Final Product

Blog (16.11.17): Pencils and instruments down, score is complete, recording is finalised, this must be the end! Or is it? It turns out, that I quite enjoyed the whole process. Despite thinking at the beginning "where do I start" I've ended up with a 2 minute composition for 5 instruments that I'm quite happy with and even my instrumentalists enjoyed playing. It's not a piece that will change the world, but something that I created myself which is a great thing to have. Using the baby steps process helped significantly in the beginning to get some ideas. I probably moved away from it as I got going, but then came back to some structure mapping ideas when I got stuck towards the end. Even if students didn't follow the whole scaffolding, it would be a really good starting point to avoid any white space, and make consideration to the composition as a whole.

Of course now that I've started, I feel a little inspired to compose some more. In between this process I also arranged a verse of Scarborough Fair for vocal ensemble. This was a very enjoyable task and of course much easier starting with some ideas to work with versus the empty page of an original. Something that students could also consider first, developing an arrangement and understanding harmonic movement prior to starting their own composition work.

Having the baby steps process to guide and teacher/composer/peer feedback along the way has really enabled me to be able to develop a composition that at first I had thought not possible. I hope I can give my future students the same level of scaffolding and kind, specific and helpful feedback to enable their success also.

Google Drive Link to Audio and Score

Performer Credits:

• Cello: Ashley Son
• Guitar: Virginia Smirniotis
• Violin: Jessica Wright
• Harp: Emma Harris
• Piano: Virginia Smirniotis
• Vibraphone: Michael Paton