Sibulsky's Rants and Ravings

Partial Success

2011-12-03T21:31:00.001-07:00

My first attempt at a new process of writing melodies has produced something useful, in part...

What I ended up doing was working out my chord progression, then playing on the piano and singing possible melodies. What was surprising to me was how easy it was to come up with good melodic lines this way.

Now, the melody that I'm working with does still need some work (I'm using it in a song, and therefore needs more variety), but I'm quite pleased with how this process works and will be using it more often and that is something that I'm quite happy about.

Melody

2011-11-27T01:27:00.001-07:00

I really do wonder how some composers do it... how they manage to be a wellspring of melodies and beautiful themes. I try to dig up something that evokes, something that catches your attention and leaves an impression on your mind. I don't care how little of an impression - I just want you to remember it.

That's the problem that I'm facing right now - I'm coming up with cool harmonic ideas, but the tune that I write to go along with things just never manages to measure up.

A part of things might be that I've never had a good process for writing (in general even, but that's another matter). Now, I'm not liking for some magical method that will net be something awesome, but a consistent process that can come up with a line that is at least serviceable wouldn't be too much to ask, right?

I am going to try some new ways to come up with a tune that I haven't really tried before... maybe something useful will result. Here's hoping.

Annoying

2011-10-24T05:02:00.001-06:00

What is? How about hearing something cool in one's head, but not knowing what those pitches are?

Yeah, that's annoying. Any way to fix it?

Experiment

2011-10-22T03:52:00.000-06:00

I've spent the last few days working on a cello solo. I've worked out some cool motifs, and have started a draft that is coming together nicely, which is pretty cool. In fact, it's quite rare that I'm so happy with something that is still a work in progress, much less at this early stage of this (only about a minute of actual 'tune' written). Things are going so well that I'm thinking that I'm going to do something abnormal when I'm done with this piece... I'm just going to throw the sheet music it up on the Internet (via my site) and see what/who picks it up (most likely, only one or two people, but you never know.).

Is this a way to get even a microscopically small amount of exposure? You bet your ass it is. Will it fall flat on it's face. Big chance of that, yes. Do I care? Oddly enough..... not really.

Anyway, I'm still writing this thing.

Good Feelin'

2011-10-15T06:40:00.000-06:00

What a nice little buzz I got just now - working on some revisions to a cello quartet I started back earlier in the summer. It was a pretty good little tune (which, considering the way I wrote it, might tell me something about my normal process, but that's another tale) with just a few niggling issues. I took a nice step towards fixing those issues (in theory, anyway), and it was a really good feeling to write this stuff down, know what it was doing to correct stuff.

Just something I wanted to mention.

Realization

2011-10-14T05:09:00.000-06:00

It's interesting how an off-the-cuff jest makes one think... which is what happened tonight before work.
I've always been pretty vocal about how I never believe that what I write is any good (which is usually a lie, but its just how my brain works sometimes), but it was at least connected to the fact that, while I felt that what I was writing was not of quality, there was a prodigious amount of content.

That hasn't been happening in the last few months.

Yes, I've been working on projects, but most of those were almost all differing degrees of arrangements, with little to no original, creative writing (I'm not saying that arrangements are un-creative, but it is a different kind of creativity) happening. Or, to be more accurate, little to no 'quality' creative writing.

This is annoying the living crap out of me.

Now, we get to the realization.

Sadly, I'm not the source of this light bulb - that honor would have to go to my roommate who, in his usual manner informed me of my laziness, pointing out all the time I've wasted on digital entertainment when I could be working, churning out music or just outright working on my piano skills (which are lackluster as usual).

I've come to this conclusion before, but for some reason I never seem to learn the lesson, and I'm not sure why that is... maybe because of my younger age at the time (two or so years ago seems to be a stretch of the term 'younger') I didn't honestly pay attention to the reality of things. Looking at this situation now, in relation to my unfolding life, makes things clear - I need to step up or shut up.

If I'm going to be a composer, I need to compose. Often. Crappy music, amazing music, mediocre music, etc. Yes, I can have fun once in a while, but I need to be writing way more often.

Maybe this all is a warning, that the floodgates of sub-par music (the things that I keep away from everyone because I feel it doesn't 'measure up') are about to be opened up. I apologize in advance.

And maybe I'm missing the point, but I can't afford (creatively, or career-wise) to assume that I can get away with the usual operating procedure. Not anymore.

So it's time to, as some people say, shit or get off the pot. Being a professional composer isn't just going to fall into my lap.

Now Playing: Whatever is on 105.9 FM in the Boise area...

Humm…..

2011-09-29T00:36:00.001-06:00

Apparently, things happen when I don’t constantly post to my blog.

Nothing big, except for moving to Boise. You know, the little things.

Luckily, this really hasn’t impeded my writing too much – I’ve churned out two arrangements, a guitar/cello duet, started transcribing a song and finished up the Polar Express medley since moving about a month ago. Not too shabby.

Granted, have some time at my new job (and bosses that don’t mind that I write when I have free time) to work on music is quite cool, and I’m looking forward to getting even more stuff done.

I’m currently looking for musical things to do in the Boise area (and if they paid, that would be quite a bonus!)… there’s a choir that I’m going to look into, among other things.

Now Playing: “Hotel California” – The Eagles - Hotel California

Short update

2011-07-14T01:31:00.001-06:00

Just a quick progress update. More detail this weekend, I think...

1. Some progress on the Military Variations for Fife and Drum. They might be ready for revisions.

2. Symphony: I'm going to be starting an official "draft 2" when I hit a milestone on this next project.

3. Working on a medley of music from the movie "The Polar Express" for the University of Idaho Holiday Concert. Voice parts are almost done (draft one), then quick revision phase and delivery, then I can work on all the instruments (between 17 & 26 posts, depending on doublings and what I decide to end up using). I've made some VERY fast progress on this one, considering how slow this could be going at.

The Little Things…

2011-06-01T00:30:00.001-06:00

…like finishing a tune. What a concept, eh?

It’s where I find myself right now, trying to wrap up a few different projects. I’ve got an arrangement, some fife and drum variations, a song, and continual work on my symphony. And it’s amazing how much life can get in the way. By life, I mean excuses. Video games. Movies.

Grrr.

What’s gonna be fun is trying to see if a weekend away from the distractions can help at all. Taking a piano keyboard and a computer to an area without internet access will, hopefully, force me to get some work done.

I’ll let you know about the results of this experiment when I get back from it.

Progress.

2011-03-30T03:05:00.001-06:00

The tune referred to in the post below is done. It’s up at the website, and it’s looking like it’ll be performed in the next few weeks (if it hasn’t been already).

The piece, “The Fog at Evening-Time” was a nice change of pace from the scale that is my symphony-in-progress, which I’ve gotten back to in some degree. More on that when there’s real news about it.

Just for fun, I think I’m going to challenge myself to write one or two arrangements a week – just to keep myself sharp. And I’m going to get out of the rut of doing almost constant TTBB versions of newer pop tunes. Gonna try to get some good ol’ Jazz Choir II-style things going, mostly because it’ something that is a bit harder for me, but isn’t totally out of reach for me. Just a stretch. Heh.

Twelve-Tone Matrix

2011-01-24T03:24:00.001-07:00

Just started a Twelve-Tone piece for Flute and Harp last week.

What I’m working from:

I₀ I₅ I₈ I₃ I₂ I₇ I₁₁ I₉ I₁₀ I₁ I₄ I₆

P₀ D G A# F E A C# B C D# F# G# R₆

P₇ A D F C B E G# F# G A# C# D# R₁

P₄ F# B D A G# C# F D# E G A# C R₁₀

P₉ B E G D C# F# A# G# A C D# F R₃

P₁₀ C F G# D# D G B A A# C# E F# R₄

P₅ G C D# A# A D F# E F G# B C# R₁₁

P₁ D# G# B F# F A# D C C# E G A R₇

P₃ F A# C# G# G C E D D# F# A B R₉

P₂ E A C G F# B D# C# D F G# A# R₈

P₁₁ C# F# A E D# G# C A# B D F G R₅

P₈ A# D# F# C# C F A G G# B D E R₂

P₆ G# C# E B A# D# G F F# A C D R₀

RI₆ RI₁₁ RI₂ RI₉ RI₈ RI₁ RI₅ RI₃ RI₄ RI₇ RI₁₀ RI₀

For those that don’t know:

P = Prime

I = Inversion

R = Retrograde

RI = Retrograde-Inversion

Twelve-tone matrixes are nice, because they take one challenging aspect of composing out, which is picking the notes, but getting all the variations of the prime row to work together without sounding too different/unrelated is quite a challenge.

Updates!

2010-12-23T13:53:00.001-07:00

It’s been a long time people…. here’s what’s up:

Draft one of my symphony is DONE! I plan to start the revisions/editing/additions in the next week or so. Everything sounds pretty good right now, but it can always be better!
I’ve completed an arrangement for the Coeur d’ Alene Symphony.
Many new vocal arrangements have been written.
I worked on string parts for the University of Idaho Holiday Concert.
Upgraded how audio samples are played on my website (check them out here)

So, there’s that. I’m just going to keep plugging away at what I want to be doing.

Now Playing: “Suicide Mission” – Mass Effect 2 – Jack Wall

Is this really how you write?

2010-09-13T00:50:00.001-06:00

One thing that I’ve always had trouble with, in regards to my composing, is my ‘process’. Now, there isn’t a set “correct” way of writing music; my friend Archie is quite the beat artist, and puts things together in quite a different way than one of my professors does, which is different from how another friend of mine, Paul Taylor, goes about things, etc. You get the picture.

But for many years, I’ve wondered, “What’s my process? What should I be doing to be a more successful composer?” And really, I’m not sure yet. One thought I have is that I use different processes based on what I am writing for, and the time-table. If I have tons of time (e.g., my Symphony), I can work on many sketches, copious notes and ideas on non-music paper (thank to Paul of opening my mind to working on legal paper! MASSIVE amounts of idea generation for my Symphony came about on these pages!). Now, if I have less time, or just get an idea right away, I just start writing… this usually works better for me when I’m doing arrangements or the aforementioned ‘quick-idea’ tunes.

Now, what I’m asking myself is this: is this my ‘process’, or am I just being lazy and only doing the work to conceptualize a piece on my long-term projects? Am I riding on the seat of my pants, relying only on whatever raw talent I have as a composer/arranger/orchestrator when I have to work faster (if I actually have any talent as a composer/arranger/orchestrator [which I do, but I’m never one to refrain from self-deprecation.])?

