“The Stars of November” at ITG2023!
We never know where a piece is going to go when we begin its journey – and it’s always we. Sure, the composer writes it, but the commissioning path includes organizations, performers, venues, sometimes festivals or events; and yes, the composer too. Kayla Solomon and Danielle Guina, the performers of “The Stars of November” have been an inseparable part of the process. The piece was … Continue reading “The Stars of November” at ITG2023!
Taking Up Space
I’ve been thinking about writing for a while now, both music and a text update here, and I’m finally here at the keyboard (again, both music and text). It took a while, it seems. This last school year has been less hard than others, but still came with significant challenges. The first half of the year had us still rehearsing our band in the autobody … Continue reading Taking Up Space
Band Room Podcast!
Hey everyone, Well, I just wrote a really long and intense post about my 2020 experience, so here’s something a little shorter and brighter! Dylan Maddix and Cait Nishimura had me as a guest on their Band Room Podcast and it felt really amazing to talk shop with them. We talk composing, teaching, balance, video game music, and a whole bunch of other stuff. It’s … Continue reading Band Room Podcast!
New Year, ______ Me – A 2020 Reflection
I was feeling okay this morning, then my cat meowed at me and my stress level went from 0 to 10. He just meowed… that’s it. It seems like a good metaphor for how things have been going. My last blog post was–perhaps naively–about my goals for 2020. Until this past year, 2019 was one of the busiest years of my life and one where … Continue reading New Year, ______ Me – A 2020 Reflection
Music Ed Monday – Assignments for Days Without Playing
Hey team. I’ve been thinking about ways to help my fellow teachers in these uncertain times, especially considering that we won’t be playing very much to help stem transmission of COVID-19. So, I thought I’d share some of the materials/assignments that I’ve got for when we’re not playing. 1959 – The Year That Changed Jazz Four big jazz albums were released in 1959: Kind of … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Assignments for Days Without Playing
New Year, Old Me.
On paper, last year was a pretty incredible year. In the first half of 2019, I completed my Master’s degree in Composition (with the gold medal for the Graduate Music program, so it went well), I taught a lot of amazing kids and made some wonderful music, and I was flown out to Arizona State University for the American premiere of “Transcendent Light.” I got … Continue reading New Year, Old Me.
Transcendent Light – US Premiere!
Wow, what a year… actually, it’s more like two years. I’ve been kind of neglecting my website duties (though, if you follow me on social media, I’ve still been pretty busy). That being said, I have a lot to share, but there’s something pretty special that I want to share today. In 2017, I had the incredible privilege to be selected by a consortium headed … Continue reading Transcendent Light – US Premiere!
Music Ed Monday – Lighthouse Music (Part 1)
Hey team, I love music – I really do. I think about it quite a lot, but when both my day and night jobs are music, sometimes I get so burned out that I can’t see the forest from the trees; or rather, the beauty in the sonic fabric from the succession of pitches in a unidirectional harmonic progression. Sometimes, we play music; sometimes, we … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Lighthouse Music (Part 1)
Music Ed Monday – The Long Game
I’m writing this as my baby is fussing in the crib beside me — not crying or screaming, just kind of whining. We’re in the midst of sleep training our seven-month old and there are many days where I feel like what we’re doing just isn’t working. Even a week into this, there is still a lot of fussing and particularly around nap time. It … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Long Game
NEW PIECE – “Colossus”
Click here to purchase. Hi everybody, So, it’s been a big year. In the last eight months, my family grew by one and I took a one-year sabbatical from teaching to pursue a Master’s degree in Composition from Brandon University. I know, perhaps we could have timed that better but, as the old saying goes, “the right time is when it happens,” right? Anyway, I’ve … Continue reading NEW PIECE – “Colossus”