insights by watching live performances when possible.

These actions ensure that you have a good grasp of your material from different sources. Creating an outline before beginning to write will also save you time, as you will gain a better understanding of the topic.

Finally, you can get music essay ideas from reading examples of other’s work.

Avoid plagiarism, as this will immediately disqualify your paper from academic merit, as music essay examples should inspire your writing, rather than become the basis for it.

After your initial research and the execution of the pre-writing stages, you can start focusing on the details of your assignment. Straightway, music appreciation becomes an essential prerequisite to your essay.

You should find what elements resonate with you in your task and focus on developing them into factual statements.

For example, if you like the sound, then elaborate this feeling into a coherent thought that explains why. Conversely, if you do not find any part enjoyable, then do the same, but remember to remain academic and respectful.

Another important aspect of your essay is the history of the assigned piece, which you can address after your introduction. Doing so will help your readers be on the same level of knowledge as you, the essay’s writer.

Without a historical backdrop, jazz becomes just another funky-sounding genre, not a monument to America’s 20th-century rebellious tendencies.

Thus, explain how a particular piece came into existence or why was it created to increase its importance in your audience’s eyes. Furthermore, you may even compare it against other sample music of its time.

Understand that music essay topics need to be technical and explain any occurring background processes, from composition to execution.

Therefore, your bibliography should include a variety of book and journal titles. These have to demonstrate the level of your research and support your ideas with credible references.

This advice may be especially relevant if you are writing a highly technical or instrumental essay, as it allows explaining complicated concepts with ease and trustworthiness.

After you have covered technical, perception-related, and historical aspects of your subject as per your initial outline, you can integrate information about its impact on future compositions.

The continuous flow of history from the past to the future should help you support your work and uphold its importance in the broader context. Additionally, doing so enables you to lead your essay to a well-rounded conclusion.

Finally, from music essay titles that have to grab your readers’ attention to grouping paragraphs with a single theme under one subheading, you can begin finalizing your essay.

Remember the importance of explaining the different sides to your problem and tie them all together in your conclusion.

This action makes your work a comprehensive study on your subject, educating your readers, and correctly presenting information in an easy-to-read format.

Want to know other aspects of writing about music? Go to IvyPanda to find out more essay samples!

