Big & Little
Often it’s the diction that matters as much as the content.
Composition
Always Simpler/Essential Complexity
The longer I write, the simpler I try to be.
Correcting What You Hear
The process of transferring what you hear to paper is not always reliable.
Vocal Group Styles
Learn a little more about the history and approaches of various vocal groups in these handy little videos.
Temporal Freedom To Create
The limiting forces on creative work change over time.
End With The Start
Sometimes, you need to wait till the end to start. Often when I write, I write a clear summation of the idea at the end. Then – at least half the time – I cut and paste it to the very beginning. Part is clarity: I like to start with […]
Five Reasons To Commission New Music
A core of my musical philosophy is around commissioning new music. Here are five reasons I think commissioning music is worthwhile for any music conductor. 5. It’s important for furthering the art! Your commission might be the next piece everyone is singing or playing – moving the community forward. 4. […]
Composition Demos
I don’t play sequenced compositional demos for my students. Honestly, I don’t much listen to notation output for assessment purposes anymore. I’d rather audiate the score or hear it through my own fingers at the piano. I do appreciate it when composers send them to me – it’s a great […]
Best of Tin Pan Alley
I’ve spent a lot of hours listening to the great Tin Pan Alley songwriters – the ones who composed the core of the Great American Songbook/jazz standards. Along the way, I’ve developed some strong opinions about the songwriters’ output. Here’s my ranking of TPA songwriters. (Who did I select to […]
Recognize What You Like to Sing
Don’t try to compose what other people want you to compose. The most successful arrangements and compositions I’ve written are the ones in which I intentionally tried to write the sort of thing I loved to sing when I was in singing groups. Too many young composers focus on writing […]