TheMaskedTrumpeter

Do more with less, not less with more.

I write music as a way to communicate. I write music as a way to preserve memories onto paper. I write music to evoke emotions. I write music because it's pure.

I got a new composition teacher in college because my old one retired. I write very melodic based stuff - very catchy melodies that make people whistle it later on, and that's what I like to do. My new teacher says everything I write is "too based on pitch". Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this situation?

Thanks - I will change the Contrabass part. The percussion part is pretty much like it is in 12/8. That beat is the equivalent of an 8th and four 16ths in 12/8 times. Not sure if there is a better way to write it. I will talk to Patrick about the Sus. Cymbal since he is a percussion guy. Where are some of the over-orchestrated sections? I tend to do that sometimes to try to prevent boring parts for people.

This is a piece my friend I started a couple of years ago while juniors in high school. This was our first composition and was written for band. Valdosta State University's Wind Ensemble premiered the band version, and the live performance of that work is on the band forum. This version is for potential performance by Georgia Southern University's Orchestra, where we will be sophomore composition majors. I've never dealt with strings before, so one of the biggest things I want feedback from are the string parts. Are the ostinatos possible to play in the string part? Should I switch things up? Should the strings play other parts? I'm pretty secure with the wind portion, but if you have any suggestions for that, I'd be glad to hear them as well. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy! Virgil for Orchestra

I know almost nothing about choral music (except that it sounds pretty), but I really enjoyed this piece. I liked the use of the different major and minor chords and the alternating of the "love" and "hate", and the "life" "and death". I thought that was so cool! Just listening this is a really impressive piece. Nice job! Maybe this can inspire me to begin composing choral works..

I don't usually really plan. If I try to write a piece a certain way, I struggle. I just write as ideas come to me. Usually I can work with just a few motifs and make a piece out of that.

This piece was written in the last week and is based on the feelings I felt while at my first year of college. The whole piece is based on change, and the emotions dealing with change. The change may not be fun, it may be sad, it may be great, but no matter what, things will be different. And in the end, that is a good thing. I hope you enjoy. Revision

This is really an awesome piece! I love the variation writing the piece. One thing I would do differently though is condense your percussion down. Not all the percussion instruments need their own part. Overall, nice piece!

Thanks for your reply. When you say I use "full" chords, what exactly to you mean? Also, when I start the section with the 8th note "D's", I'm almost going into a programatic type feel with the piece, and that's suppose to be Lady Macbeth tempting Macbeth. When you say "In 25-26, you elaborate in the orchestration, but what the have to play remains very "basic" a d and an a-d, Why not use a pedal note, why not elaborate on enforced notes", what exactly to you mean by pedal note? Also, I wrote this one just by writing for a few instruments and then expanding the voices. Sometimes when I write, I do a piano score, but I didn't on this one. I want to learn as much as I can though, which is why I'm asking these question. Thank you for your comments!

This piece is a revamp of a piece I worked on a year ago. It's a very different piece now, and I like the outcome of it. It is based on the play "Macbeth" and this version was for my college composition class's final. The Thane of Glamis for Concert Band

This piece is definitely your most mature work to date. I love how you have so much in this piece in so little time. It really gives it that soundtrack feel. Nice work! 10/10.

I really enjoy this work. It fits the mood you're aiming for quite well. In the end, I might have some moving instruments instead of holding that one note. I know the percussion is moving, but I would move some wind instruments too. Overall though, a nice piece! I enjoyed listening to it.

From the intro, I was hooked. I really like the feel of the introduction. I could not get the score to open; probably just my computer. I love your variation of woodwind and brass melodies. I can definitely see this telling a story. No weak sections at all. Nice work!

I really enjoyed this. There's nothing I can really say to make it better - this is way ahead of my level. Nice work!