Blog #1, 3/7

Post 1: Project pitch, expand on goals for project, begin research on music theory

Hello World,

First of all, this is my first time using any sort of blog thing so I really don't know what I am doing.  I may actually have the capacity to actually put somewhat-bearable content on here, but as I said earlier, I do not know what I am doing and do not know how to use Blogger.  I am sure I will learn about how the website is used more and more though.

Project Pitch

First, here is the required presentation I made for the project pitch: bit.ly/scrobiculatus-gp

I decided to work on my currently nonexistent music composition skills for many reasons:

I enjoy it- "Music composition" is something I enjoy; I have always liked just sitting down at the piano and playing random stuff.  That does not mean I am good at it, simply that it is a hobby.  However, I am sure that I would enjoy it if I could make something and listen to it without continuously cringing at how bad it is.

I have the resources- I believe that I have the resources required to do this.  First of all, I have played the piano since I was 4, took piano lessons for almost 10 years, and currently play the bassoon (look that up if you don't know what it is).  I also have somewhat of an understanding of basic music theory (which is something I would like to expand on in this project).  We also have two pianos and an electric piano at home for some reason.  To actually compose music, most people use some sort of composing software, which I know how to use.

It connects me with one of my friends- I moved from a school near Syracuse, NY.  At that school I actually had friends.  (Wow, a huge shocker.)  One thing I liked to do with one of my friends was compose on the piano.  I am not saying that the stuff we made was good, but it was better than what I can do by myself.  However, it was good enough that we actually kind of liked how it sounded.  It will be harder to compose without my friend doing some of the work too.

I should also have a timeline that maps out what I will do and when I will accomplish it.  However, a lot of my time will be spent on doing some music theory "research" (if you can call it that) and messing around on the piano.  Frankly, I do not really know how long that will take.  I do have somewhat of a timeline in my presentation, but it is very tentative and open-ended.

As for my goal(s), they should be pretty obvious: to make a piano piece that sounds good.  However, that is not all I want to be able to do.  Coming up with one piece that sounds cool is a good thing, but it could easily be the product of dumb luck.  As I stated earlier, I want to learn how to consistently make stuff that sounds good via my (hopefully) increased music theory knowledge over the course of this project.

Research

For my music compositon "research" (if you can really call it research) I read this article: https://www.davidnevue.com/pianoadvice2.htm

DISCLAIMER: This David Nevue guy says "song" instead of "piece" which is wrong because something is only defined as a song if it has words.

1. Start with the Melody- This part is something I really have to apply when I "compose music".  Remember my friend from above?  Well, in the piece we made together, he made the melodies (most of them) and I just added harmony and weird stuff.  I'm actually really bad at making melodies. I guess I have two months to learn.

2. What is your song about?- I don't know, I just press random stuff on the piano.  That may also be related to why I can never name my piece anything.

3. To Intro or Not to Intro?- I feel like I should worry about my intro later

4. The Anti-Melody Song?- These "mood pieces" sound disgusting.  No offense to anyone who may have made one

5. Follow the Muse- I'm not sure this would always lead to better quality material.  Is it worth abandoning all that you have done for one cool idea?  It depends how good it is I guess.

6. Repeat with Style- Yes, this is something I have to work on.  The few number of pieces I have actually made are all super repetitive.

7. Build Slowly, but Build Something- This is one of those weird loopy goopy stuff about "playing more musically" that my piano teacher used to always talk about.  I feel like this can be accomplished with a good harmony part.  I should actually come up with a spine first.

8. Mistakes Count- Well, when I am composing something, it obviously doesn't matter if I make a mistake.  What do you think i am doing, performing for the endless amount of people who just love listening to me play piano???? (I'm working on my sarcasm too.)

9. Change is Good- Similar to #6 about not being too repetitive, except across pieces.  I think it would be better for me to get a good piece first.

10. Keep it Simple- This is a good thing to keep in mind once I already have a song going.  If it has too much "stuff" in it it begins to sound bad.

11. Let Time Have its Way- ...I only have 2 months, OK???? 

12. Get a Digital Recorder- Well, nowadays, no one has to get a digital recorder.  But this is very helpful for me; often times when I come up with something that may actually sound good I forget it. :(

Thank you for helping me out David Nevue, despite saying "song" instead of piece.

Next post I will do some more research about coming up with melodies themselves; that is what I am really bad at.

Also, here is a piece I made with my friend:

https://bit.ly/ibq2022piece1

(If you really care that much, I played the low part and my friend played the high part.  So no, I was not the one who messed up.)

Here is another thing I am currently working on (with the same friend):

bit.ly/yellowboxtailsoup

As you can see this one has barely been worked on.

(Commented on: Evan Bananis, Christopher Rowan, Parth Patel)

Thank you for reading all this. :D