Question about piano scales

[Amybreathesaudio]

I am taking a music theory class and I have to choose a piano scale and compose a short piece with it. My question is if I choose C major for example, are the notes in C major the only notes I can play throughout my composition? Can I flat or sharp individual notes (which are not in C major)here and there? Also, can my scale change mid-composition? Is it okay to simultaneously play the relative minor/major of C major? If you know, please help me!

Thanks.

[JHC]

Depends on what your teacher is trying to achieve of course you can use accidentals see this link http://www.bestpianolessons.com/pian...-lesson-7.html what grade are you at??

[Amybreathesaudio]

Lol, he just said to choose a scale to write the composition in. I'm in my second quarter of college at the Art Institute of Seattle
I know how major and minor scales work, but I'm just wondering if I choose a particular scale can I use any notes not within that scale...

[JHC]

Lol, he just said to choose a scale to write the composition in. I'm in my second quarter of college at the Art Institute of Seattle
I know how major and minor scales work, but I'm just wondering if I choose a particular scale can I use any notes not within that scale...

Try Baa Baa black sheep or similar and see what happens

[wljmrbill]

Having taught Music Theory....My opinion would be no you can not use any notes other than those with in the scale structure...in later advanced theory/composition class you would be allowed to use accidentals . You did not state whether this is a melodic line, 2,3,or 4 part composition etc. Then other rules will apply. Good luck..maybe post your composition when you complete it.

[John Watt]

I was asked to fill in for a guitarist in "an Italian wedding band", as he put it.
These musicians were killers, led by an "accordianist" with a huge accordian on stands,
with ten ten inch speakers in cabinets on both sides of the stage, and eight other musicians.
They were saying don't worry about their songs, I'll do the rock and roll and sing, filling in.
But I said you guys are great, at least tell me the key when you start again.
That's all I needed, to hear G or A or C, because after that all musical bets were off.
These guys would work up a lather and hit some high notes, changing from major to minor,
or minor to major, sometimes for a line, sometimes a verse or chorus,
sometimes just looking around with michievious looks, maybe sneering at me,
until I ventured up to the front of the stage, in front of the accordianist,
following a frenzied mass of riffage up to a high acoustic peak,
and then I bend that note up higher, a wild and wobbly harmonic.

Dancers gasped, and some stopped to look, and the guys were smiling at me.
Nice! After that the buffet table looked real good.

[Catrina]

I am taking a music theory class and I have to choose a piano scale and compose a short piece with it. My question is if I choose C major for example, are the notes in C major the only notes I can play throughout my composition? Can I flat or sharp individual notes (which are not in C major)here and there? Also, can my scale change mid-composition? Is it okay to simultaneously play the relative minor/major of C major? If you know, please help me!

Thanks.

Yes but do notice that if you do so, you change key, if only for a moment.