The Pop Composer's Handbook

Anyone who can pick up a pencil can draw. Anyone who can sing or play an instrument can compose. Following the successful formula of The Composer’s Handbook, The Pop Composer’s Handbook is a step-by-step guide to the composition of melody, harmony, rhythm and structure and covers styles and song-writing techniques from rock, reggae and salsa to bhangra, club and steel band.

The book is aimed at composers aged 11 to 18 and beyond. It includes games and warm-ups, whole-class projects, worksheets and schemes, projects for the more advanced and advice on recording and producing.

Bruce Cole studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music with Sir Harrison Birtwistle and has pursued a joint career as a composer and teacher.

He has taught at most levels from pre-school to postgraduate, including teacher training, working with young people with special needs and prison education.

His work as a composer has included orchestral commissions, scores for film, television, theatre, dance and new circus as well as collaborations with The Rolling Stones, Squeeze, Joan Armatrading and Asian Dub Foundation.

Bruce Cole is currently Fellow in Community Music at the University of York and Chief Examiner of a national examination board.