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Author: Laur
Date: 2001-06-06 02:14
Okay.. for my final music theory project.. We have to compose an origional piece to be sent to NYS for a competition. I don't know what to do..I've changed this song soo much to make my director happy.. -Fine. But now he wants me to delete all my drum tracks ~ He says it sounds soo much better without them " Not everything needs drums" - In my song I was trying to convey this energitic, happy, up beat emotion. Take away the drums, cymbols, scrapes etc..and it's totally is the opposite. It's this pretty, sad, depressing song. It's not what I want.. Do I change it ? I understand where he is coming from. I'm not trying to be difficult or stubborn.. just I don't think my director understand the emotional standpoint of it.. I'm confused. Do I appease him and give him what wants, or stand by my song. ????
Help !
Laurie
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Author: Matthew D.
Date: 2001-06-06 06:14
Do what you feel you need to do to make the music speak to you. Stand back from the piece, and ask yourself.....if this were a piece that someone else wrote, what would I think...
Don't confuse yourself with this though...
As a quote from Aaron Copland's book "What to listen for in music" he states...,"Composition should be as natural as breathing" and I add..."but sometimes we have asthma!!!!"
The most important things, is if you feel comfortable with your composition....is it to a point where you could have anyone listen to it, and you would be glad tto have them listen to it.....
As long as the music speaks to you....and you enjoy, and love what you have written, what other people think really dosent matter.....
Yes your director may say that it sound much better without the drums...but that is his opinion....yes he is teaching and guiding you in how to compose, but how many times have you heard another persons composition and siad" why did they have that trumpet in there...or it would sound much better without that..." we yes we say those things to ourselves....
Be as confident in your music as Mozart was....when told "there are too many notes in this piece" Mozart replied " There are just the right amount of notes in my composition, any more or any less and the composition would be tainted" (this is not an exact wuote...its just to the best of mu knowledge)....
BUt my final note is just for you to be confident and happy with YOUR composition...it is YOUR somposition and it shows off YOUR feelings, dreams and imaginations. Shape the piece as you feel it shold be in your imagination...your piece shows off your depest, most inner part of your being, be able to be comfortable to let it all hang out in the open for the world to see....noone ever got anywhere for hiding what they really felt....
look at Lenny Bernstein for example.....if he had gone with his fathers wishes and not chosen to write, compose, play, and conduct.....he would have been Lenny Bernstein "the beauty supply salesman", not Lenny Bernstein "one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century"..........follow what you feel and what your heart tells you.....
Matthew D.
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Author: Steve
Date: 2001-06-11 00:47
Laurie,
Perhaps your director just wanted you to hear YOUR MUSIC,
instead of the rhythm. If the mood changes so dramatically without the drums, could it be that the melody isn't exactly what you think it is? So much of today's music (IMHO) is rhythm, with no melody to speak of.
It may still be beautiful in an entirely different way; perhaps some variations are in order???
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