Watch me compose a functional chord progression. I took the music out that was around 9 minutes in. Major chart Minor chart Article on Diatonic Harmony …
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Hearing Loss and Composers
Don't ruin your hearing. In this episode, I talk about why it's important for composers to protect their hearing. Listen to the music "Pancho Villa Rides" here: …
Five Minute Speed Composing Session
Watch me compose as quick as I can in five minutes. The goal of this episode is to just show you what it's like to sit down and write some music. It's really no big deal. I sit. I play. I …
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Dealing with Writer’s Block
Have you ever wanted to compose but ran into writer's block? This episode gives you a few strategies to tackle this universal problem that all composers have. …
Feeling Stuck Composing? You’re Probably Not Defining Creative Problems.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to really push myself as a composer scoring a new Soap Opera called Hilton Head Island. What has been both refreshing and eye opening is the amount of …
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Defining Creative Problems
What are creative problems and why are they important? Your growth as a composer is tied directly to the questions you ask. Learn how to ask the right kinds of questions to improve your …
Do I need to play piano to compose?
Piano is critical for you as a composer. In this daily vlog, I talk about what I think is important when you are learning to play the piano, the skills you need, and why they are …
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Should I go to college for music?
I get asked all the time if it is a good idea to go to college for music and composition. In this vlog, I try to answer the question. https://youtu.be/YdvSr2PJZW4 …
Compose More Music Than You’re Used To
Welcome to the very first episode of the new daily vlog. I tend to be a perfectionist, which means that I don't end up putting out as much content as I should. The goal now is to get over that, and …
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How to Spot a Film
In this article, you'll learn my philosophy on spotting a film. I'll also cover some of the tools, techniques, and tricks that I use to get the most out of the spotting experience. If your new to film …
AOC 013: William Caplin and Analyzing Classical Form
In Episode 13 of the Art of Composing Podcast, I talk to William Caplin, author of two of my favorite books on form and music theory in general. This is a great interview where we go into all sorts …
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AOC 012: Samuel Adler and The Study of Orchestration
In Episode 12 of the Art of Composing Podcast, I talk to Samuel Adler, author of one of the most popular books on orchestration, The Study of Orchestration. There is an issue with my itunes feed …
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Everyone’s Doing It, No One Talks About It: Sketching Music
Sketching Music: Stage Two of the Composing Process Sketching music is something that every composer must do at some point in the process of composing. The problem is, there seems to be very little …
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Failing Before You Start: The Pre-Composition Stage
Pre-composition: Stage One of the Composing Process Composing is a messy process. I wish it weren’t, but it is. And so, we have to be flexible in how we approach it. With that being said, there …
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AOC 011: Partimenti and the Secrets of the Greatest Composers – An Interview with Robert Gjerdingen
Episode 11 of the Art of Composing Podcast. We interview Robert Gjerdingen, author of the book "Music in the Galant Style". We talk about Partimenti, the tool used to train the greatest composers from …