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• Javanese Music, Its History and Aspects Specifically, the gamelan music style uses metallic idiophones and drums, which are the unique features of Javanese music. Two tuning systems are used in the Javanese music, viz.the Sandro and pelog.
• Lucky Dube as the Icon in the Reggae Music Industry In addition to this, the song talks about a contemporary issue which affected and still affects the lives of millions of people globally.
• Fallin’ by Alicia Keys: Music Reflection I particularly recall this song because my mother liked it and often tried to explain to me the meaning of the lyrics.
• Music Effects on the Brain However, listening to music has the ability to inspire the hormones and raise the levels of these elements to equilibrium, making the brain to work optimally.
• The Social Impact of Reggae Music Many reggae artists criticize and oppose the prevalence of injustice and oppression in many parts of the world that arise from poor governance and unstable political systems. In addition, it is also known for the […]
• Ludwig Van Beethoven: Life, Music, & Influences Neefe was not a renowned musician; in fact, he was most influential to Beethoven in the shaping up of his ideals rather than in his music compositions. According to Beethoven’s accounts of his deafness, the […]
• Music in Films: “The Shawshank Redemption” The movie “The Shawshank Redemption” is an outstanding work of art that has influenced the lives, actions, and goals of many people in every corner of the world.
• How Music Can Influence Our Behaviour In order to understand exactly how work productivity increases as a result of music, it is essential to know the difference between mood and arousal. As one listens to a piece of music, one is […]
• “The Hurt Locker”: Music in the Movie The film presents a realistic performance of the events soldiers go through while in the line of duty. The music in that scene, therefore, enhances a reflection the dangerous environment of the war.
• Music and the French Revolution They also wanted to do away with the Christianity as well as the old method of days of the week and naming the years from the birth of Christ.
• Music Genre Influence on the Heart Rate Jazz and Classical music genres diminish the heart rate because their rhythms have a slow pace that creates a peaceful ambiance for the body and heart to relax.
• “In the Mood for Love”: Music Analysis The director of In the Mood for Love uses music throughout the film to set the mood in the film and enhance the musical background that was typical of Hong Kong in the 1960s.
• Creative Arts and Music Lesson Plan and Activities The focus on the listed activities is essential not only for developing skills in music but also for improving students’ knowledge and abilities in different areas because music activities provide individuals with opportunities to enhance […]
• The Influence of the Cultural Current “Modernism” on the Conception of Music in the 20th Century Modernism movement provoked composers changed their music from any possible perspective, and one of the most frequent was the change of music language and the necessity “to turn a composition into a ‘text’ constructed of […]
• Classical Music: Merriam’s Tripartite Model of Music Classical music is characterized by the harmony that is full of chromaticism. Music is meant to provide a meaningful interaction of the body and soul.
• Teaching a Musical Instrument in School The drive towards musical achievement is of great inherent value to both the learner and the society. The learners are the central point with the head teacher, the leader of music service, the class teacher, […]
• Music Museums: Role and Success The success of the Music Museum depends on its organization. It attracts many people and makes them come several times in regard to the customer-oriented strategy.
• French Revolution: Role of Propaganda and Music The history of propaganda is based on three interweaving fundamentals: first, the mounting need, with the growth of civilization and the rise of nation-state, to win the battle for people’s minds; second, the increasing sophistication […]
• Racism in Music: “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue” The extreme popularity of the song among the black population can be explained with references to the fact that Armstrong changed the original lyrics to accentuate the social meaning of the composition and elaborated the […]
• Stravinsky’s and Schoenberg’s Music Comparison Due to the differences in their approach to the concept of composing, as well as their very understanding of music, Stravinsky and Schoenberg’ interpretation of sound represented one of the crucial points of difference.
• Kirk Franklin and Gospel Music One of the most popular gospel artists of the new millennium is Kirk Franklin and his contribution to contemporary gospel music is unparalleled.
• Contemporary Music and Its Influence on People It is not easy to single out the central directions and build a particular hierarchy in the modern art world, including music.
• The Role of Music in the Film “Titanic” Also, it will discuss the content and themes of the movie and explain the role played by music in the movie.
• History of Rock Music: The Influence and Importance of Bon Jovi Jon Bon Jovi is among such influencers and redefiners of the rock anthem, and the purpose of this paper is to study his career and find out why it is crucial to include Jovi in […]
• Spanish Gypsy Flamenco Music and Its History In the 1780s, all these explanations assume that the music of the indigenous Andalucians was combined with the music of the gypsies and came to be known as the flamenco music.
• Music Video: ‘Anaconda’ by Nicki Minaj The main course for the controversy is that the film is decidedly raunchy, and this has resulted in its opposition by many people who feel it is both immoral and misleading, especially to younger generations.
• Classical and Rock Music Genres As for the differences between rock and classical, the first thing that comes to mind is the length of the songs.
• The Preservation of Our Cultural Heritage: Music for Entertainment and Communication Similar to how music plays a significant role in the lives of many people, it is an important aspect of history and culture.
• Rap As a Music Genre The differences heard in music depend on the genre of the piece of art that has been adapted. In my opinion rap music is justified to be classified as music as it has left up […]
• YouTube Case: Copyright Infringement of Music and Films The aim of the current research is to assess YouTube’s copyright infringement of music and films. The DMCA is a copyright law in the United States, and it protects the company from copyright infringement among […]
• How Baroque Era Influenced the Music World? It was during the Baroque era that artists manipulated the ‘opera music’: a style that employed the use of instruments and drama to perfection.
• Taylor Swift’s New Music Video “Blank Space” By mans of using images, colors, rhetorical devices, music, traditional stereotypes about women and her own social background and history Taylor Swift presents the viewers with what they have been waiting to see, the well […]
• Role of Music in Our Life It is of great importance to recognize a childs inclinations in order to develop them in a full manner in future.
• Music Sampling: Concept and History While the producer uses a sound track to establish the best music genres to combine, the sampler, which is the machine records, keeps, controls, and rewinds music.
• Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Music Analysis The piece starts from the crescendo emphasizing the worries and fears of the dying person. The ascendant rhythm of this part also expresses the image of the sacral process of dying and connection with God.
• Music From Around the World Music can be described as both traditional and modern where traditional music is seen as old and longstanding, while modern music is contemporary and present.
• Music Styles and Their Differences The Classical and the Romantic styles of music are characterized by several significant differences in terms of treatment of forms, genres, and the general content of the music.
• Music Technology in Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd’ Songs When it comes to identifying the instrumental elements that make Thriller unique as not only as one of the pop songs of the 80s, but also pop songs in general, the variety of the instruments […]
• Music Industry & Technology: Benefits and Threats One of the advantages that technology introduced to the music industry is that it has enabled the distribution of music all over the world, thus increasing sales.
• The History of Mambo Music Despite the fact that mambo was brought to the general American public in a bright commercial wrapping, the original mambo sound and rhythms gradually won the hearts of the devoted audiences.
• Serialism as a Technique of Composing Pieces of Music The paper examines the meaning of serialism in music with reference to the classical writings of early music composers such as Adorno and Dahlhaus.
• Antonio Vivaldi: The Study of Music Studying the life and work of Vivaldi can help to place this and other famous concertos in context and to learn more about the influences that affected Vivaldi’s music throughout his life.
• Comparison Between Music and Style in 1950’s and Music and Styles in 1970’s This has for example been one of the differences that are realized with respect to the music of the 1950s and the music that was realized in the 1970s.
• Eminem’s and Kendrick Lamar’s Music Compared In essence, the audience is drawn to actively participate in the song through narration and dance as the artists have mastered the art of combining their lyrics and style in different ways to keep their […]
• Tupac and Gender: Sexuality in His Music He is the perfect Tupac who adores and supports women going through a crisis.”Keep yah Head Up” is another inspirational song to black women, it is a call for black women to stand firm and […]
• Fela Kuti: Music Is the Weapon Shot in Lagos, Nigeria, at the peak of Kuti’s career, the film contains a series of heartfelt, sincere, and courageous interviews with the pioneer of the Afrobeat genre.
• Music and Its Effects on Culture Therefore, it could be concluded that music can create some of the diversity issues such as culture, and it can directly impact a culture.
• The Rent Broadway Musical’s Analysis This is a musical, and the type of performance is an ensemble since the majority of songs are performed by a group of actors, although there are several solo performances as well.
• History of Pop Music in the World: Cultural and Social Changes Later, following the evolvement of industries and development of urban centers, also the lifestyle of poor people improved considerably and this lead to the improvement of music among the poor and the rich.
• Why We Shouldn’t (Don’t) Pay for Online Music With the start of the IT sector and internet, the basic structures of the social and economic context began to change. This is a commendable aspect of the online stores and it actually helps the […]
• Mozart: Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 This paper offers an overview of the Requiem in D minor, analyzing the musical composition, examining the orchestration’s expressive devices, and providing a historical frame.
• Ludovico Einaudi’s Music Analysis Ludovico Einaudi is a rebel from the world of academic music, a fan of pop music of the 60s. The choice of the composition “Fly” is determined by the fact that this kind of music […]
• Reggae, Disco, and Funk Musical Styles Reggae, funk, and disco, despite the difference in rhythm, message, and sound, were intended to unite the art of music into a global musical movement.
• How We Listen to Music by Aaron Copeland The only advantage to be gained from mechanically splitting up the listening process into these hypothetical planes is the clearer view to be had of the way in which we listen In this sentence he […]
• Economic and Music Industry’ Relationship in South Africa One of the main challenges, faced by the representatives of this industry is the low level of awareness about local composers and performers.
• Technology and Music Industry The impact of file sharing technology in the music industry has been a major obstacle to its advancement. In a clearer way, the future purchase and sale of music is anticipated to be easier.
• Persian Music: Improvisation and Composition. Welcome to Dariush Eghbali’s Enchanted World In the case with Dariush Eghbali’s concert, the settings work exactly the way they should, introducing the audience to the world of the Persian music and making them dive into the unknown style.
• The Importance of Music Universality By listening to and playing music from other cultures, people can learn about the traditions and beliefs of others. Thus, the universal nature of music is displayed in its ability to create strong bonds and […]
• Music Therapy for Schizophrenic Patients’ Quality of Life Consequently, the purpose of the project will be to review the existing literature and prepare a document with recommendations regarding MT in the discussed population, including psychiatric nurses’ acceptable role in delivering such interventions.
• Music in China and Some East Asian Countries The soil and woods of the plain of the Yellow River became the key elements of the cultural paradigm of China.
• Is There Such a Thing as Impressionism in Music? The title of the cycle may also call into play the very process of reflecting and mirroring, both the “reflection” of moods in colors or sounds and a person’s mirroring in social interaction, including feedback […]
• Music Therapy as a Social Work Intervention One of such interventions is music therapy which is aimed at helping people in a sensitive way accurately adjusting the possibilities this therapy may offer to the requirements of a particular client of a group […]
• Music as a Contemporary Art Creativity involves manipulating words to appeal to the audience and for the audience to be able to relate to the music easily.
• The Development of Twentieth-Century Music: Schoenberg vs. Stravinsky Walter notes “Schoenberg was linked to the expressionist movement in German poetry and art and he was also a leader of the Second Viennese School”.[2] Schoenberg’s major milestone in the musical scene of the 20th […]
• Musical “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda The character of Alexander Hamilton is central to the musical, as his narrative reveals some of the major historical events such as the battle of Yorktown, issuing Amendments to the US Constitution, and the evolvement […]
• Patriotism in Music and Songs of America Patriotism can be defined as the attachment to a country and its core attributes, which does not always equal loyalty to the government or a sense of superiority.
• Robert Schumann: His Life and Music Schumann was no different in taking this approach from the other composers of his time, but his subjectivity enabled him to express it in unique ways.
• Choral Music History The origin of this form of music is the traditional music that people sung in groups across multiple traditional cultures. To enhance the outcome of the voices, choral music could be sung with or without […]
• My Changing Taste in Music In this paper, I set out to discuss two different types of music that highlight my changing taste through the years.
• The Role of Music in My Life Story: Little Words With More Meaning I am lucky to carry the power of jazz and classic through my childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, believing that no words in music create better possibilities for listeners to focus, create, and deal with emotions.
• Salsa, Reggaeton, and Merengue: The Spanish Music Genres The genre itself originated at the very end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. This genre is one of the most widespread and incendiary dances in the world.
• The Television Impact on the Music Industry Some bands, such as the Monkees, the American response to the Beatles, were created with the purpose of television performance as their acting and on-camera comfort as a group were initially prioritized over music.
• History of Rock Music: Aerosmith The band drew their inspiration from the British blues rock that dominated the rock scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s, such as Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck Group, and the Rolling Stones.
• The Rhetoric of Bob Fosse: Eroticism and Humor in a Musical This was originally a musical produced by Fosse in 1966 and he translated it into the big screen. However, the credit for creating a new style in musical belongs to Fosse.
• Traditional Korean Music and Culture The most ancient type of this kind of music came up in the course of the invasion of the Japanese and it was called teuroteu. Today it is made of three holes in the front […]
• Semiotic Analysis and Content Analysis to a Music Videos What are the female gender words used in the lyrics in the studied music videos? What are the themes of the lyrics and the music videos?
• Music Appreciation: Reggae Music and Classical Music At the end of the paper, the relationships between reggae and classical music will be considered with the emphasis made on the similarities between the genres.
• Online Music Store’s Website Development Planning The main purpose of the website is to ensure a stable connection to the service and provide its users with the ability to connect with each other.
• Music in the “Pearl Harbor” Film by Michael Bay The United States of America sent the marine and aviation troops to repulse the attack of the Japanese army on the “Pearl Harbor”, the American military base on the Hawaiian Islands.
• Benny Carter, a Life in American Music He divorced three times and finally settled with the fifth wife He was the only male in a family of six children.
• Folk Music: A Tool for Culture Transmission Percy was of the opinion that there was a separate form of music for the urban setting and a different one for the rural setting describing the latter as folk music.
• Revisiting New Jazz Music Concert Nevertheless, because of a new and imaginative way to interpret the compositions known by millions of people for quite a while, the concert left a huge impact on me and changed my perception of the […]
• Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong: Jazz Music Louis Armstrong is described to be the man best known around the would as the founding father of Jazz while on the other hand, Dizzy Gillespie is reputed to have music that is a major […]