Interesting thoughts, ones that require more time from me.

On to more interesting things…

Symphony Progress: Mvt. I: Draft 1 complete. Mvt. II: Draft 1 complete. Mvt. III: Piano score/sketch in progress, 180 bars done out of an estimated 500-1000 (!).
I’m in four different ensembles at the moment: Jazz Choir I & II in Moscow, North Idaho College’s Cardinal Chorale, and the Coeur d’ Alene Symphony. Suddenly, I’m busy.
Sweet trip to the University of Southern California to check out the Film & TV scoring program at the Thorton School of Music. Oh yeah.
Nothing else.

Okay, the ‘nothing else’ isn’t really true, but there isn’t anything else major. I’m supposed to be working on some other arrangements, but I’m still feeling the summer vibe of being lazy. That’s gonna have to end soon. Heh.

Now Playing: “Kylie from Connecticut” – Way to Normal – Ben Folds; “Wanted Dead or Alive” – Cross Road – Bon Jovi; “Mass Effect Theme” – Mass Effect: Original Soundtrack – Jack Wall; “Enterprising Young Men” – Star Trek: The Deluxe Edition – Michael Giacchino; “Boombox” – Incredibad – The Lonely Island; “No World for Tomorrow” – Good Apollo I’m Burning Star Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow – Coheed and Cambria

Symphony in Progress!

2010-08-10T02:36:00.001-06:00

Progress is being made on the Symphony. This is actually kinda scary, seeing as I’ve been working on it, in one form or another, for about 2 years. It’s the longest I’ve had a project in progress, and that’s really cool. It also makes me want to finish is, so that I can:

Really focus on some other ideas I’ve been working on (Sunshine Mint project, which if I pull off, could be AMAZING; film score project – some cool ideas in place, but I need to finish spotting the film first! Ack!)
Get used to setting PERSONAL deadlines, so that I get used to finishing things quickly. It’s gonna be a skill I need – go figure.

The second movement of this thing is pretty much done (needs some revision to help with flow/pacing and dynamics), the first is about 30% orchestrated, but what is gonna be TOUGH is the third movement. I’ve got some cool motifs worked out, I’ve been doing some math (really!) for all the overlapping/offsets that is the ‘basic’ construct of the movement, but getting it all to sit together, and then orchestrated will take quite a bit of effort. Plus, I’ve just (in my head) changed what the starting key of the movement. How that’s going to affect all the work I’ve done leading up to it, I don’t know.

How long do I give myself to finish the symphony? Because I’m pretty bad at setting my own deadlines. But I need to FINISH this. Move on to newer and cooler and whatnot.

C’mon people, tell me what to do! Ha!

Now Playing: “Keeping the Blade”, “Welcome Home”, “Ten Speed”, “Crossing the Frame” – Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness – Coheed and Cambria

Updates!

2010-07-06T15:11:00.001-06:00

Some updates just went live to my website today – pasted from the home page:

Samples added to the pieces from my recital, and the link to the whole recital was taken down. If you want full audio files, let me know. Also, I've added a piece with it's samples ("Shorts").

Go check it out!

So, Composing…

2010-07-01T03:15:00.001-06:00

Writing. And progress thereof.

Really, the only progress I have is what amounts to simple ideas. One of them wasn’t in a style that I was expecting, but that is cool – maybe I’ll discover some new aspect to my writing. That would be cool.

The other is more in my vein, and I’ve kinda ignored it in the last two weeks or so. I might jump back to that if I get stalled on this ‘groove’ thing.

So, yeah. Not much to say otherwise. Hopefully, that will change in the future.

Now Listening: “Video Killed the Radio Star” – Live @ WNEW – Ben Folds Five; “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” – Kill Bill, Vol. 1 Original Soundtrack – Santa Esmeralda;

What time does…

2010-05-31T23:22:00.000-06:00

So, yeah. This is my blog. Haven’t been here in a while, have I? Oops.

Well, I’ve got the free time. I’m thinking that this blog is going to have to transform from a whatever kind of venting place into a peek into my composing and process, etc. Granted, even less people are going to be interested in that. But they aren’t cool, are they? Right?

Anyway, to go with this theme, I’ve got a few projects in progress or just wrapping up........

Symphony No. 1: Yeah, I’m still working on this. The 2nd movement has been done for about a year now, but will under go some revisions. Nothing too serious. However, movements 1 and 3 are being re-written from the ground up. 1st movement is between the piano sketch and the orchestration stages, with some of the latter done, even though the piano sketch isn’t done. Movement 3 is all in concept still… I’ve worked out some ideas harmonically and rhythmically, but nothing linear yet.
Some arrangements:
- “Narcolepsy” is at read-thru draft one for Mel + TTBB. I might work together a Mel + SATB version sometime soon, but that’s a maybe.
- “Mickey” for TTBB is done. Heck, that was a one-night job. WAAAYYY easier than I thought it would be. Might be a good thing, might be bad. Who knows. I’ve just got to finish copying it out.
- I’m trying to find a 80s tune that would work well for SATB plus feature duet. Power ballad, maybe. I want to make it into a Jazz Choir II-type tune (if Jazz Choir II would look at it, that would be sweet. I’d be willing to drive to Moscow to throw it at them…)

So, that’s what is up.

Oh, and I graduated. That’s kinda cool too.

Now Playing: “Kashmir” – Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin; “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” – The Essential Journey – Journey; Divina Comedia – University of Idaho Jazz Choir I – Dan Bukvich; December, 1963 (Oh What A Night) – Jersey Beat: The Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Jazz Festival – among other things…

2010-02-26T03:21:00.001-07:00

My final year at the University of Idaho is going to have at least one memorable aspect – I’m singing in the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Gospel Choir with Dee Daniels! It’s going to be pretty sweet!

What else? I’m sure that it’s getting boring that I mention nothing but how I don’t post to this blog… maybe I’ll start making more random observations, which is how this whole thing started out. Here’s hoping…

Anyway, it’s 2 am and I need to sleep. Good night.

Now Playing: What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?/It Sucks to Be Me – Original Broadway Cast, Avenue Q; End Titles – David Arnold, Independence Day

Oh wow…

2010-01-18T02:06:00.001-07:00

It’s been a bit of time since this blog has seen me write, eh? Almost three months. Might be a new record.

Anyways… real quick update: my recital kicked ass. Thanks (once again!) to all of the performers and people that played/attended! It’s all available for download here. Enjoy.

I’m going to try and post more often – my schedule for school this semester is much freer in that regard.

Let’s go 2010!!

Recital Update

2009-10-21T13:11:00.000-06:00

I'm not quite sure why I'm writing this post... but I am. I guess I just want to have a post on the blog that isn't two months old. What a concept, no?

But I digress...

Recital Update - the music is all written, and rehearsals are going on. I'm in super worry mode, seeing as the audition is in about a week, and that is almost more important than the actual recital itself. I'm hoping for a 100% success there, but that's up to the rehearsals and whatnot.

Not really much more to say, I guess, and the battery is dying on my laptop here.

Later.

Waaaa?

2009-08-30T03:56:00.001-06:00

So, I’m getting slower and slower about posting on this blog… not sure why. Whatever. For the three people that read this, here’s what is up…

School has started. Most likely, going to be the easiest semester ever. Granted, I have to write, rehearse, and put on my comp recital…

I’m writing my comp recital. I have more done than I thought, but what is left is going to be the really hard stuff. And I’m not even talking about rehearsals and whatnot, which will consume me, I suspect.

Sadly, that’s it, I guess. Well, I’m still working the ‘pay the bills’ job. Not much to report there.

There’s not much else for me to go on about. Yeah, that makes this post a waste of time, but it’s done. At least there is something on here that isn’t two months old. Enjoy.

Oh, and just for fun, a cool picture I took for my website a while back. Makes me look all composer-y. Go figure.

Rain, and thoughts

2009-06-08T01:29:00.001-06:00

It’s raining right now – not to the extent of lightening in the picture here, but water is falling from the sky. I love that. Just thought I’d fill you in.

It’s been quite a while since I made a major post to this thing, but there’s not much I felt was blog-worthy/appropriate.

But hey, it’s summer now! Time to work, time to hang out with friends, time to be lazy… and time to plan one’s life. All because I’m graduating next spring – 2010! What craziness! But what do I do after school?

That’s the question. I don’t know how to totally answer it yet. Let me tell you, though, I want to. It’s just that I don’t know what is going to happen – where I will go, what I will be doing, etc.

Anyway, I’m working at a restaurant, and I’m trying to write the music for my recital in the fall. I’m going to keep posting more often on here about the progress on the latter, and also updating my website with more information about in-progress works.

So, here we go – the summer begin-ith – let’s just all enjoy the ride.

Star Trek

2009-05-09T15:14:00.001-06:00

It’s been quite a while since the last post. Catch-up comes later. I just have a few quick notes on the new Star Trek.

One – the movie rocked. I’m going to see it again sometime next week. I owe it to a friend. It’s fun, action-packed, funny, and has great VFX (nice work ILM, Digital Domain, Svengali), and a damn good score from Mr. Michael Giacchino. He has some good new themes, uses the original series theme in the end credits (not much in the movie…) and develops his themes pretty well.

Ponder this…

2009-03-01T01:45:00.001-07:00

Just a little phrase that popped into my head just now: “Ignorance is the death of the mind.”

I do and don’t know what this means.

Discuss.

Updates and whatnot

2009-01-23T00:39:00.001-07:00

Okay, there isn’t much whatnot – but I’ve updated my composer site a little. Hopefully, a few bigger updates should be coming soon.

“Let it begin!”

2009-01-09T02:56:00.001-07:00

Really, I’m starting to get annoying with this break.

I’m bored. I’m never tired it seems (right up until when I go to bed, then I sleep like a rock…), I’m only getting a small amount of music worked on (though that work is pretty good – I’ll show it when it’s done…). Frankly, I can think of only one solution to my woes:

School needs to start again.

Yep.

It’ll add focus to my life, while with the schedule I have, I’ll still have some free time to hang out with people and have fun. It’s looking like it’ll be a great balance – I just want it to start earlier. Insanity? Maybe. But I’m going with it.

I’ll be adding some things to my composing website soon – I’ve got some new compositions that I want to get up on there, some of my DDD related stuff, some others were class assignments that I just like a lot. I’ll post here when that happens.

