Principles of Composition Principles of composition are tools or devices that help organize sounds and the elements of music into cohesive works. Middle years students should investigate such principles of composition as variety, repetition, balance, acoustics, tension and resolution, transition, and unity. Exploration related to the elements of music and principles of composition should be taught within a context of interest to the students. Students need to realize it is the interaction, not the isolation, of individual elements and principles that is important in music. Variety A musician or composer uses variety within a musical composition to create interest.
Variety is created by using or altering different elements in numerous ways.
Variety is often created through the use of contrast, such as loud to soft dynamics, harsh to smooth timbres and thick to thin textures. Repetition Musicians and composers use repetition to help the listener become familiar with the major ideas or themes of a musical work. The restatement of a particular melody, theme or rhythm often draws the audience back to an idea or thought that the musician or composer wants to communicate. Repetition also serves to unify many compositions and draw attention to ideas that are central to the work. Balance Balance in music traditionally has referred to the relative volume of various sounds.