• Expressionist Movement Art and Schoenberg Music The painting presents harmony and the presentation of the changes happening in the world in a similar way that the music does.
• Eminem’s Life and Music Career Without the father’s support, the relationship in the family was unstable, and the unfortunate financial situation led to conflicts with Mather’s relatives, thus leaving a psychological trauma in his mind.
• Shaped by Politics: Charles Ives’s Music Ives’s music reflected his idea of political past, connected to his deep sense of responsibility within the societal political arrangements- the kind of responsibility associated with republicanism and colonial revival as the two 19th century […]
• Nineteenth Century Musical Nationalism: Important Milestones A great hero of Italian music and opera, Verdi is put in the front reference when it comes to music discussion, nineteenth century Italy and nationalism.
• Music in Films: Composers, Soundtracks and Themes The genesis of Zimmer’s approach in many of his films to production is based on non-diegetic leitmotifs and the use of textures.
• Fashion in Clothing, Music, and Moods Often, the word “fashion” is used in relation to clothing, but this encompasses only one part of fashion. It is a combination of melancholy and fear that makes them appealing to the cyberpunk fashion.
• Enigma’s “Return to Innocence” Music Video Using this approach, the authors of the video were able to transform the narrative structure and bring to the forefront the meaning of the song.
• Louis Armstrong’s and Bix Beiderbecke’s Jazz Music When examining the reason behind Armstrong’s worldwide popularity in comparison to the relative obscurity of Beiderbecke, it is immediately obvious that the main reason behind this was due to the fact that Armstrong was willing […]
• Music Value and Impact Music reduces pain and unease in patients under the medication and in the dentistry field. Harmonization and teamwork in a cluster are motivated by music through the stimulation and synchronization in the movement of workers.
• Introducing Children to Music As such one of the early opportunities for children to use or be introduced to music is to help them understand concepts in relation to rhythm and melody.
• The Impact of Western Society on the Music Cultures of Other Societies in the World The following segments explain the components of Australian music culture, including musical instruments, songs and some of the functions in which music plays a fundamental role.
• The Place of Folk Music in Contemporary Society The second is the type of music that sprouted from traditional music in the 20th century. The same link extends to folk music and culture given that the former is a genre of folk lore.
• Comparison of Music Examples of Rhythm As a consequence, each member of a musical ensemble is accountable for their rhythmic performances and is required to adhere to the musical rhythms and patterns specified by the composer of the piece.
• The Influence of Patronage on the History of Music The end of the sixteenth century became one of the most critical moments in history due to the expansion of the sources of income of composers from churches and courts, as well as wealthy lovers […]
• Effects of Lullaby Music on Quality of Sleep in Adults With Insomnia Insomnia consists of deprivation of the duration and quality of sleep, which affects the psychological and physical condition of people. In addition, the main limitation may be the unreliability of the information provided by the […]
• The Term of Aleatoric Music and Its Meaning The instrumental music surrounding the voices leads to sadness and a feeling of calm as one feels they have to let go of the issue as it is not under one’s control.
• Methods of Elementary School Music Teaching The key research questions are focused on the most suitable method for teaching singing and playing instrumental music; the application of the methods in the middle and lower grades of primary school; a comparison of […]
• Music Listening: Millennium Stage by Apollo Orchestra The musical compositions of these authors formed the basis for a concert that touched the heart and soul of every listener in the hall.
• Influence of African-American Culture on Rock n Roll Music Rock and Roll were introduced to the mainstream in the 1950s by white musicians such as Elvis Presley. Rock and Roll was a distinct amalgamation of different genres of African-American music such as jazz, blues, […]
• The Art Integration of Music Art Form In addition, it is important to note that music as an art form is comprised of improvisation, notation, and composition, where the latter is a process of song and music creation, a notation is the […]
• Film Musical History: From the Beginning to the Rise and Fall The cinema of attractions elicits a high level of awareness of the film image, piquing the audience’s interest, and renouncing narrative cinema’s storytelling role.
• Musical Exposure and Its Effect on Biochemical Changes Last, to policymakers and nursing practitioners, the effect of specific music types on various biochemical messengers lays solid ground for understanding music’s function in physiological mechanisms.
• Music Styles: Difference and Similarity of Styles 3 In alt-country, the number and variety of instruments, and the sounding of the compositions differ from the traditional country music rules and is closely linked to the rock-n-roll music features.
• Hogaku: Traditional Japanese Music Music is often divided into Western and Non-Western; Japanese music belongs to Non-Western music and it has a number of peculiarities all of which should be discussed in order to present an ethnographic report on […]
• 19th Century Music and the Cult of Virtuoso Performers Modulation of rarely used keys became a common style for the composers, and unlike the classical structure of music, listeners were less predictive of the rise and fall of the tone and volume.
• How Does Piracy Affect the Music Industry? With the advent of the Internet, music piracy is now nothing short of a norm, because while most individuals do admit that it is wrong, few would go to the extent of classifying it as […]
• The Music of the 60s and How It Became So Big Before the end of the century, the electronic and economic world was cast under the clouds of the Y2K bug and the hype-makers on the one hand made fitting tributes such as the musician of […]
• Meaning of Musical Ekphrasis This means that arts developed closely connected and nowadays, more and more pieces of art are being created not by a single kind of art but by the combination of them that provides the reader […]
• Franz Schubert: His Life and Music 1809-1812: He composed several piano pieces and songs for his mother’s death and father’s birthday. 1819-1820: Franz’s compositions and styles matured.
• Music’s Role in Culture Music and Youth Culture by Dan Laughey is a book entirely dedicated to the role and functions of music in the youth culture.
• Renaissance Music Shift From Sacred to Secular The purpose of this paper is to describe how the shift of musical themes from sacred to secular was illustrated in renaissance music.
• Classical and Contemporary Music Comparison Lyrical content is of great import to hip-hop and has spawned a new style of singing that has riveted the audiences’ attention to this music.
• Music in Saudi Arabia Music related to pearling and seafaring is part of the classical music in this region, and this is as a direct result of the sailing history of the people.
• Classical Music: Influence on Brain and Mood Considering the potential positive effects of classical music on the mood and the brain, the music can be adapted to influence people to behave in certain ways.
• Popular Music: Meaningful Contributions to Social and Political Change Music has different classifications depending on various factors including the period in which the music was developed, the type of instruments that the musicians use, the cultural identity of the society that subscribes to the […]
• Electronic Music (Within the 20th Century Art Music Tradition) This paper seeks to look into the electronic music within the 20th century art music tradition, which uses musical instruments that have to be connected electrically and use of electronic music technology The 20th century […]
• Music of the Civil Wars, Civil Rights & Freedom Movements of Europe, Africa, North & South America During the 20th Century The aim of Giovinezza was to reinforce the position of Mussolini as the leader of the Fascist Movement and of Italy.
• Classical Music: Composer Philip Glass Classic music emerged in the beginning of the 11th century in the West. Conclusion Philip Glass is a great composer who has helped conserve the unique nature of classical music.
• When Words Are not Enough: The Magic of Music Speaking of the melody of each piece, one must necessarily mark that the peculiarities of each composition are emphasized with help of the original interpretation of the orchestra.
• The Life and Music of Frederic Chopin Called “The boldest and the proudest poetic spirit of the age” by his musical contemporary Robert Schumann[1], Chopin embodied the essential ideas of the romantic period with his tragedy of losing his native land and […]
• How Music Influenced English Poetry Until 1750 Most of the English writers of the 17th and the 18th century were in one way or other songwriters. In this period, the whole of the Great Britain was experiencing boost to the economy and, […]
• History of Jazz Music Due to the unification of different states, America enjoys a diverse culture, which is the basis for the growth of jazz in the world.
• Protests and Music of the Vietnam War As the public absorbed the announcement, and the truth behind the war, they were angered by the fact that many American lives had been lost in the war, and the fact that the government was […]
• The Future of Music Production However, in order to determine whether quality in music is lost in using modern technology, we need to compare analogue and digital music production systems that many claim to be the cause of the deterioration […]
• The Importance of Film Music The musical accompaniment significantly affects the scene’s atmosphere and how the audience will perceive it. This scene reveals the development of the protagonist’s madness, the Joker takes control of Arthur for the first time.
• History and Influence of Folk Music Thus, the idea spread of folk being “for the people and by the people”. The Kingston Trio’s pop-sensitive approach was favored by the public and defined folk music for many general listeners.
• Music, Its Definition and Evolution It is in a romantic era when different types and functions of music were developed, followed by 20th-century music, where there was an increase in music listening and the emergence of new technology which made […]
• Music in “Mrs. Doubtfire” the Film by Chris Columbus Shore focused on the utilization of flute, clarinet, and vibraphone in this piece to emphasize a kind of mystery and uncertainty.
• Jazz Music Concert and Theatrical Performance I was listening to the bands and could not stop moving as I felt as if the music was the beat of my heart.
• Chicano Music in American-Mexican Culture Some great musicians such as Jeffrey Pierce used their cultural heritage to produce the best Chicano songs. Their songs highlighted the experiences and hopes of many Latinos in the country.
• Music Harmony Studying Harmony is the opposite of melody since the latter is taken as the horizontal characteristic of music while the former is taken as the vertical characteristic of music.
• Music in the Ancient Greece The history of music in ancient Greece dates back to the 6th century BCE when the first music lessons were introduced in the learning institutions. The ‘clappers’ were the other category of music instruments that […]
• Frank Zappa: Music Industry and American Culture In his response to the various issues raised about him by them and the music he played he was not apologetic to anyone.
• Traditional Uses of Music in Christian Worship Services Christians have traditionally used music to encourage the believers to learn lessons on unity, and to challenge them to live as per the words of their songs.
• Analysis of Music Video In this work the discussion is going to focus on a hip hop video by one of the greatest MCs in the industry by the stage name of NAS born Nasir Jones, Nas released the […]
• Analysis of Music Pieces in Terms of Rhythm, Melody, and Texture The significance of the initial phrase is emphasized by the fact that it is repeated four times at the beginning of the piece, then in the middle of the piece, and then developed in a […]
• Sound, Harmony, Melody, Rhythm and Growth in Music The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the idea of categories that assist people in listening to music. It is interesting to see how these SHMRG elements affect my perception of music and […]
• Quincy Jones’ Biography and Career in Music He has worked with artists from Africa, Europe, and South America and has been a pivotal figure in the growth of world music. His contributions to the music world will continue to be a source […]
• The Invention and the Power of Music This moment was the beginning of a practical study of the benefits of music therapy for the mental and physical condition of a person.
• Classical Symphonies: Investigating Style Evolution of Western Classical Music The formative period of classical music was between the 18th and 19th centuries. Beethoven wrote music slowly and purposely with the romantics’ guidance.
• Modernist Movement in Music: Investigating Style Evolution of Western Classical Music The modernist movement in music seems appropriate for this paper because of the unique and exciting styles of composing modern-era music, such as jazz, pop, and rock.
• Music and Consumption: The Effects of Background Music The deconstruction of distinctive elements of music and consumption steers the proficient justification of the interdependent relationship between music and people’s well-being.
• Race Represented in American and Chinese Music In order to achieve the objective, the author defines and put into practice the idea of “Blacksound” the audible and physical heritage of blackface performances as the source of all popular music, art, and culture […]
• The Impact of Hip-Hop Music Education in Elementary School The theoretical justification of the article is the importance of music, in particular the style of hip-hop, in the formation of the system of interests and career goals of schoolchildren.
• Race and Development of Music in America
• The Concepts of Beauty Applied to the Music
• Ellison’s Living with Music: Narrative Argument
• Public Relations Issues in the Music Industry
• The Bulgarian Music Tradition
• Music: Genres, Instruments, and Elements
• Effects of Different Music on Psychological State
• Understanding The Doors’ Music: Listening Journal
• Roots of Contemporary Popular Music
• Editing and Music as Tools for Guiding the Narrative
• Survival and Memory in Music of the Ghosts by Ratner
• The Evolution of Popular Music
• Music Therapy as Experiential Activity
• Music Performance Anxiety Alleviation
• Philosophizing About Music and Its Evolution
• Jazz Music in New Orleans and Its Early Roots
• “Bodies of Evidence… in Electrovocal Music” Article by Bosma
• Professional Development in the Music Industry
• “Riot Grrrl” as a Phenomenon in Protest Music
• Gender Neutrality in a Music Video: “Beneath” by Happy Little Clouds
• The Role of Music in Personal Growth
• Researching of Musical Romanticism
• Music Appreciation: Marriage of Figaro
• Rock Music and Led Zeppelin’s Impact on It
• The Late Baroque Style in Music
• Plato’s Theory of Musical Education
• Mozart’s Music and Its Impact on Children
• Sex-Specific Effects of Music Listening on Couples’ Stress in Everyday Life
• Art and Music Therapy Coverage by Health Insurance
• Discussion of Jay Z Uniting Art and Music
• The Mowtown Music Entertainment
• “By the Beautiful Blue Danube” Music in Squid Game
• Key Terms of the Sampling in Music
• Music Used to Raise MegaEvents
• Musical Museums: Traditional Canons
• Musical Style of African America Gospel
• “Making Sense of Music. Foundations for Music Education” by Durrani and Welch
• Aesthetic Philosophy: The Ambivalence of Music
• Analysis of “The Crimson Grail” Musical Piece
• Michelangelo’s Sculpture and Webber’s Music Analysis
• Variety Issues of Music Forms and Instruments
• Media Role in Black Music
• Music and Musicians in the Service of Social Movements
• The Midnight Special Prison Music
• “Hippie Aesthetic” in Relation to Musical Elements
• Identity, Drugs and Music in Literature
• Analysis of Country Break-Up Music
• History and True Meaning of African American Slave Music
• Music in the Service of Social Movements
• The “Bang Bang Baby” Science Fiction Musical
• James Brown’s Career in Soul Music
• The Musical Instrument Selection in the Baroque Period
• The Influence of Music on a Person
• The Influence of Radio on American Culture and Popular Music
• Charles Bolden’s Influence on Jazz Music
• The Rhythm Section in Creating Rock Music
• Women and Music: In the Past and in Modern Times
• Music Therapy in Healthcare
• Interpretive Dance and Costume Design in Enhancing Music and Plays
• How Wagner’s Preludes Transformed Opera Music
• Jazz Music: Characteristics of an F7 Chord
• The “Legally Blonde” Musical by O’Keefe and Benjamin
• Romantic Music: French, Italian, and German Operas
• “Peter Pan”: The Broadway Musical
• Hillbilly vs. Race Music Impact on American Radio
• Kenny Rodgers: Country Music Icon
• Important Role of Music in Advertising
• Bach and Stravinsky: The Pioneers of Musical Composition
• Caribbean or Latin Music vs. Norteno, Conjunto, Tejano, and Banda
• The Use of Music in the Modern World
• Music Perception and Its Three Planes
• Placebo: Black Market Music or Music of the Yellow Press
• African-American Music From the 1920s to 1990s
• Social Commentary in Pop Music Industry
• Technologies & Music: “Infernal Machines” by Alex Ross
• Patriotism in Music of Lee Greenwood, Jean Sibelius, John Legend and Others
• Luke Combs’ Country Music Concert in 2020
• Music and the Civil Rights Movement
• “Cosi Fan Tutte” Opera and “Legally Blond” Musical
• Music and Advertising in Television
• “Sugar” and “The Moten Swing” Musical Compositions Analysis
• Popular Music at the Times of Racism and Segregation
• Popular Music: Curtis Mayfield’s and Bob Marley’s Songs
• Objective Approach to Music by Aaron Copeland
• Aztec Music. The Aztec World Culture
• Western Musical Timeline & Historical Development
• Fugue: The Musical Compositional Technique
• Medieval and Early Modern Music