Anyway, I’m going to either sleep, or find something to do. Such is the bored life…

2009

2009-01-01T03:03:00.001-07:00

Ah, the start of a new year… opportunities, the two weeks of freedom before classes…

Hopefully, 2009 will bring good things. Maybe I’ll get noticed musically. Maybe I’ll just magically become awesome (assuming that I’m not already… hehehe).

Really, I don’t know what exactly I’m trying to say here – maybe I feel compelled to post something due to the fact that it is a new year, and that’s Big and Important and Stuff. Whatever.

Anyway, all I’m saying is that I’m looking forward to 2009. Maybe it’s because it’s the last year we’ll be able to say “Two-thousand nine”, because “Two-thousand ten” just doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely.

Whatever. I’m babbling. I need to sleep. I’m old now (not really, but I feel like saying it! HA!), having turned 23 just 24 hours and 3 minutes ago (it is now 2:02 am…).

Time to sleep.

For Lack of Sleep

2008-12-30T04:25:00.001-07:00

Crazy, crazy winter break.

Christmas was amazing – getting most of the things I asked for, and other items that are totally awesome. And with my birthday in about one day, I have no idea what I will be getting – sweet. I like that.

Got snowed in the day I was scheduled to leave to return to Moscow – I had to miss two shifts at work. But I get to hang with the family for an additional week.

Slowly working on some new music – not sure where it will go, just something to keep my mind sharp, composing-wise.

Man, I wish I could get some sleep… oy.

Brain Droppings and other stuff

2008-11-11T01:37:00.001-07:00

There are times where things go great. Like now – I’ve just finished up a song set (which sounds pretty good to my ear), and I’m working on several other composing projects.

There are times where things seem to be going down the crapper. Like now – somehow I’m not entirely happy with my music (which, seeing the above statements, seem like utter nonsense, but it’s true. Go figure.), and I’m feeling ore and more disconnected from the world. Eek.

Granted, this all might be a bit of rambling from my tired brain just before I go to bed, but it’s all making me think. Granted, there are some other issues involved, but not things I’m going to post on this here blog. They be personal, and not everyone wants to hear that kind of tripe, anyway.

Maybe I’ve just got the “it’s almost the end of the semester” doldrums. God, I hope so.

Anyway, I’m going to read some George Carlin, and go to bed. You all have a fine week.

The End is Near!

2008-11-03T01:28:00.001-07:00

The end being the end of the semester, that is. Hehehe…. gotcha there, huh? In all seriousness, the semester is starting to wrap up, and that’s just crazy. Things are moving really fast, and I’m just trying to keep up. And that’s annoying.

I have a song set to finish and revise (bother me on this one, folks…), this wind ensemble piece that I want to get done, more work on the arrangement of “Last Kiss”, and revisions to the Jazz Choir overture. Oh, and schoolwork! Yippy!

Granted, I am looking forward to the free time that I will have to make money working (Shari’s) and writing cool new stuff, but I just don’t want it too soon.

And I just now realize that I have probably written about this whole ‘end of the semester’ thing seven times before, but I believe it bears repeating. So, ha.

Concepts of self

2008-10-19T02:13:00.001-06:00

Here’s what annoying…

I am behind. Not in school work, not in work-work (Shari’s), but in my own writings. Of all the projects I’ve started in the last six months (May to present), I am to the point that I wouldn’t mind hearing them played/performed in public on two of them – and both are arrangements Which isn’t bad, but I would really like to get my sound out.

Which brings up the concept of mental perception of self.

I don’t normally think of myself as vain (granted, I do have a massive ego, but the two are different. But I could be wrong…), but I really want to be noticed. Even slightly. And it’s not really me that I would like to have seen, but my music. Because otherwise I get to the point where I feel like I’m going to be wasting my life writing music that no one will hear. And that’s not cool.

Feel free to comment, people. I need the input.

Wishes and dreams

2008-10-11T10:44:00.001-06:00

Me being the greedy, greedy man that I am (which rhymes, and is also sad. So very, very sad. Not the rhyming, but the greedy), I’ve brought back the Amazon.com Christmas wishlist (see sidebar of blog). Again, for the people who need to know, these are wishes. If you’ve got something better, surprise me. Surprises kick ass. Also, this means you should start working on your lists, so I can start planning my X-Mass shopping. Unless you like surprises, too.

For want of something to do…

2008-10-01T13:06:00.001-06:00

So I’m sitting here in the music building, draining laptop battery power and killing time. Among the highlights of the last two weeks:

Awesome camping trip with friends. Great time around the fire, and stories that won’t be told.
Currently sick. Yee-haw. Hopefully I’ll pull out of this soon.
Sadly, I haven’t gotten much work done writing-wise. Mostly because I’ve been busy as hell, but also there is a massive lack of a need to write. I need to start lying to myself, and come up with fake gigs that will cause be to write. Who knows?

Well, there’s that. The battery is getting pretty low, so I better post this…

Now what?

2008-09-19T02:52:00.001-06:00

So, week four of classes is almost finished.

Yeah. That’s pretty crazy-fast. Where did the time go?

No… really. I wouldn’t mind having some time back. It would be quite useful to have. Ah well.

I’m working on three different things right now. I should be working on four, but I’m not. Oops.

1. Jazz Choir Overture.

It’s not gonna be heard till next semester, due to reasons that I don’t need to go into here. Needless to say, this is actually kind of a good thing, ‘cause now I can get some fixes in and adjust things that I wouldn’t of had the time to do. Sweet.

2. Dance Commission

I got a call asking if I could write a piece in a week for a dancer to take to a national competition. Got it done, but I haven’t heard back about it. I would like to hear, just so if there are changes needed, I could get them done.

3. Wind Ensemble piece (maybe titled… gonna save that for another day)

Next step is orchestration. This is going to be fun – and sucky at the same time, because it’ll be a new experience, but I hate trying to write for saxophones. I just don’t know what to do with them in a band setting. Learning experience? Sure, why not.

And the tune I should be working on is the last song of the William Blake set. I don’t know why I haven’t gotten on it. Maybe I’m not interested enough in this specific song? Either way, I need to at least give it some honest effort. Somebody, start poking and prodding me about this one!

Rock-a-bye baby isn’t working

2008-08-29T03:00:00.001-06:00

So… as I try to get myself to sleep, I’m deciding to post. Why? I’m not really sure. Maybe it’s because it’s as good a time as any, and the fact that I can’t sleep that is making me want to write.

This first week of classes is almost over, and it’s been pretty good. I don’t have too many lecture classes (Civ III, Jazz Theory, Color Chem, and Film Music Theory), but I’m in two choirs (one of which will require TONS of work…) DDD, and taking two lessons – cello and voice. And working part-time.

The lecture classes are going to be okay (I could actually teach some of the film music theory course…), but one is going to be mind-bending, and that is Jazz Theory. I haven’t really taken a theory class in almost four years, and it’s going to be a brutal re-introduction. Our first actual assignment is due Tuesday, and I really have no idea about how to do it. Maybe I’m not that kind of smart. We’ll see.

Overture = almost done. Just need to make the final copies of the sax, un-pitched percussion, and guitar parts, and make a nice-looking copy of the vocal part, and give it to Dan for approval. Yippy. And y’all can stop nagging me on that. It worked.

Now, I can get back to writing, and not just part-writing. It’s time to finish that William Blake set that I started in June. I’ve also got a few other projects that I need to finish up, then it’s time to start getting new ideas. Yee-haw.

Helping with writing will be some new equipment… a drafting table, a new laptop, and new notation software. I’m getting serious about this stuff, people…

Just to repeat myself

2008-08-21T01:09:00.001-06:00

I said this on the blog back in June of 2007, but it bears repeating, because the same thing just happened tonight – except stronger!

Yes, it's just after midnight, and I was standing outside. Why?

It's raining.

I happen to enjoy rain. When it is raining, I go out to be in it, mostly due to the fact that I feel clean. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that showers (indoor, human showers) are just fake rain storms.

Anyway... I like rain. Any of you that have known me for more than a few months have most likely heard me talk about the massive, gigantic thundershower that happened when I was on a cruise in the Caribbean. Lightning bolts so strong and bright that the entire sky was pink, and you could see far-off oil platforms. Rain coming down hard enough to soak you in seconds.

It was wonderful.

I would like to have a rainstorm like that sometime soon. The feeling of being outside in the midst of power that was shown that day is unforgettable.

While the rainstorm wasn’t as powerful as what I was asking for last year, it was still nice.

Rain makes me think. About life, living, music, people, friends, and more. And that’s why I like rain.

“This appeared as a moral dilemma…”

2008-08-19T02:09:00.001-06:00

I’m WAAAY late in posting this, but this needs to be watched…

Enjoy!

A quick thought…

2008-08-16T03:55:00.001-06:00

I have to wonder about how the creative process works. Because, really, there are two ways to be creative (and maybe I’m just making up crap here, but it’s a train of thought that I’ve, well, thought about.)

Something comes to you, you work it out, and it’s done. Simplified, yes, but there you go.
You get pressured to come up with something, usually requiring you to follow a set of guidelines that keep you within a certain framework that might not be, and most likely isn’t, to your liking.

Earlier this summer (see blog post dated July 17th) I was in creative mood #1. It was great. Amazing, really. Some of the stuff I wrote, I didn’t really think I had in me. Crazy, maybe. Lately, however, I’ve been in creative mood #2. Which, granted, can be useful, but I never really like the stuff that I come up with while in this state.

Interesting. I don’t know really why this line of thinking came to me at this time of the night (granted, I really can’t get to sleep right now…) but it’s making me think, which is good.

Also, I’ve once again revised the blog layout. I wasn’t as happy with the other one as I thought I was. So here you go. Comment away!

Wow.

2008-08-09T01:07:00.000-06:00

Having just watched the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics, I have to say that I am beyond impressed. The show that started things off was technically and artistically amazing. I wish I had recorded it when watching... I forgot. Damn. If I ever end up getting a Blu-Ray player, I hope that they release this on that format, so I can see it again.

Wow.

And in other news...

I'm working on the Overture for Jazz Choir. Like I've said before, I really should have had everything done in May, but I haven't. So, I'm working on parts now. We'll see if any of the stuff I get done this weekend will get used once I check it source material that I left in Moscow (oops!), but at least I'm working on it.

I might get some other stuff written as well, between laundry, the air show at Fairchild that I'm going to on Sunday, and other stuff.

We'll see...

Oy!

2008-08-02T02:49:00.001-06:00

It’s time for the turn-a-round. I’m doing my work laundry, then going to bed. See y’all at Shari’s at 10 am.

Okay, maybe I won’t see you. But I'll be there.

