Reintroduction Thread

[jawoodruff]

This thread is to help generate discussion and 're-introduction' of the community.

So, I've been a part of YC for a long time (and just returned from a hiatus). I'd love to learn more about the current users. So.... let's get introduced!

[KJthesleepdeprived]

I'm KJ! I'm a pianist and composer from San Antonio. I play keyboard at my church and my main outlet as a composer has become writing worship arrangements for our orchestra and choir under the guidance of my worship pastor. I'm not a music student and have not studied composition or theory. Despite a couple years of inactivity, I've actually learned a lot of what I know from observing and listening to the music you guys post on this site. A sizeable chunk of the people I originally met on this site have become inactive in the last few years so I'm glad to have had positive interactions with some of the folks I don't recognize as well as the handful who are still here from before. I'm enthusiastic about being back on YC because there's always such cool music being posted here that I otherwise would never find! I think that sums me up well enough. Hopefully some other people also decide to put in a little blurb about themselves so I'm not the only one!

[Monarcheon]

@KJthesleepdeprived, many thanks for requesting that "destroyed works" thread be overturned. It irked me a little bit as well.
I've seen people come and go from this site, and was around for its main, populated phase for just a little bit back then. When I came back, it was relatively empty. I sound like one of those sheriffs you see in westerns.
I'm a masters student in music theory in Canada right now (though I'm from Seattle), focusing on 20th century art music mixed with jazz/musical theater. I've had a rough history with writing music, so my whole ethos of composition is totally messed up, but I'm trying to find a nice middle ground with it. Before comp, I was originally going to go into physics and environmental science, but that didn't end up panning out and I don't know if it's for the better yet lol.

[jawoodruff]

38 minutes ago, KJthesleepdeprived said:

I'm KJ! I'm a pianist and composer from San Antonio. I play keyboard at my church and my main outlet as a composer has become writing worship arrangements for our orchestra and choir under the guidance of my worship pastor. I'm not a music student and have not studied composition or theory. Despite a couple years of inactivity, I've actually learned a lot of what I know from observing and listening to the music you guys post on this site. A sizeable chunk of the people I originally met on this site have become inactive in the last few years so I'm glad to have had positive interactions with some of the folks I don't recognize as well as the handful who are still here from before. I'm enthusiastic about being back on YC because there's always such cool music being posted here that I otherwise would never find! I think that sums me up well enough. Hopefully some other people also decide to put in a little blurb about themselves so I'm not the only one!

 

I have a composer friend in Houston (who used to be on this site). Some good talent there!

[jawoodruff]

30 minutes ago, Monarcheon said:

@KJthesleepdeprived, many thanks for requesting that "destroyed works" thread be overturned. It irked me a little bit as well.
I've seen people come and go from this site, and was around for its main, populated phase for just a little bit back then. When I came back, it was relatively empty. I sound like one of those sheriffs you see in westerns.
I'm a masters student in music theory in Canada right now (though I'm from Seattle), focusing on 20th century art music mixed with jazz/musical theater. I've had a rough history with writing music, so my whole ethos of composition is totally messed up, but I'm trying to find a nice middle ground with it. Before comp, I was originally going to go into physics and environmental science, but that didn't end up panning out and I don't know if it's for the better yet lol.

 

Interesting background. I've always considered composition similar to how quantum physics works (at least how its taught to those of us with passing knowledge of the field.) 

I remember well when this site was jam packed. I took over as admin during one lull and managed to get some activity back. But, as is often the case, we all got busy with life!

[aMusicComposer]

Hi! I'm a school student in Scotland. I play piano, flute and have recently picked up the violin/fiddle. I have been composing for quite a few years, and I write in a style reminiscent of the Romantic period, my favourite. I've been on the site for a couple years, and the activity does seem to come and go a bit. Recently (ish) we have had a lot of new members joining and old members, like yourselves, returning. It does seem to be busier, and people can get reviews quicker. I live exploring different music that people are writing on this site!

Regards

[Theodore Servin]

I'm Theodore. I joined this site a little over a year ago, and mostly compose late-romantic music. I try to maintain my own voice in my music, and try not to make it too stylized. I play the piano, and often play my own music. I have a YouTube channel, where a lot of my music can be found, all real performances: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk5ruZl0V4gHj5R_q2d5OJg/featured. My works mostly comprises of piano and chamber music.

I am grateful for existence of this wonderful site. I'm really glad there is a place online for composers to share their music and communicate with other composers. I hope it may continue to have a long and prosperous existence!

