Week 3 Musings; week 2 and 3 composition struggles

1/18 Week 2 composition (An HYMM) worked on harmonies to complete the statement of melody; found that it had a statelier, more majestic feel with fewer chords; this makes life simple as my first had complicated harmonies; so the variation is done, and I just simplify the statement. 1/19/16 Worked on refining the first and second An Them or HYMM. Some measures show very little difference in harmonies. Several places where I couldn’t get the sound I wanted. Enjoyed the process, as it was smooth; once the melody is up, its not hard to do a “canned” accompaniment, but much more entertaining to play with the harmonies and rhythms. A bit too much on the plate with the Blues webinar, but as I was deciding that it would be best to stop following the Blues Webinar, I started having fun with it; Not sure how I will use it, or that the Blues calls me, but I can always stop later, if I get in to deep. Tomorrow have to film homework for blues, rehearse with friends (2-3 hours, plus travel), start this weeks composition(its Thursday and I don’t even have a melody). I am feeling a bit cavalier about this, though I poked around with some melodic ideas for 2-4 measures, I didn’t sink into it and see it through. So this week will be whatever comes to me; cannot be overworked. Simple and direct, and see if it has anything. (Note of 2/1; oh yes I can over-complicate it, and I did). Maybe wake up early tomorrow and push out a melody in 30 minutes, then harmonize it, then slap- dash develop it. Wondered about trying to integrate blues with my composition, but its not calling me, and think it might be more improv. and really don’t know much except what was in the first module, so I’ll wait. 1/20 distracted by the blues course, but I started to enjoy it, and wanted to have some fun. Got around to trying to compose, intent on just getting a melody. Had an idea to make it easy this week, maybe just arrange a melody, but had started something in minor key, yesterday, but today came across something I started last week, before I went with the Ant HYMM. Today I thought those beginnings from last week, liking it, but struggling to get beyond a 6 measure phrase. Just two, 8 measure bits will do it. Not sure why I conceive in shorter bits, and can’t get a longer line to the melody. Maybe it takes time, to think that way in a longer musical phrase; maybe its just messing around with the tune and trying to extend it. That is what happened last week. The melody I worked with today, is reminiscent of the Ash Grove ; has that feeling.