Post Test-Opening…

2008-07-27T04:19:00.001-06:00

Okay, so the ‘dress rehearsal’ for opening the new Shari’s here in Moscow wrapped up today around 4:00 pm. From my point of view, things seemed pretty good. Granted, I really only worked about two hours, (ate for some of the other time, then there was pretty quick clean-up) but I got a pretty good feeling about how the opening week is going to feel.

That feeling?

Rushed. Fast-paced. Awesome.

I’m pretty optimistic about this job.

So, come check us out. I work next from 6 pm to 1 am on Tuesday (the day after the place opens).

Other news…

Finished the ‘Raindrop’ prelude arrangement tonight. I cut out two woodwind parts that weren’t really needed (for my version of this tune, anyway…). I should have a Finale sample version up on the website soon.
I really need to get cracking on the Overture. Anyone want to start giving me crap now, can go right ahead. Start nagging me about it. I need to get it done - last month!
No progress on any other tunes... new job, and not a whole lot of inspiration kicking in right now... We'll see what develops in the next few days.
Ben, my summer roommate, has moved out (heading down to Boise!) Good luck down there, man!
New roommate, Andrew (yes, we have the same name) moves in either Monday, or sometime this next week.
I slightly changed the blog layout and color scheme. I'd like some input on this. I'm kinda iffy on some things, so let's see if we're all on the same wavelength!

Okay, I need to go to bed, but sleep is currently eluding me. So someone wish me luck on that endeavor...

Knuckle Down!

2008-07-24T02:11:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow it really starts.

My first job this summer – work. Making money. Yippy!

Also, progress to mention -

Two of three songs from the William Blake set are done. I like them, they sound good, and others think so. So, now I just need to tackle the last one. Duet. This’ll be interesting…
I’ve started adapting the “Raindrop” Prelude by Chopin (op. 28, No. 15, if you are interested…) for a chamber-ish group. “Ish”, due to the addition of almost a full woodwind section and select brass with the strings. I might have to adjust a little here and there, but I like what I have so far.
I need to start work on the “other” parts of the Jazz Choir overture. Could someone start kicking my ass about that? It needs bells, vibes, marimba, guitar/bass, trumpets and trombones, flute and piccolo, saxes, and rhythmic percussion. Luckily, I have the voice part done already. Grr.

Maybe I’ll get my other projects done, too. We’ll see.

Also, if you missed it, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” ran on the net this last week, and it was awesome! It’s no longer streaming for free, but you can get it on iTunes for about four bucks. It’s totally worth it. See the link on my sidebar. Do it now.

And following up on a previous post, I haven’t started on the piece that is going to stretch my abilities. I might make it part of my string quartet, but I’m not sure. I might also make it something totally out there. No standard instruments.

That might be asking too much of me. I don’t know.

Poof!

2008-07-17T18:14:00.001-06:00

I really am amazed by the changes that happen quickly.

Since the last post, I’ve gotten a job, have been writing up a storm (and I’m actually pretty happy with most of it!), and started taking better care of my health (started, mind you. I’m still working on it…). It’s been about a month since that post.

Things change quickly.

Musings on a facet of music

2008-06-28T03:01:00.000-06:00

I'm a composer that is trapped in the web that is melody.

Okay, now that I have your attention, I'll fill in the blanks.

Unable to sleep, I'm listening to random tunes on my Zune. Ranging from Starship Troopers (written by the late and great Basil Poledouris) to Pearl Jam (their cover of "Last Kiss", which I just did an arrangement of!), with a stop at Braveheart (written by James Horner) somewhere in there, I'm struck by two things: A) the use of non-melodic, hearing-only-the-harmony writing in the two film soundtracks (less so in Troopers, but it's there.) and B) I have a wide and eclectic range of music in my collection.

Out of this comes the realization that I am addicted to melody. I fear the result of melodic silence. What could happen in that void of non-horizontal motion?

The answer?

If I write it well, awesomeness could result.

And just now, typing this, I've also realized that I have another addiction: tonality (the old-school, non-dissonant tonality, not the late 19th century tonality with quirks). Maybe I can break myself of this mold as well. What I really need to do, is to challenge myself to create a piece of music that, at all costs, avoids my addictions.

There. Now I have something to do next week, other than look and apply for jobs. Yeah!!

Summer, waiting, and living...

2008-06-01T02:35:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again... being in Moscow during the summer is quite slow. Emphasis on slow. But at least I'm attempting to get some stuff done.

Compositions:

I've got at least four projects on the burners - the Jazz Choir Overture (arrangement, but whatever...); a piano piece ("Wanderings") based off of some little melodic ideas that I spent eight minutes improvising on while at home in CdA; something I'm calling the "Suspense Quartet" - three or four pieces for string quartet in a similar vein/style of my first woodwind quintet (fake movie music!); and a set of three songs from texts by William Blake, one of which I was asked to write about two and a half years ago. Oops.

I'll have more info up on my website soon.

Life:

I have been hanging out with the few friends that stay in town for the summer, attending Summer choir, and generally coping with the pace of summer Moscow. Waiting on some job possibilities - some are looking rather awesome!

Well, there's the late night update for the next week, or however long it's been since I last posted. Really, I want to write more, but I'm trying to get other stuff done first.

Well, this sucks...

2008-05-20T00:05:00.000-06:00

I was in the Seattle/Tacoma area this past weekend to attend a wedding, and visit a friend.

On Sunday, my car was broken into. Both windows on the left side were smashed, and the criminal stole my digital camera (with three bad pictures of Mt. Rainer on it), and, most worrysome, my cello.

The windows are being fixed - the car should be ready tomorrow. What I'm (and my parents) are waiting for is word from the insurance company about how much they are willing to cover to replace the cello, bows, accessories, and my camera. We're supposed to hear from them sometime tomorrow, but we'll see. Hopefully, things will turn out good.

We'll see...

Summer already?

2008-05-11T21:06:00.000-06:00

Well, here it is. The end of the semester. Oy.

Anyways, the semester is over, summer is here, and I need work. So, I'm making my way though the job market, seeing what I can get.

I'm off to Tacoma/Seattle for a friend's wedding this weekend, which should be awesome. I'm also going to visit a friend in Seattle. Reunions are fun.

I'm also working on some music, as always. Summer hopefully will produce some nice new music.

Working and living... jobs at hand...

2008-04-15T21:56:00.001-06:00

Just a few weeks left in the semester. Oy.

I have to say, this semester has flown by - which is both awesome, and outright aggravating. More time would always be a good thing, to get class work and whatnot done, but the freedom offered in summer is always nice.

I'm done with "Recollection of Sounds...". Go take a look. All I need now is a cellist to play it in the fall.

Oh, and if you want to hear it live, check out the Student Composers' Recital on April 30th, at 7:30 pm at the School of Music. There'll you will hear a version with an orchestral reduction on piano, with solo cello - along with works by the many talented composers at the Lionel Hampton School of Music.

Damn, I sound like a press release.

I've been sorta hired at Waldenbooks here in the local mall - starting at the end of the semester, hopefully. If only I had the time to start now... damn.

Anyway... it's time for dinner, some reading, and maybe I'll watch "There Will Be Blood". Hopefully, it's good.

It just keeps coming...

2008-04-04T03:35:00.001-06:00

Two main things tonight...

One, head to my site, and check out a piece called "Recollection of Sounds Not Quite from the Past" - I'm finishing it up, but the solo stuff that was 'phase one' of it is done, and sounds quite amazing - mostly due to the player.

Two, tomorrow I head to Whitworth University for their first annual CompFest - a composer/music editor from the film and TV biz is giving a two-day set of classes and lectures. For free. Hell Yeah.

Hand Cramps

2008-03-31T02:32:00.001-06:00

I think I can qualify as a tree-killer.

I just finished writing up a 24-page orchestral score. I still need to play with some dynamics (the few that are there are not enough), and shove the thing into Finale so that I can confirm what I'm hearing in my head got on the page.

From there, we'll see what becomes of the piece...

It Is Done.

2008-03-23T03:18:00.001-06:00

DDD Week draws to a close, with the final day of shows.

If you missed out, DVDs usually are sold through the University of Idaho. I highly recommend buying one.

I've got some photos from the last day up in an album on Facebook - one should be able to take a look...

It was absolutely amazing, and I can't wait for next year.

Maybe I'll see you there?

Reminder...

2008-03-20T02:16:00.001-06:00

...people should try and get a ticket to a showing of DancersDrummersDreamers2008 (shoe-be-shoe-be-do) for either tomorrow, Friday, or Saturday night (show starts at 7:30pm), with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm.

Come see the awesomeness!

I'm also not in this picture. Sorry.

Go see it!

2008-03-16T02:13:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is Day One (of four) of Tech rehearsals for DDD 2008 (subtitled "shoe-be-shoe-be-do"), which you should get tickets for. It's a week (almost) of 1am finishes - that being the time that you get to go home and start your homework for the next day. It's draining, crazy, and an absolute blast.

One just has to survive it.

Performing and composing for this show is real fun, a real challenge, and a great experience.

Shows are on Thurdsay, Friday and Saturday; March 20, 21, and 22, at 7:30pm on all three days, with a 2 pm show on the 22nd.

Oh, and I'm not in this picture. That was a much older show...

Ah... a nice, cool breeze...

2008-03-06T23:04:00.001-07:00

Here's a bit of an oops for you...

When cutting your own hair, make sure you know how far up your head you want to really short part to be. Because the only way to correct it is to cut it all at that length.

At least it's easy to wash in the mornings...

Now What?

2008-02-22T03:04:00.001-07:00

There's something that I really need to figure out.

Oddly enough, it has to do with the thing that I've been doing for the last three-and-a-half years - writing music.

What I need to figure out is this: What is my process?

Weird... you would think that after almost four years of focus on writing music, I would know how I go about it. But, that isn't the case.

I write in different ways, for where I am at. Literally, my technique differs based on my physical location - near a piano (or musical instrument [not counting voice - I'll get to that...]), with just paper, with only a computer and no piano keyboard...

At all these places, I work differently. The important question is: Is that bad?

I can't answer that. I might need some people to chime in on this for me, but I don't think it's a problem. But I've been wrong before.

In other, less philosophical news...

I got very little done today that I wanted to. I was going to clean the apartment (it needs tidying...), but instead wrote for about two hours, watched TV, a movie, and had breakfast/lunch/dinner (it was one meal today - eek!)

