First composition without finale... :blush:

Argh...!

I'm writing my first decent-sized composition by hand. I've been using finale for years and really do think it is worth taking the time to do it by hand.

The piece is for full orchestra (for now anyway) and finale wouldn't have a hope in creating anything that sounds even remotely like the beginning section as it will use largely bowed cymbals and bowed marimba and also some quarter-tonal vibrato stuff from the strings.

I have noticed that my ideas for this piece are far more sophisticated than they would be with my usual finale-based approach. I think If I can ever get it down on paper, it will be something worth listening to.

Unfortunately, the writing of this is painfully slow and is making me incredibly anxious because I am in a constant state of self-doubt LOL

Sigh. It will get better once I start trusting myself, I'm sure, but for now, it is just painful.

I feel sad for you, though if I want to get into Julliard, I have to learn...... *sigh*

Just do it. Stop using YC as some kind of demented Twatter page and just do it. Stop over-analyzing, you're paralyzing your own creativity.

Just do it. Stop using YC as some kind of demented Twatter page and just do it. Stop over-analyzing, you're paralyzing your own creativity.

hehe not twatter... just a distraction lol

If this was a tonal piece it'd be no problem but it's not and I'm just being a cry-baby, I know :D

Time to get started again then.

Perhaps use Finale but unplug your speakers so there are no hopes of listening to Finale's devastating playback? That is, if you were complaining about having to do it by hand. I wasn't sure what you were getting at... besides simply ranting.

Besides simply ranting.

Oh, I was just ranting :-)

Actually, while I didn't say it, I was hoping some of you might have advice/suggestion for how to develop this skill?

hehe It is a skill I really want to learn, but I've ended up using finale anyway now because I can't stand the thought of the first time I hear it being with performers and discovering that it doesn't sound like it was meant to.

Maybe I'll write some simple music on the side, to get a feel for it, and then gradually allow myself to get more comfortable with the process, because at the moment, I'm ending up at a complete stop where it is like loop of doubt: "I can't be sure that what I wrote sounds like it is supposed to, so how can I be sure what the next section should sound like?"

Let me be clear that I do come up with all my materials and ideas before using finale, but I still seem to need it to verify that it sounds the same on paper, and if not the same, then good none the less.