Improv Piece

Thanksgiving is over and it's back to work!

I think for my next piece, I'd like to write something that allows students a chance to improvise. It's an important skill and is one of the MENC's standards of music education, but I've never seen a piece that integrates improvisation into its structure. I have two ideas to start with: a standard blues structure (always a classic and very appropriate for improvisation) or a Debussy-like pentatonic style.

In either case, I think the best way to go about it is to give soloists a note set and instruct them to improvise using only those notes. This, of course, will be easier with a pentatonic scale and more of a challenge when dealing with the chord changes of a blues structure. In either case, it opens up a whole set of problems to solve:

1. The piece will have the usual written melodies , accompaniments, and bass lines and the improv section will be the middle section of the piece In order to maximize flexibility, I think it would be best to have two lines for each part - an accompaniment part (with a walking bass and horn-style hits to help keep an even beat) and a solo line with the note sets mapped out. This way, directors can assign solos of any length for any of their players. Hopefully, it won't be confusing to read.

2. If the piece is in G major, I should specify "start on G" and "end on D" etc. Young students usually don't figure out on their own how to make a musical phrase sound "complete."

3. Maybe a set of suggestions at the bottom of the page are in order. Or a blank line of music so kids can write in their own solos.

At any rate, it's going to take a lot of thought and testing out with groups.

Midwest Conference

Happy Thanksgiving, all - hope you had a nice holiday.

After much thought, I've decided that I won't be able to make it to Chicago this year for the Midwest Clinic. I got an e-mail recently from the orchestra director who programmed A Breeze In The Keys asking if I'd be there to hear it and, sadly, I had to decline. The Conference has started posting performances online, though, and I'll be able to hear it when it goes on their website. I have no doubt that it will sound great.

A Breeze at Midwest

And... Done with another new piece! I'm really cranking them out. As it stands, I have more than I need for next year's submissions, so my plan is to continue writing so I can be choosy when it comes time to mail new music off to Alfred. I hope they like this latest one - it's in 6/8 with lots of delicious hemiola.

In other news, I just found out that one of my pieces will be performed at this year's Midwest Conference in Chicago! A group from Marietta Georgia (a district that has been very good to me in the past) will open their show with "A Breeze In The Keys" - one of my new selections this year. I hadn't planned on going, but now I'm considering it. On the other hand, traveling 300 miles and taking on the travel and hotel expense to hear a two-minute piece doesn't sound appealing.

Anyhoo, if you're planning on attending the conference, be sure to have a listen and stop by the Alfred booth to buy a copy of "Breeze" and any of my other selections that strike your fancy.

Filling Out The Fragments

I decided to tackle the second of my loose fragments first. Since that piece (a fast waltz) is for an intermediate-level orchestra and is less complicated, I figured I could whip it up in no time. And I was right - I got it done yesterday afternoon and celebrated with a trip to the theater (my alma mater had a production of "How To Succeed..." It was very well done).

Now it's back to work. I shaped a main theme today and transitioned it into the secondary theme I'd already developed. This one has some exciting rhythms and I think it will be popular. Up next, it needs a contrasting "C" theme and a recap. Hopefully I can get it done by Thanksgiving.

Working With Fragments

I started working on a new piece recently - a minor key piece in 6/8 time. I got a nice tune going and am happy with the accompaniment, but I realized that it felt more like a "B" theme than a "Main" theme for the new piece. Normally I'll write a strong main melody and them come up with something to go with it, that provides contrast or that compliments the rhythms and motifs of the main theme.In this case, I'm starting with the B theme and have to come up with something even stronger to use as a main melody. It's unusual for my process, but maybe it will produce some unique results.

Another part of my process is to take breaks from writing. I like to walk away for a while and return to get a fresh perspective. During a break last night I had a flash of inspiration about a completely different piece of music. I went straight back to my computer, opened a new file, and began working on the new piece, which I'm very excited about.

So now I have fragments of two different pieces to work on. Normally I like to finish one piece before starting another, but who am I to turn down inspiration? In anticipation of your question: no, I can't combine them into one piece. They're in completely different styles, time signatures, and keys and are for two vastly different ability groups. I'd rather get two different pieces out of them than try to wedge them together.