I'm loosing focus with my life, I fear. I know what I want, but I don't feel the want/drive to get there like I used to. Which means I need to ask my self, "What has changed to make this happen"?

And right now, I can't answer that.

Ah well... maybe I just need to get back to a normal schedule. The ~~University of Idaho~~ School of Music hasn't really had a "normal" week of classes since the second week of the semester - what with the snow days (which was nice!), professors going here and there... and me breaking my wrist didn't help my schedule feel normal, in anyway, shape or form.

I need to stop rambling, and go to bed. Sleep is important, and I think that I haven't been getting enough in the last two weeks or so...

Now Listening: "Dust in the Wind" - Point of Know Return - Kansas; "From the Wreckage" - Mass Effect - Jack Wall; "Roar (Cloverfield Overture) - Cloverfield - Michael Giacchino; "Hold Tight!" - Sahara - Clint Mansell

Work can actually get... done?

2008-02-21T03:59:00.003-07:00

It's that time of year again, here at the University of Idaho...

JAZZ FESTIVAL!

Which means that, since I did not sign up to do any festival-related work, I have a pretty free week. And that means that I'm going to get other work done.

That's the plan, anyway. Two in-progress pieces (that I'm really focusing on right now, there are others...) a revision of a piece, and an arrangement of the Star-Spangled Banner for the chapter of ΦΜΑ that I am a member of, for four-part men's chorus. Which I should have finished already, but I am fearing this for some odd reason. Go figure.

Congrats to Paul Taylor, who won the composition competition that the School of Music put on for the Vandaleers choir - looking forward to hearing it.

In other random news... my new Halo 3 disc came in yesterday - a replacement for the one that was cracked. Yippy!

And one more thing tonight...

2008-02-17T01:21:00.001-07:00

Once more...

2008-02-17T01:11:00.000-07:00

Just letting the readers know... I've gone and updated my website again.

Good news is awesome!

2008-02-17T00:06:00.001-07:00

Good news is always good.

Good events are even better... and a cast that is no longer on my arm is AWESOME!

My wrist still hurts a little, but that's from being in a cast for three weeks, and the resultant lack of use. But this is okay... I can write and type and do things now. which is flippin' sweet.

Now I can get back to work...

Long time off - comin' back at ya!

2008-02-13T20:45:00.001-07:00

I'm making strides with the website. Most of the stuff that I want up is up, with information on pieces being the only things that are going to change often. Go take a look.

The Jazz Fest is coming up this next week at the University of Idaho, which means an unofficial break from classes. Always nice to have a bit of a pause, but there it's also annoying due to the fact that we have to play a ton of catch-up to deal with the lost week. Not cool.

I plan on getting lots of work done - music, music, and more music written. That'll be swell.

What else will be swell? I should have my cast off Friday morning. That'll be flippin' SWEET, but it's possible that I'll still need to have it on. Which would suck, because I can't get a lot written with the cast affecting how I use a pencil. Grr!!

Pretty

2008-02-01T21:46:00.001-07:00

The website grows...

Take a look. It's fancy-er!

Link HERE.

Taking off the dust, starting anew...

2008-01-29T01:05:00.001-07:00

I'm re-starting my homepage - the OLD, old, old, old, one that I had before this blog. I'm starting from scratch, making a page that will focus on me as a composer.

It's gonna be done in the little chunks of time that I have, so it will take a bit. But it will be there.

In progress here.

Yeeouch! Addendum

2008-01-25T12:52:00.001-07:00

It turns out that I didn't sprain my wrist (which I miss-spelled last week!), but in fact broke it. It's a small fracture that should be healed in about three weeks (which is when I go to get the cast off).

It's gonna be an interesting three weeks...

Yeeouch!

2008-01-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

As I left the apartment this morning, I went to get into my car. But with the snow and ice and stuff last night, it was frozen shut. Instead of chipping away, I decide to walk.

Thusly, I spranged my wrist. I slipped on the ice in a very cartoon fashion, and landed on said wrist.

Here's what is annoying about it... I can kinda write (slowly, and akwardly!), and any instrument playing is pretty much out of the question. Which sucks, seeing as I have two compositions thea need to be finished within two weeks (one really needs to be at least done with a full-length draft in about two days!).

This is going to be an interesting week...

"Here we go again..."

2008-01-13T22:55:00.001-07:00

Well, school has started... yeah.

I've got three classes with the same professor, another three with another, and only two other classes. Wow.

I also have some new projects to work on (one is fixing an old one, the other is adjusting some things).

And what else? Well, really, nothing much. I'm just gonna keep on truckin', and go forward. Who knows what another semester will bring me?

Welcome to 2008

2008-01-01T03:15:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year. Let's kick off a new year of blogging, shall we?

Here's weird for you...

I don't know, really, when this happened, but an odd sort of transformation has occurred to me in the last week or so - being as I am actually getting some music written - to the point where I am within sight of a finished piece - and not something small.

Yeah, really. Just about two more minutes to get written - unless more and/or less things are requested. We'll see what develops. Yes, this is kinda scaring me too. Go figure.

I squeaked out a new DDD piece a day ago... not too happy about it, but it'll do for now - being the weak piece that no one chooses? Maybe. We'll hope for better. Either way, I got a recording sent in the mail yesterday, the last day of 2007. I didn't actually play it, but I let Finale take care of the musical noise-making. I was just too lazy to go record the bloody thing. Isn't that grand?

Oh yeah... my birthday was yesterday (the 31st). I'm 22. Now what?

Well, it's 2:15 am - 2 hours and 15 minutes into the year of 2008 AD, and I really need some food. I didn't eat enough with dinner tonight, and I think there are some baby carrots in the fridge the I wouldn't mind ingesting. Yum.

Writing is random!

2007-12-28T00:57:00.001-07:00

It's interesting how you can just work on something out of nowhere. Which is what I am currently doing. I hadn't planned do start the ~~final?~~ third movement of this thing, but here it is. It's looking good from this early point (and I stress early, due to the face there are only 11 bars that could be called written (they will most likely get edited somehow/when/where). I'm aiming for lighter and more 'floaty' here. Heck, it has a title already, which doesn't happen too often with me (it's "Amor est Vitae Essentia", if you really want to know.), but it has happened nonetheless. Crazy.

Well, tomorrow is Friday, which is three days from my 22nd birthday - which is being celebrated a day early. So really, I'm turning 22 on Sunday. Now, is it just me, or are there no birthdays left to look forward to - meaning, eighteen being 'adulthood', 21 being drinking age... there's nothing cool left. Yeah, it's one more year of life experience, memories, etc... but nothing cool. And that's a kind of bummer.

Don't take this the wrong way, people -I'm still looking forward to the even, being that it is a day where people actually want to get me a gift, and I quite enjoy that. It's also nice to get cards from people that I don't talk with all that often. That's quite nice, actually. Cards are always good people. Granted, don't return the awesome video game or DVD or book for a simple card, but cards actually rock.

Go figure.

Disconcerting...

2007-12-27T16:25:00.001-07:00

Granted, I didn't work that hard on it, but I know that it isn't going to work. The 'it' in question is my DDD piece for the year. It just doesn't seem to work. Annoying, really. And so I try writing something else, but it isn't the tone that they are looking for. I'll file that away somewhere for future use, but I'm blanking on something 'light and entertaining' right now. If I can get something magically written and recorded in the next five days, then that is cool. But otherwise, I'm at a loss.

And that is disconcerting.

Maybe punching that clock wasn't a good idea

2007-12-27T03:13:00.001-07:00

Ah... we must be getting near the end of the year, huh?

Well, yeah, duh. But I can really tell when I start going through all the stuff I archive on my computer and move them around into 2007 folders, and make empty 2008 folders for the new stuff to be made in the upcoming year.

That's usually two hours that I have to just deal with. Ah well.

What else is worth mentioning before sleep?

Don't you hate days where you planned on getting lots of neat, cool stuff done, but when the day ends, none of that stuff ended up happening? I hade one of those today. And let me tell you, there is nothing more annoying to me than a day where I do nothing.

Wait, you say - you do that all the time!

Yes, but I am slowly realizing that I can be somewhat hypocritical. Oops.

That'll be something to work on in the New Year.

In which I will be 22 years old. But that's another blog post, not for this evening.

Tick Tock... [punches clock]

2007-12-23T23:52:00.001-07:00

Isn't it annoying when things all come together?

Normally, that sentence goes "Isn't is nice when things all come together?", but I changed it (duh). Why?

Because, sometimes, there is a certain annoyance connected to having things fall into place.

Like holidays.

What? Yeah, really. Because all that is left right now, is waiting. And really, how entertaining is that? It's not! No one likes to wait - and the person that says that they do is a dirty rotten liar, and should be marked as such. Waiting is annoying.

But at least waiting only last so long. That's what I keep telling my self, just to keep my self sane.

Right?

Argh, I hate waiting.

Also, one thing - did Christmas sneak up on anyone else OTHER than me? Because I really don't feel like that it's just one day away from presents and all that jazz. I'm expecting it to be something like December 17th, or something. How annoying is that?!

With goals in mind, some things kinda get done... right?

2007-12-23T03:09:00.001-07:00

Progress is progress, I guess. (is that a rhyme? And if so, is it a really bad one?)

There is about two minutes that I'm happy with on this movement of the commission. I still need to polish some of it, but it's coming together, and that's good. I'm looking at/planning a five minute movement, so there is quite a bit of material that I still have to get outlined, much less orchestrated. My goal of having a first draft of the whole movement by Christmas (as a gift to the commissioner) isn't going to happen - but the first two or two and a half minutes? That's progress, I think.

I just wanted more.

Other composing news - I still need to get my DDD 2008 piece recorded (which means that I need to teach it to myself, odd, considering that I wrote it. Hehe.). It needs to be down in Moscow by the 4th. That's really soon. I need reminders, people. Help me out here!

What else?

Hum... maybe I should just get some sleep. Isn't that a thought?

Ha.

It looks so pretty...

2007-12-17T03:16:00.001-07:00

Hand cramps suck.

But finishing a piece of music is usually worth it.

"Taps" for DDD 2008 is most likely/hopefully done. I just need to learn how to play it now. Should have that done in a week, then it'll be time to record it and send it to the DDD people. And we'll see what the dancers think of it.

Fun!

It's that wonderful time of year...

2007-12-15T15:02:00.001-07:00

...When finals are done, and students from colleges around the nation go home and pester and annoy parents (or parents of relations, etc., ad nauseam...)

