Author Archives: Caroluna

Seven examples from Belkin chapter 2

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Alan Belkin’s text Musical Composition, chapter 2, uses these seven examples

 

Fig. 2.1 Mahler Symphony 3 , Last movement

Fig. 2.2 Beethoven String Quartet # 9 in C major ( op 59, no 3)
Fig. 2.3 Béla Bartók – String Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85
Fig. 2.4 Domenico Scarlatti Sonata in D major K 336
Fig. 2.5 György Ligeti: Sonata for Solo Cello
Fig. 2.6 Debussy plays Debussy – Estampes: No. 2. La soiree dans Grenade (Evening in Granada)
 fig 2.7 Avatar soundtrack — James Horner

Trouble with Focus and Organization

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Since the change in “regime” on Jan. 20, I’ve had a lot of trouble with focus. This past 2 weeks I didn’t hand in any work — even my daily random note exercise had been impossible. I would sit in front of the piano, unable to think. After 300-some random note exercises, it’s interesting that that behavior was knocked off the rails. “I was so upset I couldn’t even do my favorite thing”.

I had my bi-annual meeting with my psychiatrist the previous week and we talked about some behavioral strategies to help with the anxiety. These have been working, and my hum of background anxiety is growing quieter. Yesterday I was unexpectedly gifted with a beautiful set of bookshelves. I decided to make a tapestry fabric panel for the front, and use the rest of the fabric for a screen for the other end of the room. This process took several hours. By the end of it I felt the most normal I had in weeks, and I woke up this morning feeling clear as well.

But even when I am anxiety-free, I still have a lot of trouble deciding WHAT to do. Ex. what to work on first! I think the problem I have with clutter and disorganization also relates to my difficulty with making decisions. The times I’ve done the best with organization and decision making are when there’s a beautiful, singular creative idea that over-arches and unifies the process.

I also have the occasional day when I wake up with clarity and look around and say “I can’t stand X any more, and I know just what to do to fix it”. And other times something makes me angry to the point where I think “fuck it, I’m throwing this stuff away”. But I can’t be too angry, because that leads to destructive decisions! There’s a Goldilocks zone which doesn’t happen very often.

In conclusion, I’m able to make decisions when
it’s just the right kind of project
I’m in just the right mood.

Here is a video I watched today while having lunch. It inspired today’s line of thought.

 

 

 

 

A video by Bandsplaining

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I’ve been thinking about what I will work on after my album project is done. I’m still working on my Random Notes of the Day but currently I’m guided by my mood and patience level. At some point it might be interesting to challenge myself to write in a series of different genres.

This vid talks about “Library Music” — music that was recorded specifically to be used for film and TV — and the many genres it encompasses.

Note, I had not heard of this Youtuber before. He has an interesting series of videos.

Lost momentum

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I had a couple of things that caused me to lose momentum since I last checked in. One is politics — after keeping away from news since November, I did finally Gaze into the Untempered Schism. I became depressed and anxious for several days. After that I started watching random Youtube shorts because I was too demoralized to focus!

Another reason for loss of momentum is, I’ve had trouble setting up a person / group to report back to. My former tutor is swamped right now. And the Discord server I joined doesn’t seem to be a good place for me. I haven’t figured out how to behave in that environment. Instead of working on the music project, I’m obsessing about how much / how little I should say in the Discord, did I say the wrong thing, are they wishing the awkward old lady would go away etc etc.

Back on track!

My daughter has volunteered to be someone I can submit things to once a week. Not that she is going to read them or listen to them — just that I can hand her the thumb drive and check off that box. Break the big project into smaller pieces.

This video was  helpful!

A Funny Video about FL Studio

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I just found this vid about FL Studio and why this particular musician does not like to use it. I thought it was pretty funny — and it also helps me to get over my resistance to learning Ableton Live.

 

This one is pretty funny too, though Cameron didnt think it was funny at the time.

He finally got in touch with his friend The Flashbulb who helped him out.

Here is Benn, who is very fluent in FLS, going to Ableton

Finally for the fun of it here is the vid that came out when I was first getting started with FL Studio. I love this song they made. Its so over the top!

 

Old Sam Peabody stops by

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This morning was Random Note assignment # 298. One of the chords was a C diminished (which I insist on spelling C   Eb   F#   A ). I was trying to figure out how to connect this chord with another one in the group, and then outside the window I heard a faint warbling whistle at the birdfeeder. “Old…Sam…Peabody Peabody Peabody”.

F#  F#     Bb  Bb  Bb     Bb  Bb  Bb      Bb  Bb  Bb

I made use of that suggestion to build an Eb minor 6 chord      C   Eb    F#    Bb

Thank you, Old Sam!

I was a bit brain-spinny at the piano this morning. Here are some of the thoughts I scribbled onto my manuscript paper

  • “I’m thinking about, when I get my 70 dice, I can toss them all at once! There will be some phrases that make sense. Put into Midinous, connect in interesting ways.”
  • About revising music from 3 years ago. “I’m going to treat it as if a friend had written it and gave me a box of stuff to complete. My job is to carry on her vision of the piece.”
  • “I have to balance: talking & writing ABOUT music vs actually making it”
  • “Trying to play these into a recorder is difficult. I can’t read my own writing. I’ve forgotten the chords already”