Anthony Cornicello

A few suggestions. Come up with a 'plan' of sorts. How long is this piece going to be, for instance? It's not a bad idea to write out a general structural sketch: draw diagrams, write a descriptive text, etc. You don't have to write the piece in full (start to finish), as you'd hear it all on the 1st draft. There's nothing wrong with writing your next 'theme' (musical idea) and then writing a transition getting you there. Often composers get frustrated after the first theme; they start to 'transition' without knowing where they are going. It's not a bad idea to do some sort of harmonic sketch. Where is the piece going, harmonically? The more you can define about the piece before you start to write it, the easier composition will be. -A

Unfortunately, the composer must know everything, so it seems. Orchestration, extended instrumental techniques, a knowledge of styles past and present, acoustics, notation, form and structure, electronics, etc. Melody, harmony, rhythm, tonal systems. The list goes on. Fortunately, you don't need to know all of these things before you start writing. You can start composing, and discover these elements as it comes up. Some things may not come up for a good amount of time. The hard part is not to let all of this paralyze you.

Hello, I'm in the process of expanding my composition studio, particularly during the summer months. I offer Skype-based lessons (iChat as well as other platforms) in composition. My teachings have covered all styles, ranging from contemporary 'classical' (no stylistic limitations!) to electronica, film scores and jazz. I have also taught counterpoint, orchestration, and electronic music techniques (Digital Performer, Max/MSP, etc.). I have had more than a dozen years teaching at the University level. My undergraduate students have gone on to graduate programs in the US and Europe. I am published by CF Peters, and have had my music played in major festivals and concerts in the US, Europe, Japan, and South America. Please contact me regarding rates and scheduling. I will be happy to answer any and all questions! You may respond to this post or email me directly at anthony.cornicello@gmail.com Thank you, Anthony Cornicello