Anyway, I'm home, and am doing the same (right, Mom and Dad? Aren't I right?) But it also opens up time for me to get lots of writing and work done - which is pretty important, due to the fact that writing music is going to be my living. I should do it more.

But today is a relax day - I'm thinking of watching Aliens downstairs on an awesome TV with surround sound. And do some laundry. And later tonight, catch I Am Legend with my sister.

So, for right now... Christmas Break = w0ot!

Real quick like...

2007-12-04T17:38:00.001-07:00

Just a few observations between dinner (yum... peanut butter) and Theory notebook grading (long or short night? We'll see...)

Want an interesting and quick way to feel weird musically? Rehearse a piece that you have written, when one of the performers is also one of your professors. It's odd telling them what to play, and how to play it. Just trust me on this one.

Holy Crap Bananas!

2007-11-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

Isn't it supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year?

Well, I guess I could say that - many things are working out right now - progress being made on the commission I'm writing, a glimmer of hope for one piece's performance, and getting people together to rehearse another.

That's all pretty good/cool stuff. It's just insane that things are just now happening. I like it when stuff like this is more spread out, I guess. Pacing, like in movies, is EVERYTHING!

Whatever.

Oh, and the title of this post? Just a cool substitute for cussing that I like to use. Try it on for size - you'll like it. Really, you will.

"I! AM!" not "BEOWULF!"

2007-11-17T00:49:00.001-07:00

One really has to wonder at the usefulness of pressure.

A few months ago I wrote about how setting a personal deadline can really help one get something done that otherwise would be stagnate. But... the one can also put too much pressure on oneself as well.

Just a random thought...

I saw Beowulf tonight here in CdA (my friend Rich went with). I caught it at the digital screen, which means I got to see it in 3-D. The animation/mocap is great (amazing, actually) and the 3-D is subtle when it needs to be, and loud at the other times - but some of the performances driving the motion capture REALLY could have used some help (I'm looking at you, John Malkalvich - cue cards are for late night talk show hosts!)

Basically, I'm saying go see it. And really, really do your darndest to see it in 3-D (either digital or on an IMAX screen).

One last thing.... Real-D, the company that does the digital 3-D really needs to come up with more stylish classes. I was either a Blues Brother or a math nerd. Not good either way, in this situation.

Interview With Todd Vaziri, ILM (Part One)

2007-10-30T00:13:00.001-06:00

Through an odd set of encounters on the Internet, which would take too long to explain (maybe some other time), I've been talking with a compositor at Industrial Light + Magic, Todd Vaziri. He's been kind enough to take time out of his schedule and life to answer some questions that some members of a visual effects message board and I had for him about the summer blockbuster, Transformers.

Sibulsky's Rants and Ravings: The official count for shots - that I’ve been seeing - says about 650 total, with ILM doing 430 shots. Was ILM’s work almost all character stuff, or was there other work involved? What did the other VFX houses do?

Todd Vaziri: ILM’s work was extensive and mainly revolved around the characters, all the Autobots and all the Decpticons, and all their associated sequences, with a few exceptions. That means Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ironhide, Starscream, Scorponok, Blackout, Barricade, Bonecrusher, Devastator, Frenzy and when the Autobots come down in their endoskeleton form.

We also had some shots that were not character-related. For example, the opening shot of the movie (the cube in space) and the cube in Hoover Dam. The Cybertron Flashback that Optimus shows Sam and Mikaela, that’s ILM.

The other main house was Digital Domain; they did the Arctic Circle sequence, a couple of shots of Frenzy’s severed head, the cell phone that turns into the Nokia-Bot. I think they did the meteor shower, the stuff that hits Dodger Stadium and a couple other shots. They did a fantastic job.

Asylum did some shots as well, but I’m not sure what those were.

SRR: What, exactly, do you do as a sequence supervisor (or, as the film credits, digital artist supervisor)?

TV: I was a little surprised seeing that, but it makes as much sense as 'sequence supervisor', I suppose. It’s been said that ILM is pushing towards a less compartmentalized assembly-line-type specialization and going more towards a digital artist realm/model. And that absolutely been happening – and it was very obvious on Transformers.

Usually, for the big sequences in every movie, we try to assign one or two, or if it’s intense, three supervisors to a sequence. I was a supervisor (along with Leandro Estebecor end and David Hisanaga) on the base attack, the very first scene of the helicopter turning into Blackout, and laying waste to Soccent Operations in Qatar. I was also on the Scorponok desert attack sequence, along with Nigel Sumner. I also supervised the end battle that takes place after Megatron and Optimus Prime fall from the rooftops, along with the aerial shots of Starcream, and other shots here and there.

What does supervising mean? Generally speaking, we try to standardize styles and techniques, while maintaining continuity of the sequence. It's our to help the artists make things look constant throughout the shots, to interpret our VFX supervisor’s intentions for the scene, to be a conduit.

SRR: Are you still working on shots?

TV: As supervisor, I’m still working on shots – there’s no question about that! We usually try to tackle the first big, heavy hero shot that sets the tone for the rest of that sequence.

SRR: How long did you work on this project?

TV: Personally, I was on the show for 11 months or so; the longest I’ve worked on a single movie. I had a lot of fun; the crew had a lot of fun. Many said that it was the most fun they’ve had on a show at ILM, and that says a lot. We had a fantastic crew on the ILM side, and Michael was really happy with our work.

SRR: Lots of the articles on the Internet have praised the modeling, animation, and lighting teams, but shots are made or broken in compositing. How challenging of a show was it in that regard?

TV: As a compositor, I love that kind of question. In certain ways, compositing on Transformers was kinda classic in that we had our plates and we would comp our creatures into those plates. Michael Bay and Scott Farrar, our visual effects supervisor, shot very dense, very dirty plates with lots of smoke and fire in them, which absolutely made compositing that much more of a challenge. The shots look really raw and real, and that brings a lot of realism to the shot, but it makes compositing much much harder.

But it was great working on a plate-based show for a change. Nearly every shot had a background plate, from with we rarely deviated. Yes, we had some amazing set extensions and synthetic environments, but many of the shots for "Transformers" had its own plate. The nice thing is that the art direction and spontaneity is already there-- when you work on a film like "Star Wars" or "300", which was almost exclusively shot against a greenscreen, you have to do a lot of work to create the world. For "Transformers," the world was already created - we just had to put our characters in it. And with all that smoke and dirt, it was really tough.

"Transformers" was shot with anamorphic lenses, which gives the film a distinctive look. Everything looks a little weird through an anamorphic lens. There’s all these little aberrations, how light hits the lens and the flares and glints from that, and your depth of field is really shallow. You can have the most beautiful daylight render of a robot, but if it doesn’t sit there with those same aberrations, it doesn’t look real.

And Michael doesn’t hold back, stylistically, everything goes – he’ll shoot right into the sun, or a practical light source. He uses lots of backlight, and contrast, and our robots were going to be doing the same thing. So, all those things had to be as honest and true as possible.

Oh, and all the wild camera moves, like hand-held moves, cranes, all of that kind of mayhem makes compositing harder.

All of this was guided by our amazing compositing supervisor Pat Tubach.

SRR: How much miniature work was there?

TV: Just a few shots. ILM’s model shop was spun off into its own company, Kerner Optical, and they did a fantastic job on the film. Their biggest set-up was the Clinica building miniature. Megatron and Optimus fly through the entire length of the building, destroying an entire floor and emerging from the other side. It was a beautiful miniature, and the shots featuring the stage shoot turned out really well. There's a spontaneity and plausible randomness that is in those shots.

SRR: What was your greatest challenge/problem on the show?

TV: I’d say there were a couple of really hard challenges. The actual transformations were really, really complicated– the rigging, animation; how complicated would these things be, in terms of how they move from vehicle form to robot and back. We originally thought we could be 'honest' and animate in such a way, like ‘this piece tucks under the tire, and is present here in vehicle form.' Of course, we threw all of that right out the window - the complexity and sheer number of transforming pieces made that process impossible. Our animators really came up with some beautiful transformations. Figuring this out was a process of exploration; there’s no manual or blueprint that we could have followed.

The other challenge is that Michael Bay is extremely demanding when it comes to the quality of the visual effects. He shoots a lot of car commercials, and he knows what it takes to make those cars look sexy. Making our animated characters look like they belong in Michael’s world was something that we had to learn, and it took us a while to get it right.

SRR: What was the most complex shot, in your opinion?

TV: On this show, looking down the pipeline, some shots would be complicated on the animation and rigging side, but would kinda come together quickly on the lighting/td/compositing side.

But in terms of shots that were all-around hard, I’ll throw one of my shots in the ring: the helicopter-to-Blackout transformation at the beginning of the Qatar base attack. We had a very complicated model and transformation and animation and rigging that was really, really dense. It was one of the first shots we did.

In addition, there was some particle work – just as Blackout starts transforming, the soldiers start firing, which lights him up like a Christmas tree from all the sparks. I had to animate all those sparks, and I placed them all in After Effects. Jeff Grebe did an amazing job lighting the CG copter. To make things even harder, the real helicopter that you see earlier in the sequence was in the shot, so I had to get rid of the real chopper. Everything beyond the foreground soldiers is a complete synthetic environment, and that was a real hard thing to do. Those soldiers had to be retained, which was lots of work by the roto geniuses at ILM, under the supervision of Beth D’Amato. That shot was really really hard, especially since we tackled it so early in production.

SRR: What was working with Michael Bay like? Is he as 'hands on' and intense in terms of his VFX as he is in his live action shooting?

TV: In a word: yes! If you’ve ever seen behind-the-scenes footage of Michael on one of his shoots, you’ll see him with that bullhorn, talking with someone right next to him with it. If he had that bullhorn in visual effects dailies, he’d use it. There’s no question that he’s a demanding director. He’s looking for something sleek, stylish, cool, and has to be plausible. And it can’t be fakey-tricky kind of stuff – he’s not much for the slight-of-hand. He really wants the shot to look right, the first time you see it.

I always joke that every one of his shots is a signature shot for the movie; every shot is a hero shot. And as long as you think that way, you’re gonna do fine. He knows what he’s talking about, he’s worked with ILM in the past and he’s got the lingo down. He loves the give and take between him and ILM. He loves pushing and pushing and pushing us further and further.

He pushes everyone that is making the film, and that’s how you get a film that looks like "Transformers."

SRR: Michael Bay is known for always wanting something in the shot that was photographed. How often was there a completely computer-generated shot?

