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Idea for the next unleashed class

Discussion in 'Info, Requests, etc.' started by Michael Lückgen, Jan 4, 2023.

  1. #1 Michael Lückgen, Jan 4, 2023
    Restrictions are great for composers.

    So my idea is that besides the piano only unleashed, we could add some more restrictions.

    Maybe a fixed story. Mike gives us a few fixed story beeds (like in the race) and we have to compose fitting to that story. Also the overall song shouldn't be longer than 3 minutes or so, so it won't be too much.

    I think it would be interesting how everyone would tackle the same story and learn some new perspectives on how to say the same thing.

    Or maybe it would be boring very quickly?

    What do you guys think? And what do you think @Mike Verta ?
     
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  2. #2 David Healey, Jan 5, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2023
    I'd put the time limit at 1 minute. Usually the pieces fall apart in 30 seconds anyway.
     
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  3. #3 Rohann van Rensburg, Mar 8, 2023
    Definitely agree! Imposed rules can be massively helpful.
     
  4. #4 Matthias Calis, Mar 8, 2023
    I would agree that limitations can be very helpful. That said I'd be more in favor of being "limited" by having to compose a story/poem/art piece than having a strict time limitation. A soft time limitation (like, between 1-3 minutes) would be fine though!

    All that said, I'm not sure there is going to be another unleashed. But there's always an opportunity to organize our own of course, though the format might have to be slightly different in that case. I certainly don't feel like I'd be able to give competent feedback, just a layman's opinion at best.
     
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  5. #5 Rohann van Rensburg, Mar 8, 2023
    I'm sure there will at some point, but what I'd rather have in the meantime are more regular challenges on-site where we can post pieces and critique back and forth. Is that sort of what you mean? The fun of Unleashed is having a snippet of Mike's focused, relentlessly honest time, and I don't think a recreation would be the same.
     
    Michael Lückgen likes this.
  6. #6 Michael Lückgen, Mar 8, 2023
    I would be down for some challenges with you guys where we compose the same type of piece and critique each other.

    Maybe with enough time to transcribe pieces beforehand.
     
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  7. #7 Michael Lückgen, Jun 5, 2023
    I'm not sure if it classifies for a whole Masterclass, but maybe you have some thoughts about this which are worth sharing:
    Transitioning between two Ideas

    I found that I'm struggling with this for a while and my transition feel often clumsy. Don't know if there is anything special about transitioning or if it just takes more practice.

    Would love to hear a masterclass on this or having it mentioned in a appropriate class :)
     
  8. #8 David Healey, Jun 5, 2023
    I'm pretty sure this has been covered in a few of the masterclasses, but I can't remember which ones, possibly secret weapons and mod squad.
     
  9. #9 Michael Lückgen, Jun 6, 2023
    I watched mod squad a few times. I don't think it is in there because it was more about modulation of one idea right?
    I will rewatch secret weapons, thanks for the hint!
     
  10. #10 David Healey, Jun 10, 2023
    Well I may be misinterpreting the two ideas thing. From Mike's teachings if it's two totally different ideas then it's two different pieces of music ;) But going between different sections should be quite a natural move because the sections should have common elements that you can pivot between.
     
  11. #11 Michael Lückgen, Jun 11, 2023
    What I meant was like a Hero theme and a Villain theme and how we can switch between them, when both are having a fight for example.

    But, to your point, maybe the harmonic language should then be the same and the Hero theme should be reused in the harmonic language from the villain maybe?
     
  12. #12 David Healey, Jun 11, 2023
    Oh that sounds interesting. I'd like to know more about that situation too.
     
  13. #13 Michael Lückgen, Jun 12, 2023
    Scoring 2 sounds like the class where it could fit perfectly :)

    Hope somebody will ask it as a question, if Mike does not talk about it by himself. I'm not sure if I can make it to the live class yet.
     
  14. #14 Carlos Riesco, Jun 12, 2023
    This is just my opinion... if you listen to this track you'll hear that Williams jumps from one theme to another... almost without any transition... but I think the key here is that by this time in the movie you already know every single theme because you've listened to them several times in many different contexts

     
  15. #15 Michael Antrum, Aug 6, 2023
    We had a piano only unleashed, and most of what I saw was in the key of C.

    How about Piano only, but in any key except C, F & G.....
     
  16. #16 David Healey, Aug 7, 2023
    I think people will just write in whatever key they want and transpose it
     
  17. #17 Mike Verta, Aug 7, 2023
    I do Unleashed, like the Masterclasses, to try and help as many people at once as I can, but it's hard to gauge its effectiveness sometimes. I'm considering opening a few hours a month to do private lessons; probably the best way to directly help motivated people and be able to really gauge and adjust to their progress...
     
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  18. #18 Joakim Alraek, Aug 10, 2023
    Will you do do private bourbon show also?
     
  19. #19 Dick Wallingford, Aug 11, 2023
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2023
    Heh! That'd be funny.

    But along those lines, a small gathering masterclass in person with Dr. Bourbon could be a business model:
    - Eight seats in person
    - Mike at the piano and controls + 2 midi stations for interaction
    - 3 hours
    - $499.99 per participant
    ​
    Sort of like a poker masterclass but piano/composition/philosophy. I'd be all over that.
     
  20. #20 John Royski, Sep 18, 2023
    I always got a lot out of each unleashed, even when I didn't submit a piece. It's been a while for me though - between work and having kids, not much time to do a whole lot. I've gotten to work on a few projects here and there, but now what little writing I typically get to do is for my marching band. I'm a band director in a small school, and very few arrangers write stuff that actually works for smaller bands.

    I think the small group idea is an awesome idea, and hope I'll be able to make time to join at some point.
     
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