[Tónskáld]

I'm Jordan (I compose under the pseudonym Jörfi, though). I joined the site about 6 months ago—it's really given me a sense of community I lack in real life composing. I've made a few friends on here that I hope to keep for the long haul. 🙂 

I've always loved music and had an uncanny ability to pick things up musically. My "serious" instruments are piano and violin/viola. Professionally, I'm somewhat of a conundrum. I intended to pursue a degree in piano/vocal performance at university, but the sciences won out in the end (better pay) and I went on to get a doctorate since I'm a glutton for punishment. My day job is a pharmacist, but I consider myself a composer first—even if I only do it "on the side." I consider myself rather iconoclastic and prefer not to follow the path of other musicians/composers (sometimes it can't be helped). I have a wide range of classical music likes; my own style tends to be a blending of modern and postmodern ideas. I enjoy writing for any instruments in any musical ensemble, many of which can be found on this site.

As others have said, this forum is quite a gem and i'm super grateful for it! May it live long and prosper!

[bkho]

I have been a longtime member, one of the earliest members on this site even before Chopin took it over when it was a very different iteration.  At that time I was truly a "young composer" though I suspect I'm one of the older members on this site now (I only know of one other member who is definitely older than me....).  Music is a very serious hobby for me and I studied music in college, though in real life I'm a doctor (a neurologist) and am particularly fascinated between the link of music and the nervous system.  Unfortunately, because of the demands of my professional and home life, I have not been as active as I would like but always remain an admiring member from a far at the amazing music contributed on daily basis.  This has been a remarkably durable community, that despite natural ebbs and flows, there has always been a strong core membership that has kept it going.  My own music is strongly grounded in Western classical music of the 17th-18th century though I'd like to think in my original voice and not as simple pastiche. 

[caters]

Hi @jawoodruff, I'm Caters, one of the more frequent posters here. I play the piano and have done so for 10 years. I joined this forum several years back and didn't get any activity on my earliest posts. Then I returned to the forum this year and it is rare for one of my posts to go unnoticed(in the sense of no replies). My style kind of resembles a cross between Classical and Romantic. Some pieces that I have composed are more classical such as these:

 

And others are more Romantic such as these:

My composers of highest influence in order are:

1. Beethoven
2. Mozart
3. Chopin
4. Bach

[Jean Szulc]

Hey everyone! I'm Jean, and I'm a 18 years old Brazilian composer.

I joined this forum a few months ago, and here I remain. I've been studying music for about five years. I started on the electric guitar, and was into improvisation. I also composed a bit, although I never finished anything.

When thinking about what I wanted to do in college, composition became my main option and I decided to take it seriously. Since then, I've been having composition lessons with an amazing teacher, to whom I owe most of my knowledge. I'm now applying to some universities, and when I have my results I'll share it here with you people.

My styles change quite a bit from piece to piece, and my influences change almost every week, lol. However, some long-lasting names in my playlist are Charles Ives, Camargo Guarnieri, Poulenc, Villa Lobos and a few others. 

What I usually try to do in my music is to use a digestible vocabulary in a way that still remains meaningfull, fresh, and hopefully clever. Ambiguitiy is often key in this subject.

As other people have said before, this site is f*ing gold. It's awesome to check people's music and share your own, plus beign able to discuss very relevant topics with people who demonstrate a very lively interest on the subject. I've also made great friends in here, and hopefully will make many more.

[jawoodruff]

Wonderful meeting everyone! 

My name is Jason Woodruff. I am a 39 year old composer, entrepreneur, and business man from Indianapolis, IN. 

I've been composing since I was 12, played viola since I was 11, and piano since I was 20. I studied composition at the Chicago College of Performing Arts under Drs. Garrop and Choi.

My music is rather personal to me -I consider it an extension of myself. Some of my influences include Mozart, Beethoven, Gubaidulina, Stravinsky, and Schoenberg (with a bit of his pupil Webern). While my music is modern -I tend to consider myself more of a traditionalist. My music focuses on motivic development -with most of my works being built around a brevity of material. Counterpoint is also an important component of my works. 

At any rate, I'm horrible talking about myself. 

[SSC]

hi guys im ssc hello

 

Also: hi jaw it's been a long time!

[jawoodruff]

17 minutes ago, SSC said:

hi guys im ssc hello

 

Also: hi jaw it's been a long time!

 

IK!!! I was afraid all the oldies were gone!

[SSC]

Just now, jawoodruff said:

IK!!! I was afraid all the oldies were gone!

 

its really hard to get rid of me, ask my neighbors/city council/country

[jawoodruff]

Not sure how long I'll be back on here. Life's pretty hectic these days. We'll have to chat sometime!