TV: I can maybe think of perhaps only a handful in the movie. Ones that I can think of are the opening shot of the cube flying through space, getting hit by asteroids and entering Earth’s atmosphere. That was all synthetic – we didn’t go up and shoot that stuff…

There was a shot where Optimus Prime was giving a quick history lesson on Cybertron to Sam and Mikaela in the alley, which starts with live-action, but then we go into all CG. There were a lot of rooftop shots where Optimus catches Sam, and is straddling the two buildings. The whole scaling down the sides of the buildings had angles that were so dynamic of Optimus grabbing the sides of these buildings – grabbing fire escapes, windows, basically destroying the faces of these two buildings. There was no way we could have even shot plates to get close to that. Those buildings are entirely synthetic, although based on a lot of photographic reference.

Go on to Part Two!

Interview With Todd Vaziri, ILM (Part Two)

2007-10-30T00:03:00.001-06:00

Catch up with Part One!

SRR: How much rotoscoping work was there on the movie?

TV: It’s remarkable – I’m surprised all the time by the quality and speed that some of these crazy articulates and paintouts were done. Whenever a robot goes in front or behind something, that has to be held out. Or painted out, as the case may be.

Cars being flipped over and exploding on the set only happen with the help of a lot of rigs, very visible rigs and wires and set-ups that all have to be painted out later. You get a lot of real physics of that on-set explosion work, and the special effects guys don’t have to worry about hiding wires or hiding rigs, or even other cameras, because they know that the best roto/paint team in the world will be handling it at ILM.

One of the shots we worked on had fifteen cars exploding – they each have their individual wires and rigs to flip them over. And there were three cameras, in the shot, that you could see in the frame. And all that had to be painted out. Beth D'Amato and her team did a brilliant job.

SRR: Over the last few years ILM has, by and large, produced work of an increasingly realistic manner, almost indistinguishable from live photography. Do you see the possibility of continued growth in the artistry and photorealism of shots, or are we reaching a plateau?

TV: I think the last couple years have been extraordinary for ILM for cranking out really photo-real work that is indistinguishable from live photography, that audiences don’t know what they are seeing – to a higher level than we’ve ever really seen before. I’m really talking about the last few years – "Pirates 2," "Pirates 3," "Mission: Impossible III," "Poseidon," and "Transformers." These films have a quality that goes beyond the 'wow' factor. If you show a normal moviegoer the finals reels of those films, I think that moviegoer would be really surprised at how extensive our work really is. I think people would be shocked at how many effects shots are completely invisible now. I mean, we had over 500 effects shots in "Mission Impossible III," and the average moviegoer probably thought there were a couple of dozen, or so. There’s a new level of photorealism going on here.

And it’s not just ILM – WETA, Sony, Rhythm + Hues, Digital Domain – we’re all hitting this nice stride of creating these amazing characters and assets that are truly believable, in the right context.

Do I see this slowing down or continuing to grow? I absolutely see it continuing to grow, because of the renewed emergence of shot design. Shot design is now the most important aspect of photo-real visual effects.

Let’s look at "Pirates 2," in particular Davy Jones. When you put the talent and the technology that has evolved over the years in computer graphics, there’s really no question that, even a few years ago, we could have achieved the photo-real quality of a Davy Jones. ILM and other companies have done it over the years. But what made Davy Jones so unique? What put it over the top? I firmly believe it was the shot design. Gore Verbinski and John Knoll and Hal Hickel, and most importantly, Bill Nighy – the actor who portrayed Davy Jones – created a methodology that was set up to shoot and animate his sequences, and it was just brilliant; it brought a level of spontaneity and magic to the scenes that would not have been there, had other methods been used.

You can tell, from "Pirates 2" and "Pirates 3" that everything was technically beautiful, but there was really something different, and it was this new way of thinking about shot design, how these shots are created. It wasn’t relying on old techniques, or being lazy and saying ‘We’ll figure it out in later’, after the sets have been struck and after we’ve left the locations. Shot design, from the very beginning of production, is absolutely important and you can see it also in "Transformers." How Michael Bay and Scott Farrar set up these shots in a very smart way, so that when it was time to animate and put our characters into the shots, it felt very normal and felt very natural. That’s what we were trying to accomplish with "Transformers."

The talent and there technology is there, it’s just a matter of how it’s used when it comes to shot design. If shots are planned in advance, or in a smart way, there’s really no limit to what we’re gonna be able to accomplish. And I’m not just talking about digital characters – humanoid creatures – it goes for anything: environments, fantasy worlds, whatever you can imagine, it has to do with shot design. Directors that are good at that are, like I said, Gore Verbinski, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg; they look at these visual effects shots not just as little parts of the film that amaze us, they look at it as part of the process. And when strong visual effects supervisors are there from the beginning, planning out and designing these shots, you’re gonna get some really amazing results.

I really want to once again thank Todd for answering these questions. Keep up the amazing work at ILM, Todd!

Also, anyone interested in hearing stuff that Todd has to say about Transformers (including even more interviews and reviews), movies, TV, and life should go check out his blog, over at http://fxrant.blogspot.com. He's got a great perspective on things - it's a good read. And also check out his website, http://www.vfxhq.com/tvaziri - which has more stuff information on the projects he has been a part of.

Catch-up, not Ketchup

2007-10-24T01:24:00.001-06:00

So, this is a short preview of the review I need to write for my Civ class, but the musicians in this evening's ACMS concert, the Ensemble Amarcord was pretty damn sweet. Ranging from English Renaissance songs to German leider to Billy Joel and the Beetles (yeah, really), everything they sang was pitch-perfect and stand-out.

Yes, that cool.

The gods must be loving me at the moment, because the two big projects that I am working on seem to be doing well - the commission and the Jazz Choir arraignment (after a re-boot... eeyeah....). Go figure.

Oh, and the interview that I hinted at WAAAYY back is still pending approval. I'm waiting for two(?) e-mails before I can post it. But it's ready to go.

Now Playing: Valve - "Still Alive (Portal Credits)" - The Orange Box

just an fyi, but many of the things that i said in the first paragraph were understated. and if you don't believe me, too bad. believe me. it was that good.

Addendum

2007-10-13T20:40:00.001-06:00

I took my arrangement in progress to Dan today, and we both kinda figured that the music I am working from is nutso crazy. There are key changes that make no sense whatsoever.

So I'm starting over. Hopefully, I'll have it ready to go for the Christmas concert this year. I'll keep those interested informed to progress.

Season... crazy... Homecoming... cleaning...

2007-10-13T00:32:00.001-06:00

Life throws interesting things at you.

That's all I will say that is depressing. I hate to bore people. Oddly enough...

Cool news: I've been working on an arrangement of the song "Spirit of the Season" from The Polar Express for Jazz Choir I and a full orchestra*, hopefully to be preformed during the Christmas Concert. I'm done with the first draft of the vocal parts (which, with the exception of the alto line shouldn't require much changing) and about 50-65% of the orchestra parts, draft one. The piece is pretty straight forward, but it has its challenges - mainly, the four key changes in two and a half minutes. Crazy.

This weekend is Homecoming for us UI Vandals - the jury is still out on whether or not I will be joining in many of the festivities. It's really going to depend on how tired I am tomorrow morning, and how much laundry I have done. Yes, laundry is a factor.

* By full orchestra, I mean the small-size, but pretty-close-to-full-instrumentation orchestra that gets put together for the Christmas Concert.

Oddball

2007-10-05T03:14:00.001-06:00

It has been quite a while since my last post, hasn't it?

Yeah, crazy.

Too bad I really don't have anything to say.

Granted, it is (as of two hours ago), Friday. Which is pretty sweet. And I have one less class today/tomorrow, due to a professor being out of town.

And I had one of my most productive lessons ever yesterday/today - amazing what can happen when you take some time to practice the material before you have the lesson. Maybe I'll start doing that more often; what do y'all think about THAT?

Yes, I have Halo 3. Yes, it is awesome. Yes, I might be playing it too often - it's not cutting into school/music work, but I don't need to play it too much. I can get those achievements on a slower schedule; that's a thought, huh?

Anyways, I am in need of sleep. So I'm going to do that.

I just thought that I'd let the seven people that read this blog know that I was still here, and still kicking.

Miracles of Human Life

2007-09-27T09:04:00.001-06:00

Isn't it amazing how it is possible to be awake when you body is screaming at you to go back to bed?

Guess how I'm feeling right now?

Yawn

2007-09-23T04:39:00.001-06:00

Yes, I should be asleep. No, I actually have a good reason for being up - working on important stuff gets me out of trouble with you (whoever 'you' is... really, it could be anyone or no one...).

Anyways, I'm just making this post to say that I am still awake. Which is kinda stupid and whatnot, but I'm allowed to do that kind of stuff.

I might say something productive and worth reading in the (real) morning (aka, today, but at a more reasonable hour).

Just a bit early...

2007-09-22T13:16:00.001-06:00

Saturdays are interesting days for me.

Because, oddly enough, most people tend to be doing other, cooler things - football games, hanging with friends, etc. and the like.

But me? I'm at home. Doing laundry. And reading. Isn't that cool?

No? Oh. whatever. I'll do what I like. Hehehe...

But in other news, last night's concert was pretty interesting - one BIG flub, but the rest of the concert went GREAT! I wasn't expecting it to be that good, which was a nice surprise.

Interesting...

2007-09-21T11:09:00.001-06:00

Hey... guess what?

It's Friday!

Isn't that fun?

No, really... if you are not happy that it's Friday, go get some happy. Because it's necessary.

Just go.

I might have some happy up on here later. I'll have to go interweb hunting for that.

Time and Dates and Such

2007-09-19T01:06:00.001-06:00

Here's a revelation for those who are somewhat adrift, such as me:

Set personal deadlines. Just sitting there, slowly working on something that isn't due right away, but you should be working on and getting done with, doesn't work. But if you say "I will finish this by such-and-such a day", and you work towards that, things will work out.

Like this composition/commission. Yes, I've been busy, but I could have found more time to work on it. So I'm going to tell myself that it needs to be done, and by God, I'm going to finish it.

Can I get an A-men!?

Really... can I?

And I'm going to get started on two arrangements (one for sure, another pending approval that it could be performed by a specific ensemble). I'm keeping one somewhat hush-hush, but the other is gonna be a quick, fun thing.

It was the fruit of driving back from Seattle, and having a CD of random music on - mostly to keep me from talking to myself (which it doesn't actually help, but at least I try...). Charlie Daniels Band's famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" was on there, and I thought "This might be kinda cool done by the UI Cello - Bass Choir".

Yes, I'm that weird. Deal with it.

