10 Forum Posts by "VooDooCompositions"
At 9/15/11 01:34 PM, LogicalDefiance wrote: Engineering in my opinion is easier then a music degree (at least from my experience). Most of us have to take 7-8 classes at once and the homework load is beyond tidious. I say this because I was originally pursuing a computer engineering degree and when I switched to music it was wayyyy harder for me.
That said, I like the idea of using more modern and popular music to show examples, but you aren't going to find a lot of great examples of things like counterpoint and four part writing in things like that. Perhaps a book that talks about everything up to building 7th chords would work though. Even so, I don't think a book like that merits a doctoral thesis at all. That sounds more like a tidious theory 2 project.
Just to clarify though I definitely support the idea. Perhaps expand to using film music as well. For example the first two notes in the Star Wars theme makes for a great reference to a P5.
Which is why I want to start with a truly beginner version. I will try to go a little further than just seventh chords, but who knows how far. And there are a surprising amount of common practice era-styled music in video games. For example, a choral piece from one of the FF games (not sure which) is in Bach style SATB format. Mostly anyways, it would all be excerpts.
And my actual thesis will be more along the lines of "Video game music, underrated, understood, and unused." :P
Thanks for the comment and support!
I have an idea, and I would like to get some opinions on it. However, to understand it, I'll have to give a little history of myself.
I'm a music major at a University. For those of you out there who aren't music majors or don't know any, chances are you're thinking "Music? That must be one of the easiest majors ever!" You are mistaken, as any music major will tell you. In fact, most people who know of the trials and tribulations of being a music major (even if they're not one) will tell you that it's the second hardest major there is, behind engineering.
Anyways, beyond that, one reason it's harder than what people think is because of a class called "Music Theory." It would be too hard to really explain all of what that includes, suffice to say, it's harder than most would expect.
Now to my personal history. When I first started in my junior college some years ago, I couldnt even read a note. I was years behind most of the other people in my classes. So, either I dropped out or I caught up. I chose the later. Now, what I did to catch up, and catch up quickly, was this, I would take piano music for video games I liked (mostly Zelda) and re-write it to guitar music. Using this technique, I eventually taught myself how to read and even write music.
Most theory books use pieces of classical music as examples when explaining a point. That's all fine and good, but not everybody likes classical. However, video game music, on the other hand, is much more known and relevant to the random kid interested in music. So, my idea is this, a beginner Music Theory Textbook using popular video game music as examples. And by beginner, I mean BEGINNER. From the bottom up.
So, this is exactly what I plan to make. I'll start working on it soon, and likely will continue working on it for the rest of my college career (I plan on writing my doctoral Thesis on just this subject).
So, basically, I'm asking for two things. One, opinions on the idea itself. And Two, idea for what pieces I can use (as well as what they demonstrate.)
For example, when sight singing (self explanatory, singing music while looking at the sheet music for the first time) most people use the solfege (spelling?) to do it. Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do ect. ect. A common interval (space between two notes) is from a low Sol (Say G, in the key of C Major) to a Do (C in the key of C major.) This common interval is used at the beginning of the Main Theme of the Zelda games.The interval is a fourth going up, just incase anyone was wondering (they weren't).
If you know of any video game pieces (hopefully well known ones, but not always) that demonstrate a fundemental part of theory, please share!
Thanks for taking the time to read all of this, as well :P
Original poster, I have sent you a message with work examples.
Thank you, John Johnson.
Eh, why not.
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Mad Man's Dance (piano) by VooDooCompositionsClick to listen.
- Score
- 4.75 / 5.00
- Type
- Song
- Genre
- Classical
- Popularity
- 60 Views
Opinions Needed
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Ragtime Experiment by VooDooCompositions
Click to listen.
- Score
- 2.01 / 5.00
- Type
- Song
- Genre
- Classical
- Popularity
- 4 Views
Just looking for some honest opinions
<a>http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/liste n/443049<a>
Not rushing or anything, but just putting it out there that I've got two submissions waiting to be approved. Like I said, no rush.
At 8/30/11 03:09 PM, stratkat wrote: Audacity and reaper are both free,
personally I use fl studio.
This. I've used FL studio for years, for everything from making drum beats to record over, to using an Edirol plugin to have my own orchestral pieces sound more organic. I've never used either Audacity or reaper, but I've heard good things about both. In terms of recording and editing, I've used Mixcraft (not free) which some people criticize me for. But honestly, it's because I know the program and don't feel like taking the time to learn the ins and outs of another one.
I'm of the belief that every artist, no matter his/her media (be it musician, physical art in any form, writer, ect) is always his/her own worse critic. I can't think of one piece I've ever written where I've automatically just gone "yes, love it". At least not the piece as a whole. However, if I show it to someone else, usually another musician, I'm told that it's at least pretty good (most of the time). I'm also extremely paranoid about people "just being nice" when it comes to criticizing my work, so that doesn't help.
That said, I really have no problem playing or showing my works to or in front of anyone. I even strive to do so whenever I can, especially if it's someone of note (such as a known composer/musician, ect.)
Quite literally anything. Of course, an easy source of inspiration is other music. Especially a good solo Piano piece of anything like that. But, the same goes with any other form of media. It can be totally random as well. I actually wrote a "Yiddish" String Quartet piece which was inspired completely by an episode of family guy (or rather, the music in the episode). Random tv shows, images, anything really.
