My process: Sketching I

Sep 13

Not all compositions are created equally. For me, some of the music I write comes quickly and at other times slowly. A project come start in number of ways. I like to compose in the morning, with a clear head. If I get to bed early, sometimes I will jump out of bed because I have some music in my head. I try to take care of my errands before, I even think of rushing to paper. If my space isn’t organized I wont be able concentrate. I keep a journal white board to write things down that will distract me. If I start the day composing I have easier time socializing with people, getting though a to do list and better mood regulation. There are 6 stages in my composition process

1. Sketching
Idea for a piece can be musical, theoretical, visual, and even tactual. My job at in the earlier stage is to identify what kind of an idea it is and how to notate it. The great news is this can be done anywhere, and with very little material. I’ve sketched on the back of napkins, in my notebook, on the back of bill statements. When I was in the hospital I didn’t have regular access to pen and paper to write, I would have a few minutes to quickly write a sketch out. I won’t always have the time to complete a composition. A clear sketch has a better chance for getting completed.

Musical ideas come from musical ideas a melody, harmony, or a rhythmic jester. Small ideas rhythmic and melodic cells or the most rewarding to me. For an example Urban landscapes for brass quintet(2007) uses a 3 note melodic cell thats made in to a trio between the first trumpet, trombone and tuba. Identify theme from variation, in urban landscapes the melody is a result of the cell being varied. from the set (014) minor second followed by min third.

Theoretical Idea could be based a mathematical or pre existing musical forms. Form is the back bone practically all music. When I’m sketching however, the idea of composing a passacaglia or rondo isn’t usually on my mind. When I’m sketching piece with additional movements I will have a shopping list. Balance is the the Key. I have often gotten excited about numbers or a pattern and create a forms based off that. In Interplay for Violin and orchestra (2009) The whole piece structure is built off 2,3,4,5,6 adding to twenty. The first movement starts out the strings Playing a melody of 6 notes then 5,4,3,2 and finally 2.

Visual and tactual approach is the most abstract. This doesn’t require paper, I like to go for walks touch smell the plants and trees. Photos and words becomes the sketch. So I’ll write about my experience how it made me feel C19: Tide for Bb Clarinet (2020) is piece inspired by a trip I took to the beach. Sketching helps create a buffet for creativity so I can compose anything I’m feeling up to. I focus on transcribing what I’m hearing and as much as I can.