As you probably know, we are currently running an arranging contest and I talked a lot about development when I introduced it. Someone recently posted an interesting video that illustrates my point quite well. Take two minutes and listen. If you don’t see the video below, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIs3jechQ_E
Now guys, don’t misunderstand me. This is not my kind of music. It is intellectual music designed to demonstrate mastery of something in a sort of snobbish way (in my opinion). Now that I have heard it once, I don’t care to listen again. But on the other hand, this is a perfect demonstration of development.
Note that until the very end, this composition uses only one note: A. Because of that, major ways we develop music such as melody and harmony are mostly off the table. Regardless, the composer does quite a good job of developing an idea using rhythm primarily but also articulation, dynamics and various other subtle things.
I am posting this to get some creative juice flowing. There are maybe a hundred ideas you can take away from this 2:40 and use in your own writing.