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One Composition a Day Until We're All Dead

Discussion in 'Tips, Tricks & Talk' started by Mike Verta, Mar 21, 2020.

  1. Glad you're approaching this from an environmental standpoint.

    I don't think one approach to writing is superior over another. I occasionally read about how some people are "bored" of metal now because they've gotten into symphonic composing. That's fine, obviously, but one structure isn't superior over another, just like progressive metal, for all its complexity, is "superior" over singer-songwriter pieces or a folk tune. It's definitely harder, and probably "greater", but not "better", full stop. I'm like Alex -- I need all worlds. I need fingerpicked guitar, an ethereal voice and heartwrenching bluesy guitar; I need mountain-sized guitars, deathly growls, thundering drums, catchy riffs, weird harmony and blazing solos; I need innovative, unexpected twists and turns in the form of improv; and I need masterful, sublime orchestral works. As Mike says, all good elements of all those worlds have their essence in common: conviction, sincerity, leading the listener through familiar and unfamiliar territory, and control of one's medium.

    PS -- If you want energy and zest, check out Wintersun's first record.

    I don't think I can ever stop listening to Opeth. They're part of my DNA at this point.
     
  2. I don't know dude, it all depends up context too. I think even Aaron Copland couldn't watch this without a chuckle (or at least a smirk). And no disrespect to Alexander's serious work, its just that (being all couped up and all) I thought this was kinda funny.

     
  3. My laptop (from which I do all classes/videos) had gone to Florida with my girl and I FINALLY got my replacement last night, so videos forthcoming. Assuming anyone's left alive to watch them.
     
  4. #24 Alexander Schiborr, Mar 27, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2020
    OK Peeps, I am through the whole Song. At least I did that one before the world goes completely nuts.
     
  5. Hi Mike, I'm going through your new teaching piano livestream at the moment and someone in chat asked about a new unleashed and you said you're still recovering from the last one or something along those lines. How about you do 2 themed unleashed events where you limit the stream time beforehand and limit the submissions by limiting the theme. E.g. lets say it's up to 4 hours max, to not burn yourself out on it. You could do one where you only accept two-hand piano reductions as submissions, and another one where you accept everything except orchestral and piano pieces. So maybe that way you'd get more of those metal/pop/rock/jazz etc. submissions that hopefully are a bit more interesting to you? It's just a thought, I don't have anything to submit either way.

    It was quite inspiring to see Draco play piano so well already. He's legit much much better than I am. Great work both of you!
     
    Rohann van Rensburg likes this.
  6. This is very true. Consider the band "Dethklok" -- the whole show "Metalocalypse" was a parody of extreme metal culture, and yet the music was very affectionately and legitimately crafted and became one of the highest charting metal records of all time. They have songs chock full of fantastic melodies, riffs and solos that are simultaneously about the egregious nature of taxes, the vanity of modern education, etc.

    @Alexander Schiborr Nailed it man.
     
  7. I am not sure this qualifies because it's an unfinished sketch, but hey, I'm doing something! Aiming to have the sketch done by tomorrow at least.
     
  8. #28 Mike Verta, Apr 2, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2020
    Sorry no stream today. Grandmother died. (Not Covid.) Back at it tomorrow.
     
  9. Sorry for your loss.
     
  10. My condolences to you and your family Mike.
     
  11. I won't have the energy to do one a day, but as long as I'm stuck in a lame reboot of Robert Wise's The Day the Earth Stood Still, I might compose a few short canons. It's been awhile, and it exercises certain muscles that I'd rather not atrophy. I've also been intending to compose a piece for solo harp, and now might be a good time for that.
     
  12. Here is my day 3! I'll post day 1 and 2 a little later. I'm instead doing 1 minute compositions a day since I'm still very busy working even from home and don't have much time right now. My goal is to make them better as I try improving my vocabulary and skills. Also, I hadn't played piano for months before this week so excuse the stiffness and sloppiness.

     
  13. I haven't composed anything in a long time. Hope you all are still going strong on whatever you set out to achieve! Well done to all who managed to write something! To all others, don't worry about it. Staying sane right now is hard enough without beating yourself up over a lack of creative output. From what I hear, quite a lot of people are struggling with this right now.

    Yesterday I started building a new template with the limitation of just using 1 Kontakt instance, and just the factory libray, and nothing else. I'm kind of curious how much further I can push it now, compared to when I started working with Kontakt many years ago. I've already learned a bit about editing Kontakt instruments, that might actually come in handy in the future.


    Mike, my condolences!
     
  14. I would really like to hear it orchestrated !
     
  15. My gf wanted an intro music for her youtube video. Something synchronized with the picture.

    I had 3 hours, I did this :
     
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