• Music and Cultural Appropriation
• Lesson Planning for Music Class
• Timeless Art of Jazz Music
• Distance Learning Experiences of In-Service Music Teachers From Puerto Rico
• Music & Education During the Pandemic of Covid-19
• The Instrumental Music Teaching: Educational Resources
• Age-Relatedness in Teaching Music
• Hip-Hop Music and Its History in the 80s-90s
• Music and Film Industries as Hallmarks of Africa’s Identity
• Rock and Roll as a Musical Phenomenon
• Education Through Music in the Movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus”
• Henry Cowell: The Genius of Musical Innovations
• The Sources of Music and Tracing Indian Music Information
• Aubrey Drake Graham’s Music Career
• Latino-American Music:Then and Now
• Listening to Good Music
• Evolving Safety and Music Venue Protocols
• American Popular Music and Its Evolution
• Music Therapy for Children With Learning Disabilities
• Music’s Universal Patterns: Urban Soundscapes
• Works of Literature, Painting, and Music United by the Idea of Arabesque
• Listening to Classical Music
• On the Evolution of MTV and Music Videos
• Opera as a Popular Musical Form
• The Hippy Music as a Universal Language
• Online Music Streaming Services in the UK
• Music Assignment: Associative Soundtrack
• Music Review: 20 Century Musicians
• The Effect of Music on People With Alzheimer’s Disease
• American National Style and Identity in Music
• Music, Cosmology and Architecture in the Renaissance
• Food, Music and Verbal Communication in China
• The National Center for Popular Music
• The National Centre for Popular Music in Sheffield
• Music and Young Generation
• The Effect of Music Videos on College Students’ Perceptions of Rape
• Dementia: Relaxing Music at Mealtime in Nursing Homes Agitated Patients
• This Is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin
• Music Effect on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
• Effects of Music on Muscle Performance
• Music in Parental Participation in Pediatric Laceration
• Jazz Music: Methodological Issues
• The Comparison of Prokofiev and Giovanni Music
• Music and Extra-Musical Forces
• Discovery of the American Music
• Music and Memory: Discussion
• Music and Art Critique: Recordings and Prints
• Popular American Music in the Mid-19th Century
• Music and Its Political Nature
• Flamenco Music and Dance History: Spanish Carte-De-Visite Born in Andalusia
• Music: Orchestras Nowadays
• The Diversity of the Baroque Music
• Debussy’s Influence on Symphonic Music
• The Importance of Developing Musical Skills
• Music as Concept Analysis
• Music and Art As Tools to Understand Our World
• Richness of Musical Art
• Music of Hong Kong After 1945
• Specifics of Jazz Music Analysis
• Female Body Objectification in the Music Industry
• Rock and Roll`s Influence on Modern Music
• Elements Of Music: Different Tones and Rhythms
• The History of the Music Industry and the Impact of the Advancement of Technology and Globalization
• Canadian Women and Music Industry
• Canadian Music and Its Spread
• In and Around Canadian Music
• Canadian Music Production Industry
• African Influence in Music of Puerto Rico
• Quebecois Music Distinctives from English Canada Music
• Nat King Cole’s Life and Impact on Jazz Music
• Nineteenth Century Music: Virtuoso Performances
• Music Education and Rock Music
• The Salsa: Music and Dance Review
• Aliens’ Point of View on Music
• How Sources Inform People’s Understanding of Music
• McDonaldization in the Music Industry
• Music Education: Aesthetic and Paraxial Theories
• Charles Ives and His Music
• Music Teaching Style: The Effects of Choral Music Teacher Experience and Background
• Hip Hop Culture and Music
• Origins of Popular Music: Discussion
• Avant-Garde as a Movement in Jazz Music
• Music and Art in Paris in 1830-50: Frederic Chopin
• Rap Culture and Music: Critical Thinking
• Musical and Artistic Life in Paris in 1830-1850
• Nationalism and 19th Century Music
• The Relation of Music to Nationalism in the Work of Bedrich Smetana Composer
• Music: Evolution Factors of Technology and Drugs
• French Revolution and the European Music
• New Approaches to Music Marketing
• Music Appreciation. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Music in Different Eras Analysis
• History of Pop Music in the Early 20th Century
• Instrumental Scottish Music: Scottish Fiddling
• Rock as a Part of Music Art
• Afro-Latin Music and Dancing: Rumba, Chamame Genre, Salsa
• Chopin: Musician Who Had Effect Romanticism Music
• B.Britten’s Music Impact on Composers Political Beliefs
• Jazz Musician Miles Davis: His Life and Music
• The Evolution of Music: Brief Review
• Western Music: Bela Bartok, a Hungarian Composer
• Gustav Theodore Holst and His Music
• Freedom of Speech and Expression in Music
• Music Censorship in the United States
• Musical Expression and Sexual Selection
• Music: A Few Canonic Variations by Joseph Kerman
• 18th Century Music Comparative Analysis
• Social Aspect of Music: The Flairs Band
• Electroacoustic: Populari Music Among New-age Listeners
• Art and Music: Benefits to Society
• Music: Motet’s Inception Through Josquin’s Works
• The Art of Electronic Music: Live Performances
• Film Music Evolution in the United States
• The Effect of Music on UAEU Female Students
• Women and the Industry of the Trap Music: Empowering or Succumbing to the Stereotype?
• Classical Symphony and Classical Chamber Music
• The Failure of a Large Swedish Music Event, Peace & Love
• A Brief History of the Music Industry
• Jazz Music Development Since 1945
• Romantic Music: Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann
• Russian Music by Glazunov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Glière
• MTV Channel and Music Video Genre
• Classical Music: Cultural Consumption and Cultural Diversity
• Women’s Contribution to Rock Music Development
• Music Streaming Industry and Trend Analysis
• Music in “Lady Windermere’s Fan” and “Atonement” Films
• Psychology: Music’s Role in Life
• Plant Growth and Development With Music
• Spotify Music Service and Its Suggestions
• Sex in Music Compositions and Videos
• “Music and Other Provinces” Class
• Music Intervention’s Effect on Falls in a Dementia Unit
• Gogoyoko Music Selling Company’s Marketing Plan
• Francois Couperin’s Baroque Music
• Music Festivals and Chinese Students’ Attendance
• Music Distribution Revolution
• The Studio and Pre-Recorded Music Usage
• Classical Music Concerts: Video Report
• Free Improvisation and Experimental Music
• Music Concrete and Post-War Technology Development
• American Popular Music History
• Social Constructions and Hip Hop Music
• Gustav Holst’s Music “The Planets”
• Artists in Jazz Music and Dance Development
• Music Perception and Cognition
• Pomona College Choir Classical Music Concert
• History of Jamaican Music
• Music of 17th/18th Century
• Mystery Compositions in Church Music
• Managerial Decisions: iTunes Music Pricing
• Afro-American Influence on Western Music Development
• Music in the Mathematics, Finance and Economics
• The Role of Music in the Film “Lolita”
• Music Industry: History of Technological Developments in Storage Devices
• The Changing Nature of the Music Industry
• Rock’n’Roll: Musical Genre of the Twentieth Century
• Country Music Legend: George Strait
• Music Influence on Feeling Movie Scenes
• Music and Human Memory Connection
• Music Concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
• Old School Hip Hop Versus New Hip Hop Music
• Music Role in Memory and Learning Processes
• The Dynamic Between the Popular Music’ Sound and Look
• Popular Music and Accompanying Visual Representation
• Global Music: Mass Communication
• Piano Music, Baroque and Nationalism Influences
• Music in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
• Achille-Claude Debussy’s Music as the Best Present
• Music Programs and Monetary Barriers in Schools
• MTV’s Revolution in the Music Industry
• Music Curriculum, Its Elements and Difficulties
• Jazz Music Popularization in Chinese Culture
• ITunes Music Pricing: Apple’s Managerial Decisions
• How Music Affects the Brain?
• Auto-Tune Technology in Music: Physics and Ethics
• Castrato in Music: History and Famous Singers
• Personality and Music Preference
• Lalo Guerrero: the Father of Chicano Music
• Music Production: History and Changes
• The Role of Music Therapy as Alternative Treatment
• The Role of Music in Films
• Music Band “Mahotella Queens”
• Korean Pop Music and Youth Identity
• Frank Zappa’s Life and Music
• Paul Simon’s Music Style
• Ableton Live Software Application in Music Performance
• Frank Zappa and His Contribution to the Music Industry
• Music and Society: “Eminem Is Right” by Mary Eberstadt
• American Music Bands: Dixie Chicks and The Weavers
• Music Video “Mockingbird” by Eminem
• Modern Music Development in the USA
• Disco, Rock, Jazz and Popular Music: Comparison
• Los Angeles and Seattle’ Music in 80-90s
• Music Role in Personal and Social Identities
• The Ars Antiqua Music Concept
• The Role of Music in Cinematography
• Louis Armstrong’s Contribution to Jazz Music
• Music Special Innovation for the Physical Exercise
• Bundling and Distribution of Digitized Music Over the Internet
• Jazz Live Music Concert in Catalina Jazz Club
• The Wollongong Music Festival Arranging
• The Culture of Electronic Dance Music
• The Music Recording Industry in Canada
• Personality and Music Preferences
• History of the Science and Art of Music
• Rock Music as an Unique Cultural Phenomenon
• Indigenous Celtic Music: Preservation and Revival
• Baroque Music Concert – Haendel: La Resurrection
• Radiohead’s Music Influences
• Music Industry: Apple’s iTunes and Profitability
• Music Talent Shows and the American Dream
• The History of Modern Chinese Music
• Bossa Nova’ and Smooth Jazz’ Music Comparison
• Music: The London Symphonies by Joseph Haydn
• Hip Hop Music as Media Influence on the Youth
• The Instrumental Music of Baroque: Forms and Evolution
• Music, Media and Culture’ Effects on Aggressive Behavior
• “Thank You for the Song” by Jennifer Rondeau and “Thank You for the Music” by Abba Comparison
• Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke Music Comparison
• Rock Music of the 1970s
• Hip-Hop Music and the Role of Women in It: Fight for Women’s Rights in Society
• Women in Hip-Hop Music: A Provocative and Objectified Gender Roles
• Music Art: “La Cathédrale Engloutie” by Claude Debussy
• Music in “The Oral and Written Tradition” by Edward D. Ives
• Music and Rebellion in the Era of Commercialization
• The Music Band’s Parmalee Promotion
• Music Event: Eurovision Song Contest 2014
• Music Types in the United States
• “Balkan Fascination: Creating an Alternative Music Culture in America” by Mirjana Lausevic
• Diving Into the Secrets of the Korean Music
• The Cattle Drivers’ Music
• Musical Education and The Laws by Plato
• “Pop Music, Pop Culture” by Chris Rojek
• Takeaway Listening Test: The Sounds of Music
• Music and Dance as a Part of Our Culture
• Music as a Relaxation Technique
• Classic Rocks and Gangsta Rap. Music Analysis
• An Analysis of Music Theory
• Woodstock Music Festival
• Youth Popular Cultures and Music
• College Students’ Satisfaction of Music Festival in China
• The Impact of Korean Popular Music
• Review of Peter Kivy’s Introduction to a Philosophy of Music
• Classical and Modern Music
• Apple Computer, Inc.: Maintaining the Music Business
• Digital Music Increasing Trend
• Diversity and Inclusion in Relation to Music in the Workplace
• Miles Davis Contribution to African American Music
• Music and the Construction of Personal and Social Identities
• Gangsta Rap Music as Social Culture in the Journal of Youth Studies by Alexander Riley
• How Does Jazz the Music and Its Story Reflect the American Experience?
• R&B and Hip-Hop Effect Western Music
• Internet Marketing: Use of Social Media by Artists to Market Their Music
• Kiwi Music Cultural Event in New Zealand
• Effects of Music in Advertising
• Themes, Content and the Power of Music in Iron Man: When the World Is Crumbling
• Listening Log: Music in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
• E-Commerce Website for Music Videos
• Chicano Music and Lyrics
• Arts Education: Music, Dance and Theatre
• Music Industry: Michael Jackson and 50 Cent Careers
• Canuck Rock: A History of Canadian Popular Music
• Guitar in a Non-Western Musical Genre
• Influence of Heavy Metal Music on Adolescence (Behavior, Identity, Mood, Regulation, Psychology)
• Piracy: Marketing Strategies Encouraging Consumers to Purchase Music Legally
• Compare and Contrast: “Popular Music From Vittula” and “Naïve, Super”
• Leading Cultural and Organizational Change at the Royal Conservatory of Music
• Popular Music in Uzbekistan
• Music Therapy Effectiveness
• Leading Culture and Organizational Change at the Royal Conservatory of the Music
• Verismo in Classical Music
• “Hip Hop“ Subculture: Music, Vocabulary, and Roots
• Music Impact on Human Mind and Body
• The Effects of Music in Advertising and Choice Behavior
• Music in the Movie “On the Beach” by Stanley Kramer
• The Role of Music in the Sea Hawk
• The Relationship Between Poetry and Music in Whitman’s Life and Work
• Music of “Song of Myself” or New Type of Diary Entry
• Does Speeding up the Music Tempo Increase Task Performance
• Music Downloads and the Ethics of Piracy
• Digitization and Convergence of Music Industry
• Latin America Cultural Abundance: Art and Music
• Music in Opera: Susan McClary’s “Carmen”
• Arab Music and Arab Cinema: Historical Development and the Role of Western Culture
• Sony BMG Music Entertainment
• Music in Times of Conflict
• Arab Music and Cinema Development: Western Culture Impact
• Technology Advances and Music
• Constructions of Authenticity in Canadian Music
• Pieces From Early and Baroque Music E-Concert
• Pieces From Classical and Romantic Music E-Concert
• 20th Century Music: Prokofiev, Respighi, and Orff
• Baroque Epoch Music: Bach and Vivaldi
• Baroque Music: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 by J.S. Bach and The Four Seasons by A.Vivaldi
• Music in the United States Culture
• Music as an Independent Art
• Hip Hop Infiltrates Asian Music Industry
• The Steel Pan Music History
• Music Industry and Technology
• Music Industry as a Cultural Industry
• The Music Industry Versus the Internet: MP3 and Other CyberMmusic Wars
• “Far From Here” by The Lonesome Ones: Image and Music Quintessence
• Reading Between the Lines, Interpreting Music
• The Effects of Mozart’s Music on Middle School Age Learning
• Genesis Gospel Choir at the Lehman Center Recital Hall: Pushing the Envelope of Gospel Music
• World Peace in Music
• Irving Berlin: Personification of American Music of the Twentieth Century
• Pop Music Nature and History
• Music Styles: Indie Rock
• Concepts of How the Blues Music Started In America
• The Artistic Realm of Music Video
• Music Education in Public Schools: For and Against
• Classical Music Concert “Toyota Symphonies for Youths”
• Black Expression: African American Music
• Science and Art: The Math in Music
• Jazz Music in American Culture
• Sound as an Element of Music Therapy
• The Film “Walk the Line” and the Role of Music in It
• Ralph Ellison and His “Living With Music”
• Strange Fruit’ Music and Social Consciousness
• Woodstock Music and Art Festival
• Music Argument: Composing Music
• American Spirit in Musical Theaters
• The Role of Music Videos in the Negative Portrayal of Women in Society
• The Mimir Chamber Music Festival Concert
• Jazz Anecdotes: Pops Foster and Chief Blue Cloud
• The Royal Conservatory of Music’ Organizational Change
• Washington Cathedral Classical Music Christmas Concert
• Music Analysis: Drug Abuse in Music
• Cuba Music: Its Styles and Instruments
• An Examination of One of History’s Most Influential Music Labels
• Quincy Jones, an American Music Mogul
• Music Therapy Throughout the Soloist
• Influence of Live Music on Music Industry
• Music and Media Perceptions
• The Online Music Industry
• Chinese Music and Its Types
• Beauty Within the Music
• Latin American Music
• Frankie Lymon; I Can Still Hear Your Music
• The Story of Christian Music
• Composing and Performing Church Music
• Protestant Music: A Sociological Perspective of the Relationship Between Reggae and Moral Decadence
• The Classical Music and Their Effects
• Music of the Spheres: The Analysis of the Concept and Its Application to Modern Days
• Music and Vital Congregations
• Life of a Music Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Giving an Overview of Music Education
• Classical Music: Attending a Concert
• Making Money on Music: The Company That Has to Stay Afloat
• Music in Pre-Reformation and Post-Tridentine Generation
• Molto Agitato: The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera
• Musical Features of Mahler’s III Symphony
• The Power of Time and the Magnificence of Music: From Ludford to Vecchi
• Can Music Control Teens?
• Are Mathematics, Logic, and Music Languages?
• Can Music Bridge the Economic Gap Education?
• Are the Measures Taken Against Illegal Music Downloading Effective?
• Who Manipulates the Music Industry?
• Are Societies Ill’s the Fault of Rock Music?
• Can the Music Industry Adapt to the Digital Future?
• Can Music Help Recover Sick Patients Through Psychotherapy?
• What Did Music From Late Period Influence Composers?
• What Are Music and Music Therapy?
• Can Music Foster Learning?
• Are Television, Movies, and Music Responsible for Teen Violence?
• Can Music Therapy Improve Stress Anxiety?
• What Is Digital Music Distribution, and Why Is It Significant?
• What Are the Characteristics of Baroque Music?
• What Role Does Cinematic Music Play in Creating Tension?
• Can the Music Industry Survive Despite Piracy?
• What Better Way Spread Music Around the World?
• Can Music Influence the World?
• Are Electro-Acoustics and the Vernacular the Largest Developments in 20TH Century Music?
• Why Does Bach’s Music Still Holds Its Popularity?
• Can Preference for Background Music Mediate the Irrelevant?
• Why Music Matters and the History of Slavery?
• Are Current Actions Taken Effective in Reducing Online Music Piracy?
• Are Popular and Classical Music Listeners the Same People?
• Can Music Affect the Way We Speak?
• What Does Modern Day Music?
• Why the Beatles Revolutionized Music and Pop Culture?
• Are Streaming Services Affecting the Music Industry?
• Why Can Music Make Us Feel Happy or Sad?
• Mozart Essay Ideas
• Entertainment Ideas
• Hollywood Questions
• Artists Research Ideas
• Festival Essay Ideas
• Dance Essay Ideas
• Piano Essay Topics
• Contemporary Art Questions
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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267 Music Essay Topics + Writing Guide [2024 Update]

