I’ve spent the last few months finalising my first three books and getting this website ready – and now, here we are! I’m delighted that you’ve chosen to visit. I hope you find something interesting/thought-provoking/to your liking, and that you visit again soon. I’m going to aim to keep these entries regular, concise and focused, with the odd in-depth spotlight on a particular composer/piece/style, etc. If there’s anything about writing music that you would like me to look into, or have any questions, just let me know. Let’s get started…
Q&A: How long does it take to write a piece of music?
For me, it could be anything from a day or two to two or three years (or even longer!). Sometimes, usually with shorter pieces, they just flow. With longer pieces, I often end up with gaps in the music, which I patch up over time. This is because I find that when I write in a completely linear fashion, I can get hung up on getting the next bit just right. I’m more likely to finish the piece if I have it all sketched out, and I’ll get a better idea of what I want to go in the gaps.
Top tip
Don’t 'flog a dead horse' (what an ugly expression!). You can spend a lot of time trying to make a couple of bars that you really like fit into the music. They might sound lovely, but if they are leading you to the wrong chord, changing the style, or just sound out of place, they can become a sticking point. Put them aside and save them for something else.
Sketch highlight - T128
This is one of my priority pieces to get finished – I really like the way it sounds and feel it is working well. It started as a bass line but has somehow turned into a trio! I have in mind that it will form part of a Hallowe’en-themed suite, which could be fun, but that will depend on how long it takes me to get enough pieces together. The image above is how it started out and below is how it’s shaping up…
Next time...
There’ll be another question answered and top tip, and an insight into one of my published compositions. If there’s anything else you’d like to read I’m open to suggestions, and don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter if you’d like to be notified when the latest Composer’s Chronicle is published.
Have a comment or question? Complete the form below (only your name and message will be displayed).
Add comment
Comments