I'll try and keep people updated with these projects, just to show that I am in fact working on them. That works as a motivator too.

A Pondering

2007-09-14T02:54:00.001-06:00

One must amaze at the marvel that is modern science and medicine.

We can send a group of people into space, know that they are going to be fit and healthy while in a microgravity environment. Heck, we can send them to other stellar bodies. Dear God, we did that in the 1960s!

But a simple sore throat?

It's kicking my ass. Can't modern medicine take care of that one for me? Pretty please?

No?

Well, that sucks.

A Reminder

2007-09-11T00:52:00.001-06:00

Kinda to myself, but somewhat to others.

I'm a geek.

I'm saying this, mostly due to the fact that I see to be fitting in too well in the last something-or-other. Granted, fitting in is good, but I don't really like fitting in too much. It keeps me from being me.

This all requires a delicate balance. Right?

Or am I kidding myself? It doesn't matter. I'm a geek. And I'll keep doing my geeky things. Just, maybe with some non-geek thrown in.

Oh, and in other cool news... the new Indiana Jones flick has a title: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

It's just odd enough to make one want to see the movie EVEN MORE!!!

Friday = Bust. Ain't that lame?

2007-09-08T01:15:00.001-06:00

There is a need for social entertainment that I am beginning to crave more often than I used to... which is cool. Being with friends is always a desired objective, and I am happy that I am losing interest in staying at home and being lonely. Granted, some introspective time is something that I enjoy as well. But, anyone that has read this blog in the last two and a half years can tell you that I need to just plain get OUT!

And of course, I avoided that opportunity tonight.

Oops.

What did I do instead? Had dinner (too large of portions again!!), watched some Star Trek: TNG on my computer (due to a broken DVD remote that I'll have to get a replacement for!), and was just plain boring, and got no real work done.

Whoops!

I'm really going to have to work on this "progress" thing.

Friday Friday Friday?

2007-09-07T13:53:00.001-06:00

I sit here, where the Theory Table used to be, actually having finished some class work. I know that's going mess with quite a few peoples' minds, but that's okay with me. If I blow your mind, so be it.

Now today is the end of another school week, meaning that the weekend is upon us, like the glory of finishing that last level in a computer/video game. Which is cool. Yeah.

What I really need to be doing, but it would require me going back to my apartment, is putting this orchestration draft into Finale to get a ~~rough somewhat not really~~ horrible sound-a-like of an orchestra playing it. Sampling, while light-years ahead of where it was a decade ago, still isn't good enough for a run-through for a quality/progress check.

Anyway, I'm going to hibernate this computer after posting this, and get some food. That tiny bowl of oatmeal this morning just wasn't enough for the eight hours following.

Hello, My Name is Andrew Sibulsky...

2007-09-04T02:22:00.001-06:00

...and I'm posting this survey on behalf of Andrew Sibulsky. I have just a few questions for you.

God... shades of Bernett!!

But really...

I'm going to pose a question or two, then go to bed. I'm just curious about what people think. Leave any answers in the comments section. Make sure your name is somehow attached to the comment.

1. How often do you read this blog?

2. Why do you read this blog? No, really. I usually just post random stuff, so the people who come back should have a interesting reason why.

3. Do I post often enough? Too often?

4. Is there anything missing from this blog that should be here? Or maybe a feature that I used to have, that I have since gotten rid of...

I'm pretty sure only a few people, if any, will give any answers, but I'm just wondering.

Wakey Wakey, at the wrong time

2007-09-03T02:32:00.001-06:00

Why am I awake right now?

It's a perfectly good question. It's 1:28am, and I'm not asleep. Interesting.

Hell, I should have been in bed at least three hours ago. But nope. I have this ability to stay up and have energy longer than I should. Is that good or bad? Why am I asking? I need to be turning off the lights, lying down, closing my eyes and entering dreamland (which I hear has great weather this time of year).

Let's see if I can do that.

Seattle...

2007-09-01T15:36:00.001-06:00

After one of the most interesting drives of my college years (I think I have an idea what it was like to film Twister), I'm on the West Coast, in Federal Way (or, as the rest of the country would call it, Seattle) for my cousin Eric's wedding. And a bit of a vacation.

It is a three day weekend, after all. Vacations are necessary, just due to the fact that I like doing nothing. That's a trend that goes though most of my life. Really - go take a look. I. Am. Lazy.

It has to be said that a long drive by oneself is an interesting way to see what one is like. Unless you listen to Metellica the whole time. Then you don't have time to listen to yourself. Whatever.

As I sit here, listening...

2007-08-30T23:17:00.001-06:00

"And it's not a cry that you hear at night..."

I really love Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah". I'm not depressed, it just the tune that I happen to be listening to. Watch. I'll press the "next" button on my keyboard right now... And here's what you get....

"I'm a sailor peg, and I lost my leg!"

That's Dropkick Murphys, with "I'm Shipping Up To Boston". Also a cool tune. And it shows you that I'm not depressed. Isn't that cool?

But really, back to reality, where I talk about things that people ~~might~~ ~~kinda~~ don't really care about.

I forgot how warm the Admin. Aud. can get in the late summer months. And yes, we went the full two hours of rehearsal. I can't wait for the days of 50s to 70s in Moscow. That is weather that is just right. Indeed.

Somewhat in relation to the heat, but more connected to the fact that I am just a wuss and wouldn't go through with it, I got a really stinking short haircut today. Pretty much just a buzz cut, but on the sides, it's as close to shaving my head without actually shaving my head. Which I kinda wanted to do, but, as I stated, I am too much of a wuss to have gone through with it. Besides, the whole "I'm from Coeur d' Alene, but I'm NOT A NAZI ARYAN SKINHEAD!!!" explanation would get really old after a long time. Ah well. Maybe next time.

I made lots of progress on the second orchestration draft of this string orchestra piece yesterday. I just sat my butt down my the statue on the Admin. lawn and got to work. Churned out a few pages. I'm stopped now, due to the need to revise some stuff in the middle of the piano mock-up. It noodles too much. Dr. Dickow is right about this, and it needs some focus, and tighter phrasing and stronger cadences. So I'm going to need to do that.

Now Playing:

Jeff Buckley - Grace - Hallelujah
Dropkick Murphys - "The Departed" Soundtrack - I'm Shipping Up to Boston
Metellica - S & M - Fuel
The Who - Greatest Hits - My Generation

This is how evil is born

2007-08-29T21:33:00.001-06:00

If you look at every evil person, from Stalin to Hitler to Lex Luthor, one will learn that they all took an Aural Skills class.* Hopefully, I will avoid these evil peoples' fate, and make it out of Aural Skills III without transforming into a dictator or a bald man with a penchant for real estate scams.

I can see the usefulness in transcribing a Beatles melody, but I don't see why it has to be this soon in the semester. Can't we start simple, with like, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"? That would be nice.

One has to wonder about the thought-patterns/mental stability of the students after a homework assignment like this. Think of the children!

*This is a totally false statement. Don't believe it. But, if it shows up on Wikipedia in the next few days, don't blame me. I don't even have an account there.

This one's for reals, yo

2007-08-28T00:32:00.001-06:00

I guess now is the time for a real post, and not that boring thing I did this morning, just to see new words on the top of the page. In retrospect, that was pretty lame. But, oddly enough, that's how I roll sometimes.

Wait... did I just use the phrase "that's how I roll"? Since when did I have any illusion that I was hip, cool, or down with it? Scary.

But anyway - back to our normal post...

Week two of a new semester of school is always so much more telling of how classes will be than week one ever is. No more of that introductory "this is what we're gonna try and do in class, but we'll never get that far, and it'll never be that cool" bull that happens in week one. Luckily, I'm feeling pretty good about the MWF classes from today's experience. Granted, who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I've been in all of those classes before, and I have an inkling of how things will turn out. But that could change.

I've started that orchestration draft that I mentioned a few posts ago; just about seven bars right now, but that was about fifteen to twenty minutes of work. Sadly, it's nothing impressive, otherwise I would be using much bigger and happier words to describe my work. But don't worry, y'all... impressive is coming later. Bank on it. I'm feeling this in my bones. Something awesome is going to show up soon.

I was playing around with a little diddy on the keyboard in my bedroom here, and if I can get it on paper (or make sure it stays in my head), I'll be one happy little clam. Or person, rather. I'm not a clam, and I wish to stay that way.

Real quick, before I go to bed... will someone remind me to load and run the dishwasher in the morning. I don't care how your remind me (just don't call before 7:30 am, or there will be consequences), just remind me. I really need to run a load. I'm pretty much out of cups. And that is scary.

Morning!

2007-08-27T09:56:00.001-06:00

It is indeed morning. Monday morning. What a fun time.

Week two is about to begin. Why am I typing this? Maybe because I want a more recent blog post on the page than from Thursday. That's just my guess.

I need to go shower, so I'm ending this post. Later...

But in other news...

2007-08-23T23:20:00.001-06:00

It's the end of the first week of school... Well, almost. I do have a Friday to deal with before that opening statement is totally true.

But this last week has been pretty good. My schedule seems to be working out, classes are going as well as they can, considering that I've only been to each twice. Counterpoint, Aural Skills III, Composition, Civ III and Theory TAing are going to keep me quite busy. One professor wants me to join University Chorus (which I'm thinking about, but am not too sure about).

I think that I'm done with the piano mock-up on this first theme from this big project. Maybe. I kinda think that it could use some expansion, but it just seems to flow and move so well the way it is. Grrr... I figure this out soon. Anyway, I'm moving on to the next step for this movement (which is the word we will use for now...), which is an orchestrated draft. Considering I don't know yet where this will fit into the composition as a whole (towards the beginning most likely), it needs to be flexible.

I'm kinda stalled on this story that I started, and have been posting here. I will be getting to it, for those two (maybe two?) people that were reading it. I will finish it. This I swear.

Speaking of stories, I've been reading "Beowulf", the Old English epic poem by some unknown author. I wanted to read it before the movie came out this fall, and I'm really liking it! I also started reading it to see if I could hear some music that might go with it, but right now, nothing is coming to me. At least I still get a good read out of it.

Anyways... there is a glass of water in the fridge that is calling to me right now, and I'm going to take it up on it's offer. Whatever that offer is, anyway. In the end, water = good, and I'm going to go drink.

Good night world.

News from Home

2007-08-23T23:00:00.001-06:00

EEK!!

Pickup hits Coeur d' Alene priest's house

That's the priest of the church that I used/sometimes go to when I'm in CdA!!

Hope you are doing okay, Fr. Roger!!