Your mood leaves a lot to be desired. Everything around you is getting on your nerves. But still, there’s one thing that may save you: music. Just think of all the times you turned on your favorite song, and it lifted your spirits!

So, why not write about it in a music essay? In this article, you’ll find all the information necessary for this type of assignment:

• 267 brilliant music essay topics,
• a sample paper,
• a step-by-step guide and writing tips.

And don’t forget to bookmark  custom-writing.org  where you can find helpful essay tips in articles like this one.

🔝 Music Essay Topics: Top 10

• 🎵 Music Essay Definition
• 🎼 Essay Topics
• ✍️ How to Write
• 📑 Essay Sample

🔗 References

• Compare different recording formats.
• The purpose of music.
• Ternary and rondo: compare and contrast.
• Music as a lifestyle.
• The benefits of singing.
• Ethnomusicology as a career.
• Evolution of the radio.
• The importance of school musicals.
• Music as a tool for meditation.
• Music in sports.

🎵 Essays about Music: What Are They?

A music essay describes or analyzes a piece of music, its context, or one’s personal attitude towards it. This type of assignment requires a compelling primary argument and a clear structure.

To write well about music, you don’t have to be a professional musician. All you need is to be able to listen, understand, and evaluate it. You should also provide your interpretation and opinion on it.

Writing about Music: Assignment Types

An essay on music is a popular assignment in high school and college. However, many students find it hard to describe sounds in a written form. In this article, we will give you some tips on writing about music.

Here are the typical tasks that you might receive:

• Concert report. It requires describing the music you’ve heard using as many details and terms as you can.
• Historical analysis of a piece. Your aim is to describe the historical context of a piece or its relation to the historical setting. For this type of assignment, you may need to do some research.
• Song analysis. In this type of essay, you explore song lyrics’ meaning and show how they work together with the melody.
• Performance or media comparison. Here you need to compare several interpretations or performances of one piece of music.

All of these assignments require a different approach and topic. You will find topics for these types of tasks below.

How to Choose a Music Essay Topic

First things first, you need to find a suitable music essay topic. To accomplish this task, you might want to take the following steps:

• Analyze your relationship with music . What role does it play in your life? Your topic choice will be different if you are a musician or merely a listener.
• Think about how music influences your everyday life . For instance, you can study how listening to music affects our mental health. Impressing your readers with some historical facts from the world of music is also a great idea.
• Try reflecting on the role of different music genres in your life . Whether you prefer rap or classical music, exploring a genre is an excellent topic idea. Topics related to musical instruments are also worth attention.
• Narrow your topic down. Otherwise, it will be too difficult to focus your essay on just one idea.

🎼 Music Essay Topics List

The first thing you need to do is to choose your topic. We have prepared a variety of music topics perfect for research papers and short essays. You can also use them for speeches or college application essays.

Argumentative Essay about Music: Topics & Ideas

Argumentative essays about music are usually concerned with a specific music-related issue you choose to address. Just like with any other argumentative essay, you should present both sides of the topic. Also, reliable facts are a must for this type of essay.

• The influence of modern technologies on the music industry. Technologies allow artists to create and promote their songs independently. Because of this, record labels are less critical to musicians than before. However, the emergence of new technologies also gave rise to piracy. Do the positives outweigh the negatives?
• What’s the effect of pop music on the modern generation? Today’s pop songs are usually commercial. Because of this, some people say that pop has ruined the current generations’ perception of music. Others argue that contemporary pop music expanded the possibilities of the genre.
• Rock music makes people more aggressive. Some consider rock music merely an arrangement of aggressive tunes that foster violence. On the counter side, science has proven that people who prefer rock to other genres are calmer and more concentrated. Which position do you agree with?
• Can people with hearing impairments become famous musicians? Many believe that access to fame and fortune is limited for disabled people. The deaf may seem especially unsuited for the music business. Yet, the examples of Beethoven, Neil Young, and Chris Martin show that hearing problems don’t have to be an issue.
• Will streaming completely substitute physical copies? Digitalization is on its way to replacing LPs and CDs. For most people, it’s simply more convenient. But their opponents claim that an MP3 file can never sound as good as a physical copy.
• Some music genres can be a catalyst for violence. While their beats may be calm, hip-hop and rap’s lyrics are often aggressive and brutal. Does it have adverse effects on a listener?
• Can a person become addicted to music?
• Censorship on the radio: why stations shouldn’t bleep out obscenities.
• Is mandatory musical education in high schools practical?
• The impact of Mozart’s music on toddlers.
• Should a musician’s personal life affect people’s perception of their art?
• How susceptible are teenagers to political messages in songs?
• Music influences one’s mental and physical capabilities.
• Are children who listen to music more intelligent than others?
• Music genres are inherently dependent on musical instruments.
• Is music as an art form more popular than cinema?
• Debate whether rap musicians promote a frivolous and careless lifestyle .
• Many musicians became famous only because they’ve had connections.
• Music festivals are the best form of entertainment.
• Does music always sound better live than on records?
• Is classical music better than modern genres?
• Is it justified that some religions view music as a sin?
• Typically, music defines a culture and its traditions: true or false?
• Rap music has a strong connection to rebellious movements.
• Jamaican music’s link to the stoner lifestyle is unjustified.
• Synesthesia: how is music related to visuals?

Opinion on Music: Essay Topics

Opinion essays about music might seem similar to the argumentative type. Here, you are expected to write your personal opinion on a topic. Naturally, you can have many opinions on musical topics. Why not broadcast them? Keep in mind that you also need to provide reasons for your point of view.

• Music therapy can help people with mental illnesses. It’s a well-known fact that music affects the human brain. This ability makes it perfect for treating mental health problems. On the one hand, psychologists established that listening to classical music increases one’s cognitive capacity. On the other hand, listening to heavy rock impacts responsiveness.
• The questionable treatment of women in the music industry . While it may seem that both sexes are treated equally, women still earn much less than they deserve. Moreover, the extreme sexualization of girls persists as one of the most pressing problems in the industry.
• Which musician or band impacted your worldview? Discuss what makes your favorite artist special. Consider analyzing their lyrics, genre, and evolution. If you want to, add a review of one of their albums.
• What are the challenges of being an independent artist? Typically, independent artists deal with all the financial, promotional, and distributional affairs by themselves. In the increasingly complex music business, this is not an easy task.
• Is social media efficient for promotion? Almost every modern artist uses social media to promote their albums or songs. Users often check their networks for updates, which increases the musician’s visibility. But do such methods help in the long run?
• Passion is the essential personal quality for every musician. If an artist is not eager to continually produce high-quality output, they’re unlikely to succeed. However, qualities such as responsibility, honesty, hard work, and creativity are also vital.
• Is music good for stress relief?
• How does music connect people ?
• Analyze qualities that good musicians shouldn’t have.
• Who are the most excellent musicians in the country genre?
• Is it possible to live without interacting with music?
• Choose three successful rappers and analyze their influence.
• How can a musician become famous without having money or connections?
• What are the difficulties of being in a band?
• Who impacted the development of indie music the most?
• Is pop music losing its popularity? If so, why?
• Three factors that affected your choice of a favorite genre.
• Which artists are the most prominent in power metal?
• Which record label is the most influential now?
• Can Justin Bieber’s songs be considered legendary?
• Did Kanye West introduce a new kind of rap?
• Which rock bands lost their fame because of a scandal ? How did it happen?
• Discuss Dire Straits’ impact on music history .
• Who are currently the most successful women pop singers ?
• Why are some music genres more popular than others?
• What does success in the music world depend on?

Topics for a Persuasive Essay about Music

Is there anything music-related you want to convince people of? A persuasive paper is your chance. Carefully craft your arguments to show your readers you’ve always been right about the beauty of cowbells. If it’s not your jam, consider these essay topics about music:

• A seven-string guitar is superior to a six-string one. The additional string gives more room for creativity. It might be challenging to master, but in the end, the music has a fuller sound . Do you think it’s worth the effort?
• The lyrics don’t matter as long as the melody is good. It’s possible to like songs from different countries, even if the listener doesn’t understand the language. The singing is simply part of the composition. Does this mean that what the vocalist says is unimportant?

• Most people living in big cities neglect country music. People from urban areas tend to think that country music is tasteless. For them, its tunes and lyrics sound too simple. Does the strong association with cowboys, farms, and long roads simply not appeal to the city lifestyle?
• Should rap music be performed only by black people? The genre hosts a large portion of African American artists. Not only that, but black rappers are widely considered the best of their craft. Do white artists do the genre justice?
• Music that artists make merely to get money is soulless. Passion is a critical factor for every musician. If money is the primary driver for creating a song, the result is inevitably flawed. Do you agree?
• Pop music is undergoing a transformation. Listeners acknowledge pop as the primary genre of contemporary music. Yet, new musical instruments are changing the game. Even the lyrics touch on more serious topics than before.
• Indie is the new pop. Indie music is a relatively novel genre. Still, it continues to gain popularity. The light-hearted tunes paired with existential lyrics have captured the audience’s hearts. Is it possible to envision the future of music without bands such as Coldplay, The 1975, and the Arctic Monkeys?
• The meaning of freedom for jazz as a musical genre.
• Punk rock has recently witnessed a renaissance.
• Exposing plants to classical music makes them grow faster.
• Classical music: intellectually stimulating or relaxing ?
• Is it justified that some countries legally prohibit artists from performing?
• Is it easier for children to learn with music?
• Can a person ever become a great artist without a natural talent ?
• Should workplaces allow their employees to listen to background music?
• Jimi Hendrix’s guitar skills are still unmatched.
• The impact of pop music on European culture and trends.
• Kurt Cobain’s death should have been a wake-up call for the music industry .
• Why is music beneficial to society?
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s legacy can be felt even today.
• Nintendocore is a legitimate genre that the industry should take more seriously.
• Should you listen to a bands’ music even if you disagree with their opinions?
• Musicians should receive more government support.
• Patriotic songs make people feel passionate and energetic about their country.
• Depressive and sad tunes can worsen a person’s mood.
• Doctors and therapists need to understand the importance of music.

Music Evaluation Essay Topics

Do you want to know how to evaluate music? The point is to divide your overall impression into several parts. Music evaluation requires much attention and concentration, so try to do your best to stay focused while listening.

Use these criteria for evaluating music performances:

Now all you need to do is choose a topic and get down to writing!

• Discuss the rise and fall of hardcore punk. Many bands that started in the hardcore punk scene softened their sound over time. Why did this genre disappear from the mainstream?
• Copyright laws are going too far. It’s getting increasingly difficult to use somebody else’s intellectual property. Creators on YouTube have to fear lawsuits for creatively repurposing copyrighted music. Moreover, laws such as the DMCA are frequently abused to generate revenues.
• More bands should use their influence for political purposes. Renowned artists have a broad reach. Bands like Rise Against or Anti Flag use this influence to raise political awareness among their fans. Is it a fair approach?
• Borrowing and plagiarism in contemporary music . New artists don’t emerge without having listened to other musicians. They draw inspiration from their predecessors. Thus, songs are always a mix of already existing tracks. In your essay, discuss the difference between homage and plagiarism.
• What are the similarities between poetry and song lyrics? Songs and poems are similar in that they deliver a message to the audience. Their creation demands extensive knowledge of rhyming, literary devices, and other components.
• Why do some musicians ask others to write lyrics for them? It is a common practice to have a crew of songwriters who create texts for performers. Sometimes it happens due to a lack of imagination or inspiration. Does finding out that your favorite artist doesn’t write their lyrics destroy the magic of their music?
• How can popular music diversify as a genre? Pop music reached its peak. Adding and borrowing elements from different genres can be one way to diversify a streamlined genre.
• The history of music as political propaganda.
• Explain the difference between high and low contemporary music culture .
• How is contemporary music related to that from other periods?
• What are the connections between pop music and the hip-hop genre?
• What connects popular music and contemporary culture ?
• How does music in the United States relate to Spanish music ?
• Analyze the evolution of Indian music .
• Discuss why certain albums manage to climb to the top of the charts.
• The link between social classes and musical genres.
• Differences and similarities of music and other art forms .
• How does a musical instrument’s origin influence its development?
• What is the role of traditional music today?

