Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Pop vs Non-Pop

As the first couple weeks of grad school have begun, I find myself a bit insecure and unsure about my ability to re-enter the academic world and the non-pop music scene . I'm consistently confronted with questions like - "how do you write your compositions?" or "how do you describe your music?" and I feel like I struggle in answering them.

For one, I haven't written any non-pop works in well over three years. During those three years, I've explored other areas of music (like recording and pop), I've avoided academia, and my thinking, perspectives, overall mindset, and tastes have all changed and matured. I feel like what I wrote three years ago in undergrad doesnt represent who I am now. And if anything, I dont know that I really like what I wrote then.

But am I capable of writing good quality now? Will my work show that I've matured?

I think I know the answers to those questions - at least I hope I do. Being the perfectionist that I am - along with the great amounts of stubbornness - I wont stop working until its good.

My biggest concern though is getting out of the pop mindset and back into the non-pop world (ie academia). I'm not quite sure where to start.

Well, I know where to start. It starts with this symphonic band piece that I'm beginning to write. But I'm afraid that I dont know how to start it, how to take it through, how to end it, and how to write an awesome non-pop piece.

Or, I could write a piece that borders pop. But where is the line? When does music become non-pop? Or, when does it become pop?

Can I write interesting enough music that academia wont turn their nose up to and label it as too "pretty" and not innovative enough but that the average listener will also like?

I dont know. But I'd like to.

These next two years will be pretty telling. Hopefully I'll write a good bit more and perhaps I'll be able to tell what my 'trends' as a composer are.

It first starts with this symphonic band piece.

I'm off to work. And ponder some more.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Finished.. and KY!

So, the race was a success. You can view the results here:

http://www.bogazici.cc/download/Bogazici-Yuzme-Yarislari-2010-Kategori.pdf

5th in my age group. Booyah.

The experience was awesome, Turkey is amazing, and if we're facebook buddies, you can see my pictures. If not, well maybe I'll post some up here later.

Since returning from Turkey, its been a whirlwind.. moving from Dallas to Kentucky. Grad school begins. And it begins with a bang. Entrance exams are tomorrow. 9 hours exactly, actually.

I suppose I'll stop studying (cough, procrastinating) and go to bed now.

More later.