Online resources for Composers and Students
Manuscript Paper:
- 8 1/2" x 11" staff paper @ Blank Sheet Music.net
- Custom size @ William Andrew Burnson.com
Aural Skills:
Post-tonal Tools:
- 12 tone Matrix Generator @ ComposerTools.com
- Part Writing & Analysis @ Chorale Composer
Leon's latest release: "The same water that ebbs ..."
I just got my recording for my latest piece that was performed. To hear it click here.
Title: "The same water that ebbs ..."
Composer: Leon Harrell
Pianist: Juri Seo
Program Note:
"The same water that ebbs…" is a line from the poem "The Heart
of the Buddha" by Hsu Yun.
No need to chase back and forth like the waves.
The same water which ebbs is the same water that flows.
No point turning back to get water
When it's flowing around you in all directions
The heart of the Buddha and the people of the world...
Where is there any difference?
This piece is the first piece I have completed after a long creative
drought. I wanted to create a piano piece that borrowed the technical
agility found in Ravel’s Sonatine and also use a harmonic language
that progressed beyond Impressionist harmonies yet retained the rich
quality and warmth found in the piano works of that period.
Although I found the poem after finishing the work I think it captures
the process of the piece’s creation. For many weeks I worked not
knowing what to do with this piece and wondering if I would ever feel
the same way about composing after such a long period of not writing.
But during the process I was reminded that often when you don’t know
what to do you must allow yourself to just work. Like the water in the
poem our creative spirit ebbs and flows, yet it is always around us.
Just for Fun: Audiotool by Hobnox
Check out this very powerful flash based sequence audio program called Audiotool. You can use it the create all sorts of loop-based music.
How to Read Music Series
How to Read Music
In this series Leon Harrell covers the basic concepts of reading musical notation.
- Lesson 1 - Pitch
- Lesson 2 - Treble Clef
- Lesson 3 - Bass Clef
- Lesson 4 - Piano Keyboard
- Lesson 5 - Enharmmonics
- Lesson 6 - Accidentals
Introduction to Music
Introduction to Music with Leon Harrell
This course is a brief introduction to the history of music from the medieval period up to the current century. Topics covered in the course include:
- The music of major historical periods (Medieval, Baroque, Renaissance, Classical, Romantic & 20th Century)
- Musical instruments of the orchestra
- Major composers and their works
- Study of the basic elements of music (ex. Melody, Rhythm, Harmony, etc.)
Read what students are saying about this course:
"This was my first online class, and it was great! The professor was awesome! He was extremely helpful and VERY prepared for the class! Everything was explained thoroughly, and everything ran smoothly. With this class, you could go as fast or slow as you wanted, which was awesome- and perfect for a summer class! I really enjoyed the class! I would definitely recommend it to other students!"
- Katie
"I loved this class. I am taking 3 classes this summer and this class was not overwhelming but was interesting. I learned alot about music I did not know. This is absolutely a class and instructor that I will be recommending to all my friends /classmates. You can just tell that Mr. Harrell has made music his life and he wants others to feel comfortable with music."
- Sara
"I really liked this class and able to learn through the the video’s and book reading. This was my first online class and I enjoyed how I was able to keep my own pace and get the work done. Over all, I enjoyed the set up of the class."
- David Durbin
If you are interested in taking this course for college credit email me at leonharrell@gmail.com.
About Leon
As winner of the NewMusic@ECU 2004 Composition Competition Leon Harrell holds among his awards the Bomhard Fellowship from the University of Louisville as well as the Mary Shannon Boyd Piano Scholarship and an SGA Outstanding Senior Award in the Area of Keyboard Music from East Carolina University.
Born in Wilson, NC in 1980, Harrell began his musical training at age five when he began playing the piano. He began composing at the age of thirteen and formal composition study during his undergraduate study at East Carolina University.
Harrell continued his education at The University of Louisville where he received a Masters of Music in music composition and is currently working on his doctoral degree at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
His primary composition teachers include Mark Taggart, Ed Jacobs, Steve Rouse, Reynold Tharp, Scott Wyatt, Stephen Taylor, and Erik Lund.
Harrell has also had lessons with such composers as George Tsantakis, Shulamit Ran, and Juila Wolfe.
To see Leon's resume click here.
Learn more about Leon's dissertation in progress.
Resume - Leon Harrell - Composer, Pianist & Educator
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Faculty, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Versailles, KY 2006-Present
- Built an Introduction to Music course for Blackboard™ online learning environment.
- Currently teaching Intro to Music MUS 100 Online.
- Taught Introduction to Music for the School-to-Work Program, a co-op program between Jefferson Community College and the United Parcel Service for high school seniors.
- Tutored students in Composition, Theory, Finale, and ProTools
- Maintained a music lab with 8 workstations
Private Piano & Composition Instructor, Louisville, KY 2006-2008
- Taught beginner to advanced piano and composition for ages 4 and up.
Adjunct Faculty, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 2006-2007
- Taught Fundamentals of Music I and II, a four credit hour course encompassing music theory and aural skills.
- Performing Experience
MUSICAL EXPERIENCE
Accompanist, Beulah Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY 2006-2008
- Performing service music on piano and organ as well as accompanying chancel choir during performance and rehearsals.
Director of Music, Farmville Presbyterian Church, Farmville, NC 2001-2004
- Directed chancel choir and performed service music on piano and organ.
- Composed original choral music and arranged instrumental parts for service.
EDUCATION
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 2004-2006
- Masters of Music in Theory-Composition with Composition Concentration
- Graduated with Honors (GPA 3.784)
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 1999-2003
- Bachelors of Music in Theory-Composition with Composition Concentration
- Graduated Cum Laude (GPA 3.454)
AWARDS
- Moritz von Bomhard Fellowship from University of Louisville 2004-2006
- Winner of the NewMusic@ECU Composition Competition 2004
- SGA Outstanding Senior Award in the Area of Keyboard Music from East Carolina University 2004
- Research Stipend for the NewMusic@ECU Festival 2001
- Mary Shannon Boyd Piano Scholarship from East Carolina University 1999-2003
- Walston Scholarship for Outstanding Performance in Music 1999
RECITALS
- Polish Piano Music Concert, Louisville, KY 2005
- Student Composers Recitals (2) Louisville, KY 2004-2005
- Senior Composition and Piano Recitals Greenville, NC 2003
- Lessons and Carols Service (Self composed and Arranged) Farmville, NC 2003
- Student Composers Recitals (8) Greenville, NC 1999-2003
CONTACT INFORMATION
- email - leonharrell@gmail.com
- facebook - facebook.com/leonharrell
- twitter - twitter.com/leonharrell
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