• What are the main processes in music production?
• How is music theory relevant today?
• Analyze which contemporary artists’ albums had an effect comparable to that of Queen’s A Night at the Opera .
• Eurodance: Europe’s most extravagant genre.
• Songs and everyday life of Michael Jackson vs. Madonna: who wins the ultimate pop crown?
• What difficulties has Eminem faced throughout his career?
• Over-ear headphones provide a better sound experience than on-ear ones.

Topics for an Expository Essay on Music

An expository essay explains or describes a subject. In the colorful world of music, topics can range from the physics of sound waves to artists’ social impact.

• The importance of Blues music in the late 19 th century and now. Blues originated in the 19 th century American South. It was an outlet for African Americans to express their sorrows. Later, it exceeded by far the cultural boundaries that confined it.
• The role of music in prison camps.  Singing was an essential part of life in the Nazi concentration camps. One of the most well-known songs of that time is called  Peat Bog Soldiers . In your expository essay, explore why prisoners started singing and how it developed.  
• How did Chester Bennington’s death impact the music industry? Linkin Park was a giant in the business for decades until depression made their lead singer take his own life. The event sparked debates surrounding mental health and pressure in the creative industry. What long-lasting effects did these discussions have?
• How did Baroque music reflect the zeitgeist? Compared to the Renaissance period, Baroque was in all aspects very pompous. The artists of the Sun King’s time didn’t shy away from the extravaganza. This ideal is especially prominent in architecture. How does music fit into the picture?
• Investigate the development of musical harmony. The Ancient Greeks already had an idea of some tones fitting together better than others. However, it wasn’t until the 1600s that tonality became a crucial part of music theory.
• Music in commercials: an analysis. Songs and jingles are commonplace in TV commercials. But what are they good for? In your essay, you can compare the success of advertisements with and without music.
• What causes music trends to change? It’s easy to define various eras of music. Naturally, the invention of new instruments has influenced this development. What other factors played a role in these transformations?
• Why is 4/4 a universal beat?
• Examine the origins of The Star-Spangled Banner .
• The effects of dissonance on the human mind .
• How do staccato, legato, and other forms of articulation influence the perception of a musical piece?
• Discuss the significance of music in video games.
• Music drives people’s motivation.
• Explain the calming effects of nature sounds .
• How does music influence literature?
• Celtic music is known to have an extraordinary impact on the psyche. How does it work?
• How does music impact the discharge of hormones such as dopamine?
• Music therapy is suitable for those who have bipolar disorder.
• What made Falco such a unique artist?
• How does the perception of a silent film differ from that of a movie with sound?
• A rock concert by Kansas: How the relevance of live concerts changed over time.
• Is being able to read music important for a composer?
• How did Beethoven write music after losing his hearing?
• Should all songs have proper rhythm and structure?
• Why do so many indie artists become commercial?
• Is it essential for song lyrics to rhyme?

History of Music: Essay Topics

If you’re interested in the evolution of music, you’ve come to the right section. Historical research reveals the significance of music throughout time. Unsurprisingly, songs and melodies have been part of human culture for centuries. Dive deeper into this exciting subject with one of the following ideas:

• How did the Catholic Church influence music development in Europe? During the Middle Ages , religious movements had a significant impact on music. Consequently, composers used to create more sacred music. It became a way of personal expression since it often contained religious texts. 
• The cultural meaning of Renaissance music and its influence on other styles . During the time of the Renaissance, sacred and secular music heavily impacted each other. As a result, more variety emerged. The chanson and madrigal, for example, became popular around Europe.
• Research archaeological findings of early musicality. The search for the oldest musical instrument delivers thrilling insights. Archaeologists have excavated a flute made of ivory and bird bones, dating approximately 43,000 years ago. They found it in a cave in Germany where Neanderthals lived.
• History of early music and appearance of musical instruments. The beginning of the human culture was the turning point of musical instruments’ appearance. They were primarily used for spiritual rites; typically, they were horns or drums for ceremonies.
• Louis Armstrong’s contributions to the jazz world. Jazz originated in New Orleans and was a favorite among African Americans. Louis Armstrong’s improvisations forever changed the genre, making the soloist-improviser the center of the performance.
• The phenomenon of pop music and its origins. Popular music dates back to the second half of the last century. It comes from the US and the UK. Its main peculiarity lies in the variety of tunes and lyrics .
• Native American music before the discovery of the New World. Incas and Aztecs had particular styles of music. Findings show that these ancient civilizations used instruments for ceremonies. Researchers also discovered that various American cultures mingled, thus creating new techniques.
• The use of string instruments in classical Greek songwriting.
• Famous composers of 18th century Italy and their influence.
• Mozart vs. Beethoven: comparison of techniques.
• Deliver a thoughtful analysis of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony .
• What role do acoustic instruments play in jazz compositions?
• Explore the history of the Ocarina.
• Due to what circumstances did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart become one of the greatest musical geniuses in history?
• Influence of the Romantic period on modern music.
• How and why were the swing era and jazz connected?
• Rock and roll as an international language in the 20th century.
• Explore the rise of techno music.
• Is there a historical connection between music and math?
• How did music become a staple subject in many schools?
• The greatest musicians of World War I.
• Industrialization and its effect on music development.
• How did female producers such as Kate Bush impact the music industry?
• Analyze Frédéric Chopin’s contribution to classical music.
• Music evolution in ancient Greece vs. the Roman Empire.
• How does archeology help to uncover musical traditions ?
• Tupac’s influence on modern rap music.

Classification Essay about Music: Topic Ideas

In a classification essay, you explain how a whole relates to parts or vice versa. To do it, you need to divide one broad category into several subcategories. Each classification paragraph focuses on one subcategory, so you need to find a key feature that will be your basis of division. For example, you can divide music by genre, volume, musical instruments, etc.

Here is our list of musical topics for this essay type:

• The most popular types of alternative music among teenagers. Naturally, teens like different kinds of rock and experimental music . Try to dig deeper and ask some teenagers about their preferences to get a clear picture.
• Types of modern dance music . Describe the tendencies and popular genres. You can also focus on a specific country.
• The most popular types of jazz music in Europe. Although jazz emerged in the United States, this genre became recognizable all over the world. You can analyze the most popular streamed songs, or the concerts and other mass events.
• Rock music in the ’70s. You can describe the genres, styles, or types of performers. The concerts, clothes, and lifestyles are also suitable for this topic.
• Blues musicians of different time periods. Analyze the lyrics, the musical instruments they used, and how long their careers lasted.
• Classification of music for children . Some of it can be for dancing, development, or just listening. Research the purposes of different kinds of music for children.
• Types of music used in films. The soundtrack is one of the main things we remember after watching a movie. There can be popular songs or tracks composed specifically for a film.
• Rock bands that represent different subgenres.
• Rap subgenres in the United States.
• Periods of classical music.
• What motivates people to start a musical career?
• Different kinds of music for relaxation.
• The industries where composers work.
• Types of opera singers and instrumental music.
• Different professions in the music industry.
• Unpopular genres of independent music.
• Different types of music listeners.

College Essay about Music: Topics

When you apply to your dream college, you need to write an impressive essay. Admissions officers pay attention not only to your grades and achievements but also to your personality. Your writing can indicate your motivation, academic interests, and how well you fit into the college. Writing an essay about “music in my life” is a great way to demonstrate your passion and creativity.

Choose one of these topics related to music for your college essay:

• The role of music in your life.  Describe what music means to you, how often you listen to it, and how it helps you in life. For example, you can write about inspiration, motivation, or the sense of  freedom  that it gives you.  
• What are the essential aspects of music for you? Try to write down everything you like about music. It might be melodies, lyrics, vocals, or mood. You can choose several aspects if you feel that you can’t decide.
• The time when music changed your life. In this essay, you can pick one occurrence or describe how music changed your life gradually. It’s important to indicate where you started from and where it led you.
• How do you see the future of the music industry? Demonstrate to the admissions officer how well you know the art and the business.
• Your role model in the music industry. You may write about the qualities of the person you admire and why you want to develop them in yourself. Remember that admission officers want to read about you, not your idol.
• How did your musical taste change over the last ten years? Describe the evolution of your preferences. Explain why you have changed some of your past choices. Do you think your musical taste has improved?
• Your favorite musical genre.
• Does listening to music help to heal body and spirit?
• What is the best music performance you have ever seen?
• Why do people become fans of particular musicians?
• Your favorite song lyrics .
• Can people be judged by their musical taste?
• Why is music an essential part of human culture?
• Quote about music that appeals to you the most.
• How can music education help you in the future?
• Do you prefer listening to music or performing it?
• How can music change your mood?
• Why you want to become a musician.
• Which culture has the most beautiful ethnical music?
• Is music more of an art or business?
• What are the essential parts of musical education ?

Other Music Essay Topics

• Why do supermarkets play music? Think of the reasons why marketers use music in advertising and how it impacts customer behavior.
• An analysis of Robert Wise’s The Sound of Music . Evaluate how the director uses music to tell a story.
• The impact of music on the human brain. Examine the latest research in the mental health field and how music therapy affects depression treatments.
• The workings of the music industry . Assess how contemporary audio technology and touring lifestyle affect musicians.
• The role of music in different cultures. Choose and compare two countries to analyze their perspectives on the music industry.
• Music on television . Evaluate how the music of TV shows and movies impacts the audience’s feelings and behavior.
• Oliver Sacks’ contribution to music psychology. Explore the theories he discusses in Musicophilia and describe its influence on music psychology.
• Should all music be available for free download? Think about the ethical and legal aspects of this issue.
• How did music psychology help the development of music education? Try to find a correlation between these two fields.
• Britney Spears and the adverse effects of teen popularity. Writing about this topic, you might want to focus on how her early fame affected her life. What happened after her famous breakdown in 2007?
• The half-life of one-hit-wonders. Focus your paper on quantitative research. How long do one-hit-wonders stay famous on average? Why do they fail to maintain their success?
• Journalism and the music industry. Examine the effects positive or negative press had on a musician of your choice.
• Festivals and sponsorship. Discuss the benefits that corporate sponsors and the creators of music festivals gain from working together.
• Rock songs and pessimistic lyrics. Why do most popular rock songs have such sad and angry lyrics?
• Discuss the development of your music taste. Write about what pushed you to change and how it influenced your life.
• The psychology of music. Examine what someone’s favorite music genre can tell about their personality.
• Is ASMR music? ASMR artists make quiet sounds to soothe their audience. But can we really consider it music?
• A historical analysis of jazz. Explore how African Americans influenced the flourishing culture of jazz that has spread worldwide.
• The effect of classical music on children’s cognitive abilities. Supposedly, classical music is great for kids. Study this theory and make your conclusions.
• Discuss the characteristics of modern Latin American music. Dive into its diversity and describe the reasons for its popularity.
• How do Chinese artists make traditional music? Write about its complex creation process. Analyze the importance of articulation for composers.
• The history of music . With this essay, explore the six periods of music history. To top it off, you can predict what music will be like in the future.
• The music industry goes online. Discuss the importance of the internet for the industry and the challenges associated with it.
• The magic of instrumental music. Pick your favorite orchestra pieces and find unique features in each of them.
• Musical education: the sound of success? Does everyone need a musical background?
• Explore the latest techniques in songwriting. Look into the song creation process of contemporary musicians. How do they get the audience to enjoy their art?
• Compare and contrast e-pianos and keyboards. In doing so, consider their structure, sound, and features.
• The Woodstock festival as a game-changer. How has the Woodstock Music and Art Fair influenced the current state of the music industry? Additionally, investigate how current festivals hold up to the standards set by Woodstock.
• Music therapy for stroke patients. Find out whether incorporating elements of music therapy can support the treatment of patients who suffered a stroke.
• How do amplifiers work? If you’re a musician, you’ve likely used an amplifier before. Now it’s time to figure out what they are actually doing.
• The Killers’ contributions to indie rock. How would you define their style of music? What makes them a key player in indie music?
• Analyze the music in Grease . Pick some of the most popular songs from the musical and write about their influence on American culture.
• What’s the best way to interpret songs? Describe methods to deconstruct songs and how the music style affects this process.
• Teufel vs. Sennheiser: the ultimate comparison. German sound equipment manufacturers are known for their cutting-edge technologies. But which brand is the best?
• What role does harmony play in music composition? Choose several pieces of music and describe how the artists used harmony.
• How necessary are double bass drums? Do musicians place them on stage just to impress people, or do they have actual use?
• Compare regular festivals and free ones. Why spend hundreds of dollars on Coachella if you can go to Woodstock for free? In your essay, focus on the differences such as size, participating artists, and general entertainment.
• A historical analysis of choral music. Singing in groups is a practice common across various cultures. You might choose one or two to work on.
• How did The Rolling Stones influence British culture? The Rolling Stones are one of the longest-standing rock bands of all time. Naturally, this left significant marks on their home country.
• How important are regional accents for English-language singers? When working on this theoretical topic, include some examples and your personal opinion.
• The world of musical instruments: medieval music. This fun essay can focus on different types of medieval instruments and their evolution.
• Does the creative process differ for electronic and acoustic music? Look at how artists usually write songs. Do they start with the melody, the rhythm, or the lyrics? Does it depend on the medium?
• The correlation between poems and medieval songs. Find out how composers were reinventing poetry to create songs.
• Hip-hop and gender equality. What is the role of women in the development of this music style? Don’t forget to give examples.
• When politics interferes with art: Eurovision. Analyze the role of the political situation in this song contest. Is there anything left of its original idea?
• How did Vladimir Vysotsky become a beloved musical figure outside of Soviet Russia? It’s unusual for Russian-language musicians to gain fame outside of their home country. Research how Vysotsky managed to mingle in the USA and have some of his work posthumously released in Europe.
• K-pop conquers the world . You may narrow the topic down to a specific artist. Focus on the influence of Korean music in other cultures.
• Music school students vs. amateurs. Discuss the different experiences and outcomes of music school students and those who learn to play instruments at home.
• Do music choices shape one’s identity , or is it the other way around? It’s an exciting question that lets you dig deep into the psychology of music.
• The music of dissents. Energizing songs play an essential part in rebellions and revolutions. For example, analyze how protesters used music during the Arab Spring.
• The development and popularity of electronic music. Starting from the early experiments, analyze the development of this style and its increasing influence
• How do artists use social media to promote their music? You might want to choose one or two examples to illustrate the tools they use.
• Organum as one of the oldest written types of music . Study the development of this music style throughout various cultures.
• The appeal of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters. Many people consider the song one of their favorites. Examine its structure, melody, and lyrics. What makes it unique?
• Africa’s hidden musical gems. African music is as diverse as its people. Pick two countries and compare their style. How do they differ from Western art?
• Did people’s music tastes improve compared to previous decades? Here, you have the chance to express your views on the evolution of people’s music preferences.
• Is the life of pop stars as easy as people think? Share your thoughts on whether famous musicians and singers have a leisurely lifestyle.
• Physiological reactions to different types of music. Study how your body reacts to various beats and tones.
• Why do people tend to listen to specific songs on certain occasions? In your essay, ponder the effects of love songs or powerful anthems on one’s mood .
• What does someone’s ringtone say about their personality ? Think about how it affects your perception of a person.
• The impact of music on the individual’s productivity . Studies suggest a positive effect on people’s performance when they listen to something pleasant while working. But all the noise can get overstimulating. That’s why finding the balance is central.
• Music is natural. In the depth of nature, there is music. Rain, a bird’s song, or the tapping of a squirrel’s feet melt together to create a beautiful composition. Music is everywhere—one only needs to listen carefully.

