Blog #3

Today's class was very beneficial to me. I was having much more trouble ironing out this second piece but have already made good progress with it since this afternoon.

Firstly, hearing real instruments as opposed to midi playback had me feeling better about ideas I've been doubting for a couple of days.

My concept for this piece was to have a slow, disjunct A section - have the instruments jump around in register, filling in each other's spaces rhythmically, and just being unpredictable in general. I then wanted to have this intensify, only for the piano and vibes to suddenly come together for a brief, trance-like climax, and then to fall apart again and end the piece in the same vein that it started. I had decent ideas for the different sections, but transitional material is always the biggest challenge for me... having a couple of ideas and knowing that they can somehow work together, but not knowing how to get to and from each.

I was given the suggestion to have the instruments gradually come together as the B section approached, rather than to have the "falling apart" nature intensify - this would make for a smoother and easier transition. The idea of having something abstract and arhythmical in one instrument (perhaps solo), and then the second instrument entering with a counter-rhythm that clarifies the pulse and the feel was Dr. Ross' more specific suggestion, and has already helped me come up with some possible solutions.

Blog #2

My first character piece was performed on Wednesday and I was mostly satisfied with how it turned out. The main feedback I received was that it had a cohesive structure, and that some ideas could go on longer or have some more development. This will be tricky, as the structure was the first thing I planned out.. I had feel changes, chord changes, and dynamic growth mapped out in my head as I wanted this to be a relatively short, simple "introduction" to the set of 3 pieces - I then filled in this structure with musical material based around said chords and rhythms. I think it was coherent because the structure flows and works on many levels, but when you break down the individual ideas I ended up putting in, they could definitely be developed more. I am now in a dilemma of whether I want to alter the material so that it sits well in a short, simple piece.. or alter the structure and extend some of these ideas.. or perhaps hint at some of these under-developed ideas in the other two pieces.

WE SHALL SEE.

Blog #1

Chord progression was performed and critiqued today. The growth in tension seemed to be received by listeners as gradual, though I was told the decrease in tension at the end was very miniscule. I am happy with the last few chords being where they are, I think their qualities could end a piece very effectively.. so perhaps through register or voicing changes I can make them seem less tense. The overall tension level was said to be quite high (partially due to my rock n' roll piano technique), so in order to make the pieces not seem TOO crunchy, I think I will try to do a lot with the few chords that are undoubtedly "pleasant" sounding.