Trying to do write solo piano

I've always been intimidated by the idea of writing piano solos cuz to make it sound really good without it sounding clustered is hard. =/

I tried writing one recently but it's not done yet. Tried to keep it real simple since it's my first try. Please give me some feedback and maybe some ideas of what I can do with this. Thx.Anthem of Hope.pdf

SS.mid

This sounds very good for a first try. I assume you've written many other pieces, but not yet a piano solo. I would say the ideas a fairly sound, but are in need of extension and definitely some passion. It sounds like you've probably done some noodling on the piano to create this, which is good.

Keeping it simple is a very good idea. Complexity requires a lot more discretion and experience, something for more advanced composers than me, anyway. But simplicity is important all the way through, I imagine.

I have never written a piece in this contemporary style, and the ideas I have would just make this piece sound more like me. Still, my impulses are to add some harmonic flavor to this with some exotic chords, and to go all polytonal on it. I don't think either of these would help the piece, but they are good ideas to experiment with elsewhere.

Extend and develop. That's what they always say.

Actually, I haven't really written much at all. Even though I've been a musician for a majority of my life I've never taken composition seriously until recently. I find myself starting 50 different ideas for a piece and only completing about 1. I think someday composing for a living would be really cool but I'm not sure if I'm really up for it. Until then it's just a hobby.

As for this piano piece, I doubt I'll ever be able to finish it. Once I start writing and the creative juices run dry it's pretty much screwed. Still, I'd really love some feedback so I know how I can refine myself. I agree with you on the style thing, I guess it's usually a bad idea to ask other people for specific ideas on how to build your own creation cuz then it wouldn't really be your own style. I've never understood how composers picked all those really cool chords and harmonies to accompany the melody. Composing is really a lot more systematic than I thought it would be, all I've been doing is writing down whatever I hear in my head.

First off, I like the opening as well as other ideas I hear going on.

It is meant to be a simple piece but I agree that it would benefit from the more

harmonic and melodic variation as well as some kind of development.

There are a number of ways to go about this. I think you might want to ask

yourself what are you trying to express in this piece. Knowing what you want

to express will help as part of your blueprint for composing. Although composers

seek to find their own voice/style one of the best ways is to study and listen to the

music of other composers you admire. This might help in understanding things such as how

to actually use the knowledge of theory you may already posses. It will also help to spark

your own creativity in terms of form, harmony and melody.

Is this short piece supposed to be a song for piano? a prelude? etude? other?

taking time to think about this will also guide the aspects of form, harmony, melody

and the development of such devices. Also it is a good idea if you've never played a

specific instrument but want to compose for it to try and study about its repetoire.

Hope this helps.

Haha, that reminds me of the first thing I learned about Jazz. The only way to learn how to do it is to listen to it. A lot. =/

I've always been amazed at how composers can make a hundred different instruments sound so simple. I'd kind of like to try an orchestrated piece but there's so many instruments and I don't know how it is they all work together and blend.

My friends are always telling me about how my stuff sounds like it belongs in a video game or something and I really hate that. I'm trying desperately to break out of writing like this. Any suggestions?

And yeah, both of your comments are really helping a lot. You guys mentioned something about more in the harmonics, could you maybe elaborate a little more?

Thx.

It sounds like a pop tune circa 198something. You know, something Dione Warwick or Bette Middler might sing. In that regard, the form is lacking cohesion. It needs a hook - and an accessible form - and a lyric, IMHO. It has a very nice melody and a sophisticated harmonic sense about it. I just think the style is a bit dated.

I respectfully disagree with parts of what Majesty said above. To me, the core of composition is independent experimentation. If you're stumped, those ideas are definitely excellent ways to get the juice flowing again. But I have never sat down at the computer, or the piano, and thought "I want to compose a really sad song today." I assume other people do, but it's an individual thing, this activity.

As far as harmonic variety, there are a few techniques they recommend. Like substituting the scale-fitting chord a m3 below any chord you find is a little ho-hum. Or the major chord built on the tritone. But those techniques can come off a little cliche sometimes. The best technique I can recommend is to sit at a piano and try stacking chords. Like, play a F major triad in the left hand, and stack an E minor one on top. That will give you a fat, very extended chord (FM713, or something fonky like that). That, and study as much theory as you can possibly put in front of your eyes. The net, the library, a teacher, that guy who plays guitar for change, whateva. Might want to stay away from the guitar guy, actually.

There's always the ultimate way to improve: major in music composition.

Holy crap on a stick, it's 2:30am. Too late for a non Adult Swim night. Good night.

Yeah, I kind of want to be a music comp major but from what I imagine it's a very competitive field. I think music is an inborn talent and you either got it or you don't, and at this point I'm really not sure if I got it or not. I'm about to graduate from highschool in a few days, I guess I'll figure it out after that.

I agree with what you said about writing music. I never really choose what I want to write, it just comes to me and I write it down. I don't get how people can just write a certain style or mood on the spot. Then again there's a lot of things I don't get.

I love the 80's btw. =P

I think the concept of talent is overrated. Everyone's got it, they just don't let it flow. Like me in my sophomore year of high school. Hadn't written a single piece. Nor did I have the slightest inclination toward music. I probably looked like another "untalented" teenager, etc, etc. But I am talented, I hear. It's all just a matter of determination. A musical family definitely helps, though.

Oh cool, does that mean you're a comp major? The only reason I opted for a music ed major was because it's more financially "stable".

I am scheduled to be a comp major, yes. I leave on August twenty-something. It's technically a Bachelor of Music with Composition Emphasis. But whateva. According to a diagram on the campus, BME student are half of music majors, with performance and composition peope rounding it out. Those performance people are hardcore. Definitely not my cup of tea. I'm already stressing about the one major recital I'm required to put together in my last year. I'm sure I'll be a piano badass by then, being surrounded by grand pianos for two years. As well as an inspirational environment. I'm looking forward to it, definitely.

I know what you mean, those music performance people eat, sleep, and breathe their instrument. I love music and all but that's kind of freaky.

IMHO.

You're a ho??? :)

You're a ho??? :)

It is a cute piece;Very charming. It starts very simple and gradually tells you the story.

Don't worry , you almost have it. If you look at it with the same passion you started it with, then you will

have a succesful ending.