If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, you’re welcome to use our topic generator .

✍️ Music Essay: How to Write

So, you have chosen your essay title. Now it’s time to start writing! But before you begin, read the sections below and learn how to organize your work.

How to Describe Music in Writing

You might think that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. Well, it is not an easy task, but we know how to cope with it.

Follow these tips while writing:

• Make a comparison.  Explain which characteristics of a piece remind you or are identical to those of another one. It’s better to avoid comparing music from different composers in this case. Instead, evaluate and analyze two musical pieces from the same composer.
• Describe the melody and dynamics.  You may want to use musical terms to show your knowledge and proficiency. Define the genre and what kind of instruments and tones are used.
• Explain how it makes you feel.  You can use basic human emotions to describe the feelings of a listener. For example, it can be anger, tenderness, irritation, excitement, or nostalgia.
• Use metaphorical language.  You may try using your imagination to create analogies. Be careful not to make your metaphors overcomplicated, as it may confuse the readers.

Essays about Music: Descriptive Words

Do you want your essay on music to be interesting and expressive? Then you may want to use descriptive vocabulary. Here are some of the terms that you can use in your essay to make it sound more professional:

• Tempo is the “speed” of music. There are fixed expressions to define tempo—for example, largo, moderate, or presto. You can also describe how fast the music feels.
• Timbre is the term that evaluates the “color” of music. Even if two instruments play the same note of the same volume, the sound is still different. This is how you can notice the color of the tone. For example, gentle, clear, heavy, or warm can be the adjectives to describe timbre.
• Dynamics define the volume levels of music. The volume can be the same all the time, for example loud or soft. If the volume of music changes, you can use such expressions as “gradually gets louder” “or suddenly becomes soft.”
• Harmony characterizes how all the notes and chords sound together. The sequence of chords—chord progression—defines how satisfying the melody is for the listener. For example, if the transitions are smooth, you can use such words as “relaxed” or “warm.”

Music Essay Outline

Like any other assignment, writing about music requires a proper essay outline that will guide you through the writing. The following sections will help you with that.

Before you start, here are some tips that will help you prepare for writing:

• Do some prior research. Try to learn as much as possible about the piece you will be writing about. It’s also helpful to listen to the music several times with headphones to notice more details.
• Don’t be afraid of asking questions. Consult your instructor if you’re unsure about your topic or the piece you have chosen.
• Choose the topic that you like. If you’re passionate about a subject, it is always easier to write about it. Who said that homework could not be interesting?
• Follow the recommendations that your instructor gives. It includes word limit, formatting style, deadline, and essay type.

Music Essay Introduction

The introduction is the section where you come up with a brief explanation of the topic. You may start it with a quotation, definition, or short statement that catches your reader’s attention and leads them to the essay subject.

A thesis statement is usually the last sentence of the introduction that defines the content of body paragraphs. It needs to be specific and not longer than two sentences. If you decide to shift the focus of your essay while writing, it’s crucial to change your thesis too.

Different types of essays require different thesis statements. Let’s take a closer look:

Music Essay Body

Your essay’s body is the most significant part of your writing. Here, you provide evidence and explanations of your claims.

The typical body paragraph structure includes:

• A topic sentence explaining the argument for a particular paragraph.
• An introduction to the evidence you gathered to support an argument.
• Quotes and facts (don’t forget about proper citation!) and their explanation.
• A connection between the evidence and the essay topic.
• Paragraph transitions  leading your reader to the next section.

Topic Sentence about Music

Topic sentences can be used as a roadmap to writing your essay. Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that defines what the paragraph is about. It introduces the argument or main thought that will be explained. It’s also connected with the thesis statement.

It’s essential to make your thesis easy to understand, so it’s better not to overcomplicate it. For example, here’s an unsuccessful topic sentence with unnecessary words:

As stated above, the guitar is an essential musical instrument in rock music that defines how it sounds.

Instead, you can formulate it like this:

The guitar is the most iconic musical instrument in rock music that defines how it sounds.

Music Essay Conclusion

When writing a conclusion for your essay on music, you can use the following structure:

• Summarize the text in a few sentences.
• Review the key points of your paper.
• Paraphrase the thesis.

To make your essay conclusion more effective, avoid the following:

📑 What Music Means to Me: Essay Example

Now you know all about writing an essay on music! To make it even easier for you, we’ve prepared an essay sample that you can use for inspiration. Check it out:

Now all you need is to turn the music on and get down to writing! We hope you liked this guide. If you did, don’t hesitate to share it with your friends.

Further reading:

• How to Write a Good Critique Paper: Killer Tips + Examples
• How to Write an Art Critique Essay: Guidelines and Examples
• How to Write a Movie Critique Paper: Top Tips + Example
• Modern Fairy Tale Essay: How to Write, Topics and Ideas
• 200 Creative Topics for Opinion Essays
• 182 Free Ideas for Argumentative or Persuasive Essay Topics
• 180 Excellent Evaluation Essay Topics

✏️ Music Essay FAQ

Music is a vast topic. An essay might deal with anything ranging from trends in the 1950s to the best guitarists of all time. Writing an introduction to certain music styles or bands is also possible. In any case, the paper should be well-structured, logical, and cohesive.

Writing about music doesn’t necessarily require any specific skills. If you’re not familiar with the theory of music and can’t play musical instruments, you can just write about the music you like. Here are some topic ideas: favorite music band, style, or how you perceive music.

You can interpret music as a topic in various ways. If you are getting a degree in this field, you might want to write something more specific and technical. If your essay aims to merely inform and entertain, write about your favorite music style or band.

If you are writing an essay for school, a good choice would be an expository essay. It doesn’t require any specific knowledge of the music industry. Title suggestions might be: “My perception of music,” “My favorite band,” “How music can change the world.”

• What is the Music Industry? Definition and Facts: Study.com
• What Music Do You Write To?: Writers & Artists
• A Music Review: British Council
• Music: UNC Writing Center: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Sound and Sense: Writing about Music: Colorado State University
• Music analysis Research Papers: Academia.edu
• The Power of Music Therapy: Belmont University
• Musicology: Northwestern Bienen School of Music
• Musicology: Areas of Study: Indiana State University
• Music Facts: Facts.net
• Music History from Primary Sources: Library of Congress
• Music: Encyclopedia Britannica
• A History of Classical Music: Part 1: The List
• What Is Jazz: Smithsonian Institution
• The 50 Greatest Composers of All Time: Classical Music
• Musical Terms and Concepts: SUNY Potsdam
• Ethnomusicology: University of Oxford
• Music Research Process: Syracuse University
• Journal of Popular Music Studies: University of California Press
• The History of Pop Music in 5 Defining Decades: The Culture Trip
• Music of the 20 th Century: Lumen Learning
• Explainer: Indie Music: The Conversation
• Your Brain on Music: University of Central Florida
• Music and Health: Harvard University
• The Psychological Function of Music Listening: NIH
• Essays that Worked: Hamilton
• Writing in Music: Writing Thesis Statements: The City University of New York
• Academic Writing about Music: University of Denver
• How to Write Song Lyrics: Berklee
• Essay Introduction: University of Maryland
• Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements: Purdue University
• Writing Body Paragraphs: Monash University
• Some Tips for Writing Efficient, Effective Body Paragraphs: University of California, Berkeley
• Writing a Paper: Conclusions: Walden University
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Thank you very much for this post on music essay writing! You don’t know how long I looked for the helpful information on writing music essays!

Music takes an important part in my life. I wake up and go to bed listening to music. And now when I’m writing my music essay, I also listen to music. And it’s also a pleasure to read an article on how to write an essay on music!

Essay on Music for Students and Children

500+ words essay on music.

Music is a vital part of different moments of human life. It spreads happiness and joy in a person’s life. Music is the soul of life and gives immense peace to us. In the words of William Shakespeare, “If music is the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.” Thus, Music helps us in connecting with our souls or real self.

What is Music?

Music is a pleasant sound which is a combination of melodies and harmony and which soothes you. Music may also refer to the art of composing such pleasant sounds with the help of the various musical instruments. A person who knows music is a Musician.

The music consists of Sargam, Ragas, Taals, etc. Music is not only what is composed of men but also which exists in nature. Have you ever heard the sound of a waterfall or a flowing river ? Could you hear music there? Thus, everything in harmony has music. Here, I would like to quote a line by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the greatest musicians, “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.”

Importance of Music:

Music has great qualities of healing a person emotionally and mentally. Music is a form of meditation. While composing or listening music ones tends to forget all his worries, sorrows and pains. But, in order to appreciate good music, we need to cultivate our musical taste. It can be cited that in the Dwapar Yug, the Gopis would get mesmerized with the music that flowed from Lord Krishna’s flute. They would surrender themselves to Him. Also, the research has proved that the plants which hear the Music grow at a faster rate in comparison to the others.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Magical Powers of Music:

It has the power to cure diseases such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. The power of Music can be testified by the legends about Tansen of his bringing the rains by singing Raag Megh Malhar and lighting lamps by Raga Deepak. It also helps in improving the concentration and is thus of great help to the students.

Conclusion:

Music is the essence of life. Everything that has rhythm has music. Our breathing also has a rhythm. Thus, we can say that there is music in every human being or a living creature. Music has the ability to convey all sorts of emotions to people. Music is also a very powerful means to connect with God. We can conclude that Music is the purest form of worship of God and to connect with our soul.

