One of the fundamental principles behind compelling music is the balance of expectation and surprise. Music which is very predictable is rarely interesting. Likewise, music which lacks recognizable patterns is difficult to make sense of, and therefore usually not engaging. Just as in life, fulfillment usually comes through a balance of routine and spontaneity, meaningful music incorporates both. While there is always the opportunity for creative interpretation when performing music, improvisation allows for even more freedom to surprise.
Structure and repetition
There are two main ways to establish consistency when creating music — through timing and through pitch. However, these are most often combined.
Perhaps the most important element which provides structure is the beat. The ability to maintain a consistent beat is one of the most important skills for effective communication through music. The beat provides context through which all rhythm is interpreted, and establishing a consistent beat allows one to evade or change it when desired, clearly and intentionally.
Rhythmic patterns can also provide structure. Percussion often fills this purpose. Accompaniment (typically in the lower registers of the piano) can establish consistency by repeating the same rhythms as the harmony changes; for example, playing chords on beats 1, 2, and 4. An even more effective way is to maintain a consistent rhythm while using a formula to determine which notes of the harmony to play - for example, playing the root and fifth of a chord on beats 1, 2, and 4; or playing the root and fifth on beats 1 and 3, and the third of the chord on beats 2 and 4.
In terms of pitch, structure can be created as mentioned through the use of formulas to play specific notes of the harmony. Repetition can also take place with individual pitches, harmonies; or series of pitches or harmonies, such as melodies or chord progressions.
Melodies typically contain melodic patterns, known as motives or themes, which repeat throughout a song, giving direction and continuity. Themes are often altered in terms of pitch, rhythm, or melodic shape, which enables the melody to communicate something new while sounding familiar. The concept of question and answer in melody is an example of balancing repetition with novelty. It is common practice for the beginning of an answer to repeat the beginning (often the first half) of the question; thus allowing for half of the melody to establish a pattern and half to introduce new material. Songs often repeat the same harmony or chord progression, while the melody either varies or repeats.
In addition to repeating phrases, songs often repeat entire sections. Songs often have verse and chorus sections which repeat almost exactly (with the exception of different lyrics). Repetition of any kind creates structure. Melodies, rhythms, or harmonic movements which initially sound strange can begin to become expected, even pleasing, to the listener with enough repetition.
Harmonic and stylistic expectations
As previously discussed, Western music has an natural underlying harmonic order. We naturally expect a resolution to the tonic to follow a dominant chord, whether or not we can identify the harmonies we are hearing. Regardless of how much understanding a listener has of music theory, we all have implicit expectations of resolution. Just as when watching a movie or reading a book, we anticipate that, despite all odds, the protagonist will emerge victorious and that peace will come at the end; when listening to music, we have a natural expectation that dissonant intervals and harmonies will resolve to more consonant ones.
In addition to natural harmonic expectations, we have stylistic expectations based on the music we are familiar with. In the same way that each culture has specific idioms and figures of speech, each genre of music has its own unique sounds and harmonic movements. In a way, genres can be thought of as dialects of the language of music.
Understanding how each pitch functions within a specific tonal framework, and the unique dissonance (and consequently, promise for resolution) it forms within the underlying harmony allows you as the creator to either satisfy or elude the listener's expectations. Additionally, having an understanding of common harmonic movements and musical devices allows you to intentionally follow or diverge from familiar musical idioms.
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