1. Didja accidentally blow through the whole, "We're using our real names" thing on registration? No problem, just send me (Mike) a Conversation message and I'll get you sorted, by which I mean hammered-into-obedient-line because I'm SO about having a lot of individuality-destroying, oppressive shit all over my forum.
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  2. You're only as good as the harshest criticism you're willing to hear.
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Writing on Piano

Discussion in 'Composition 1' started by Rohann van Rensburg, Jul 31, 2017.

  1. Mike (and others), I think you mention in this video (don't remember if it's Comp 1 or 2 now) that it's important to boil down ideas into basic, two-hand playable parts before orchestrating and fleshing them out.

    I have to ask -- does writing parts intended for different instruments get easier with a lot of transcription and time? I assume the answer is obvious, but I more specifically wonder if one can "hear" the instruments in one's head more easily when writing on piano eventually. For example, I often find trying to write something purely on piano that's intended for strings to be a difficult task; similarly, I often find "purely" writing on piano to feel dry and uninspiring, whereas playing with instrument patches (or even a synth patch on a keyboard) to get me more in the headspace. It's as simple as piano notes being percussive and not sustaining, nor being adjustable (dynamics-wise) mid-note.

    The reason I ask is because I notice a profound difference for writing on guitar -- many prolific guitarists I know/am a fan of, despite being highly educated (i.e. Berkeley grads) and obviously understanding theory, still approach writing on guitar in a more "shape" oriented manner as they find it more intuitive and enjoyable, which is obviously a rather different approach than piano (for me at least).
     
    Manuel Cervera likes this.
  2. Fuck yes and yes.
     

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