FAQs on Essay on Music:

Q.1. Why is Music known as the Universal Language?

Ans.1. Music is known as the Universal language because it knows no boundaries. It flows freely beyond the barriers of language, religion, country, etc. Anybody can enjoy music irrespective of his age.

Q.2. What are the various styles of Music in India?

Ans.2. India is a country of diversities. Thus, it has numerous styles of music. Some of them are Classical, Pop, Ghazals, Bhajans, Carnatic, Folk, Khyal, Thumri, Qawwali, Bhangra, Drupad, Dadra, Dhamar, Bandish, Baithak Gana, Sufi, Indo Jazz, Odissi, Tarana, Sugama Sangeet, Bhavageet, etc.

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• Knowledge Base
• Citing sources
• How to Cite a YouTube Video | MLA, APA & Chicago

How to Cite a YouTube Video | MLA, APA & Chicago

Published on March 17, 2021 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 17, 2024.

To cite a video from YouTube or another video sharing site, you need an in-text citation with a corresponding reference listing the uploader, the publication date, the video title, and the URL.

The format varies depending on the citation style you use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago style .

Use the interactive example generator below to explore the APA and MLA formats or use Scribbr’s Citation Generator .

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Table of contents

Citing a video in mla style, citing a video in apa style, citing a video in chicago style, where to find the information for a youtube citation, frequently asked questions about citations.

An MLA Works Cited entry for an online video begins with the name of the video’s author (the person who created it). The uploader is listed later, after the name of the site. The video title appears in quotation marks, the site name in italics.

In the in-text citation, list the author’s last name and the timestamp of the relevant part of the video.

Videos with the same author and uploader

When the person who created the video (the author) is the same person who uploaded it, MLA recommends starting the Works Cited entry with the title so as not to repeat the name in both the author and the uploader position.

This means that the in-text citation for a video like this begins with the title, shortened if it is a long title.

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In an APA Style reference entry for a video , the person or organization that uploaded the video is always listed in the author position, even if they didn’t create the video. The video title appears in italics, followed by “Video” in square brackets.

A timestamp may be used in the in-text citation to show the location of a particular quote .

Note that if the uploader’s real name is known and is different from the name of their channel, both should be included—the real name first, then the channel name in brackets.

To cite an online video in Chicago style , include a bibliography entry listing full details of the video, and a footnote where you cite it in the text.

The bibliography entry shows the video title in quotation marks, as well as specifying that the source is a video and stating its total length.

The footnote may list a timestamp if it’s necessary to highlight the location of a specific part of the video.

Chicago also offers an author-date citation style . An example of how to cite YouTube videos in this style can be found here .

All the key information needed to cite a YouTube video is displayed below the video itself on the site:

• The video title
• The uploader’s username
• The upload date
• The timestamp of the relevant part of the video
• The URL (it’s best to use the one given when you click on “Share”)

If the uploader’s name is not the same as their username, or if you need information about the video’s original creator, this information may be available in the description or in the video itself.

The image below shows where to find the relevant information below the video on YouTube; other video sites tend to follow a similar layout.

The main elements included in a YouTube video citation across APA , MLA , and Chicago style are the name of the author/uploader, the title of the video, the publication date, and the URL.

The format in which this information appears is different for each style.

All styles also recommend using timestamps as a locator in the in-text citation or Chicago footnote .

In APA , MLA , and Chicago style citations for sources that don’t list a specific author (e.g. many websites ), you can usually list the organization responsible for the source as the author.

If the organization is the same as the website or publisher, you shouldn’t repeat it twice in your reference:

• In APA and Chicago, omit the website or publisher name later in the reference.
• In MLA, omit the author element at the start of the reference, and cite the source title instead.

If there’s no appropriate organization to list as author, you will usually have to begin the citation and reference entry with the title of the source instead.

When you want to cite a specific passage in a source without page numbers (e.g. an e-book or website ), all the main citation styles recommend using an alternate locator in your in-text citation . You might use a heading or chapter number, e.g. (Smith, 2016, ch. 1)

In APA Style , you can count the paragraph numbers in a text to identify a location by paragraph number. MLA and Chicago recommend that you only use paragraph numbers if they’re explicitly marked in the text.

For audiovisual sources (e.g. videos ), all styles recommend using a timestamp to show a specific point in the video when relevant.

Check if your university or course guidelines specify which citation style to use. If the choice is left up to you, consider which style is most commonly used in your field.

• APA Style is the most popular citation style, widely used in the social and behavioral sciences.
• MLA style is the second most popular, used mainly in the humanities.
• Chicago notes and bibliography style is also popular in the humanities, especially history.
• Chicago author-date style tends to be used in the sciences.

Other more specialized styles exist for certain fields, such as Bluebook and OSCOLA for law.

The most important thing is to choose one style and use it consistently throughout your text.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2024, January 17). How to Cite a YouTube Video | MLA, APA & Chicago. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/citing-sources/cite-a-video/

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• Music Production
• How to Write a Melody for a Song: How to Write a Melody for Any Lyric

Creating a melody is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of songwriting. A well-crafted melody can evoke emotion, leave a lasting impression, and elevate your song to new heights.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned songwriter, understanding how to write a melody that complements your lyrics is a crucial skill.

This guide will break down the process of melody writing, explore what makes a melody good or bad, and provide tips and techniques to help you create melodies that stand out.

What is a Melody?

At its core, a melody is a sequence of musical notes that are arranged in a particular rhythm. It is the part of a song that you can sing or hum; the musical phrase that typically sticks with listeners long after the song ends. In most cases, the melody is paired with lyrics, but instrumental melodies, such as guitar riffs or piano themes, can also be central to a song.

Melodies are often referred to as the “ hook ” of a song, the element that draws listeners in and makes a song memorable.

A melody is built around pitch (the highness or lowness of the notes), rhythm (the timing and duration of the notes), and contour (the shape of the melody as it moves up or down). Together, these elements create the melodic line that forms the backbone of the song.

A great melody has the power to communicate emotion, tell a story, and engage listeners. It can be simple and repetitive, or complex and intricate…either way, it should serve the song and enhance the overall listening experience.

What Makes a Melody Good or Bad?

Not all melodies are created equal. Some melodies captivate audiences and remain timeless, while others fail to leave an impact. But what distinguishes a good melody from a bad one? Here are some characteristics to consider:

Memorability

A good melody is easy to remember. Whether it’s a catchy pop chorus or a haunting piano motif, memorable melodies stick with listeners. Simplicity often plays a role here, as a straightforward melody is usually easier to recall than a complex one. Repetition can also help a melody become more ingrained in the listener’s mind.

Melodies are powerful because they can evoke emotion. A great melody will make listeners feel something, whether it’s joy, sadness, excitement, or nostalgia. The notes, intervals, and rhythms you choose can all contribute to the emotional tone of your melody.

A strong melody feels cohesive and flows naturally. It has a sense of direction and development, leading listeners through the song. Melodies that jump around too much or feel disjointed can be hard to follow and may confuse the listener.

Complementarity

A good melody fits well with the rest of the song, specifically, it complements the lyrics, harmony, and rhythm. The melody should enhance the mood of the lyrics and work harmoniously with the chord progression. Even in instrumental tracks, the melody should feel like it belongs with the underlying music .

Dynamic melodies keep things interesting by incorporating variations in volume, rhythm, and pitch. A melody that remains static throughout an entire song can become monotonous, but adding subtle changes keeps listeners engaged.

Originality

While certain melodic patterns and structures are common in many songs, a great melody has a sense of originality. It might take inspiration from other songs or genres but still offers something fresh and new.

Balance of Repetition and Variation

Repetition helps make melodies memorable, but too much can become tiresome. A good melody strikes a balance between repetition and variation, keeping the listener hooked while providing enough changes to maintain interest.

Harmony Compatibility

A well-written melody will work harmoniously with the chords beneath it. When the melody and harmony fit together seamlessly, it creates a fuller, more pleasing sound.

Tips and Advice on How to Create a Great Melody

Now that we’ve established what makes a melody good, let’s explore some practical tips for writing melodies that are engaging, memorable, and emotionally impactful.

Start with Your Lyrics

When writing a melody for a song with lyrics, it’s essential to understand the mood, meaning, and structure of the lyrics before crafting the melody. Are the lyrics upbeat and positive, or reflective and melancholic? What emotions do you want to convey through the melody? The tone of the lyrics should guide the melody’s emotional direction.

Additionally, pay attention to the natural rhythm and phrasing of the lyrics. Each line of text will have its own cadence, and it’s often helpful to follow this rhythm when creating your melody.

Emphasize important words and syllables by aligning them with strong beats in the music .

Use a Stepwise Motion

One of the most common and effective ways to write a melody is by using stepwise motion, meaning the melody moves up or down by one note at a time (e.g., C to D to E). Stepwise melodies are easy to sing and follow, making them more accessible to listeners. Avoid jumping around too much, especially with large intervals, as this can make the melody sound disjointed.

Incorporate Leap Motion

While stepwise motion creates smoothness, incorporating occasional leaps (larger intervals between notes) can add excitement and interest to your melody. A well-placed leap, especially in the chorus or a climactic moment, can make a melody stand out and feel more dynamic.

However, use leaps sparingly; too many large jumps can make the melody difficult to sing and follow. Finding a balance between stepwise motion and leaps will give your melody structure while keeping it engaging.

Play with Rhythmic Variation

Rhythm is just as important as pitch when writing a melody. A static rhythm can make even the most beautiful melody feel flat. To keep your melody interesting, vary the rhythm by using different note lengths, syncopation, or off-beat accents.

For example, in the verses, you might use longer notes to create a laid-back, introspective feel, while in the chorus, you could introduce shorter, more energetic rhythms to heighten the emotion.

Experiment with different rhythmic patterns to find what best suits your lyrics and the overall mood of the song.

Write in Phrases

Think of your melody as a conversation with your audience. Like spoken language, melodies are made up of phrases. These phrases should have a sense of beginning, development, and resolution.

A common structure is to divide your melody into two or four phrases, with each phrase lasting about the same length of time. You might begin with an introductory phrase that sets the tone, followed by a response phrase that builds on the first.

Finally, resolve the melody with a concluding phrase that brings closure to the musical idea.

Utilize Repetition Wisely

Repetition is a powerful tool in melody writing. It helps reinforce the main themes and makes the melody easier for listeners to remember. However, too much repetition can become boring. The key is to strike a balance by repeating certain motifs, phrases, or intervals while introducing enough variation to keep things fresh.

For example, you might repeat the melody from the first verse in the second verse, but slightly alter the rhythm or add a decorative note to give it a different feel.

Similarly, repeating a catchy chorus with slight modifications can make the song feel familiar yet new.

Experiment with Contour and Shape

The contour, or shape, of your melody refers to the way the notes move up and down throughout the song. A melody with a lot of upward movement can create a sense of excitement or hope, while a downward-moving melody might convey sadness or reflection.

Experiment with different melodic shapes to see what works best for your song. A rising melody in the verse, followed by a descending melody in the chorus, can create a satisfying contrast that keeps the listener engaged.

Find the Right Key

The key in which your song is written can have a big impact on the mood and feeling of the melody. Some keys naturally evoke certain emotions—major keys are often associated with happiness and brightness, while minor keys tend to sound more somber or mysterious.

Experiment with different keys when writing your melody to find one that complements the lyrics and overall tone of the song. Keep in mind that the range of the singer should also be considered, choose a key that allows the vocalist to comfortably hit both the low and high notes in the melody.

Create Contrast Between Sections

To keep the listener’s attention throughout the entire song, it’s important to create contrast between different sections, such as the verse, chorus, and bridge. One way to achieve this is by varying the melody in each section. For example, if your verse melody is low and steady, you could raise the pitch and increase the energy in the chorus.

Similarly, you might introduce a new rhythmic pattern or a melodic leap in the bridge to set it apart from the rest of the song.

Contrast between sections helps to build tension and release, keeping the song dynamic and interesting from start to finish.

Trust Your Instincts and Improvise

Finally, don’t be afraid to trust your instincts when writing a melody. While it’s helpful to follow guidelines and use proven techniques, some of the best melodies come from spontaneous inspiration.

Pick up an instrument or hum along to the lyrics and see where your creativity takes you.

Improvising melodies can help you tap into ideas that you might not have discovered through structured writing. Record yourself as you experiment with different melodic ideas, then listen back to see what stands out. Sometimes, the most magical melodies come from moments of improvisation.

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