Wednesday, March 3, 2010

It's Coming Along

So. Private composition lessons are going very well. I'm definitely experiencing some real growth as a composer, and I know that's due to Hummie's methods and his insistence that I make a sketch of my pieces by hand. "Make the sketch clear," he keeps telling me whenever put my chicken scratches in front of him.

I knew the first day he started teaching us that THIS was the stuff I had been looking for as a composer. He's uber-organized, and I'm taking a cue (no pun intended) from his song book about that. I still have a long way to go both organizationally and compositionally, but for the first time in a while now I'm making progress. I feel a lot more confident when I sit down to score a scene. It's like we're pushing that boulder of doubt out of the way. The only bummer is that I only have a couple of months left under his and Andy Hill's tutelage. I'm trying to make the most of it.

My biggest problem right now is my sleeping. I've gotten into the bad habit of sleeping with my light on. I go to bed with work unfinished, intending to "take a nap." Usually the nap last 6 - 8 hours, but I never really feel rested because I left my contacts in, my jeans (and sometimes shoes) on, and my light on. Hence I'm writing this post at 3:30 in the morning. Undoubtedly I'll be tired tomorrow, too.

15 comments:

Old Kitty said...

Hi again!

Great to hear you have found a happy equilibrium with your composing and learning! Yay!

As for the sleeping.. I think it's the artist in you! All artists have bad nights! LOL! They fret so much about their art that sleep evades them. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!

:-)

I hope you have a good rest soon.

Take care
x

fairyhedgehog said...

The music stuff sounds great but the not sleeping properly is not so good. Couldn't you get into PJs and take your contacts out when you "take a nap"? That way it won't matter if you fall asleep.

Stacy said...

Yeah. My problem is I tend to work until I just can't stay awake anymore. I think I need to get into my PJ's as soon as I'm home and take out my contacts then so when I'm ready to crash, I can just turn out the light. Need to remember to do that, too.

fairyhedgehog said...

Maybe you need to leave a note to yourself that you'll see as soon as you get in!

Stacy said...

Maybe I should just work in the dark.

Whirlochre said...

You have to take this in stages, I think.

Begin by taking your jeans off before you sit down to work. That way, when you fall asleep and then wake up, you won't have them on.

Alternatively get yourself an onscreen alarm — there's plenty of freeware out there for the PC or Mac.

If the problem persists — hire a budding opera singer to come round and practice at a designated hour.

Stacy said...

Hah - yes, Kitty, that is true. Waking to those 3 a.m. thoughts is so common for us, isn't it?

I like the idea of a budding opera singer, Whirl. I think I'll go with that. Hmmm. I shall have to scout the Lyric for any candidates. : )

Robin B. said...

I think the changing into jammies asap when home is a damn good idea. Contacts out as well, so you don't hurt your eyes!

All of this good stuff going on is so exhilirating, isn't it? So cool, girl.

Stacy said...

I don't know about exhilarating, but it's exciting. Still, I'm struck by how so much of this composing business is like sweeping the floor.

Bernita said...

"intending to "take a nap." Usually the nap last 6 - 8 hours, but I never really feel rested because I left my contacts in, my jeans (and sometimes shoes) on, and my light on."

You too?

Jesson said...

Your really an impressive writer
http://balaoing.blogspot.com

Stacy said...

Thanks, Jesson.

If it weren't for the "study abroad" link, I would say your comment wasn't a phishing comment, Daniel.

Stacy said...

Nice to know someone else is going through this, too, Bernita!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Hi Stacy!

I came over from Old Kitty's blog. I was curious about this book blog pass along marketing idea? It's new to me! Interesting concept.

KarenG

Stacy said...

Hey Karen! I suppose it is a marketing idea, but I never thought of it that way. What we do is we read a book and then mail it to the first person who requests it on our blogs. Said person has to agree to 1) read the book, 2) post a review, 3) post a pic of the book, and 4) send it on to the first person who requests it and also agrees to these things.

So far we've included little trinkets with the book. Fairyhedgehog sent a lovely card with a beautiful print of a painting on the cover, and I sent Kitty a nice bookmark. Just a little something extra, I guess.