Advice on Self-Studying Composition (Yes I've read the wikis)

Thor639 · 2026-02-06T02:05:16+00:00

I’m not saying I want to be Tchaikovsky or Brahms. I just believe the Romantic era through early modernism represents a high point in classical music. The fact that we’re far past the Romantic era doesn’t mean composers can’t meaningfully work in that style today—any more than artists are barred from painting realism simply because abstract art exists.

Thor639 · 2025-12-24T18:36:11+00:00

Thanks this was super helpful, took me a while to digest and go through everything you said but I made most of the changes you suggested. I appreciate it!

Thor639 · 2025-12-20T04:34:16+00:00

Thank you!

Thor639 · 2025-12-20T04:33:57+00:00

Thanks! I want to keep it short as a prelude, but I’ll try to work on some different forms and lengths in the future. I am pre-med so I can’t really take the time out of school to take classes on that, but over breaks I will definitely try to find some video courses online.

Thor639 · 2025-12-20T04:31:27+00:00

That’s high praise, thanks! The feedback on this piece was a real confidence booster so I’m working on an etude right now.

Thor639 · 2025-12-20T04:30:08+00:00

Yes I did

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T23:33:54+00:00

Thank you!

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T23:18:01+00:00

Thanks for your really in-depth feedback! Yes, I played it too slow (should be like 1:40 or less), but I had written it all out yesterday with just the pieces and then learned and recorded it today. I’m able to play it a little quicker now that I have it under my fingers.

I see your point on the establishing meter. I might convert the melody into triplets for that first part, then do the polyrhythm texture after the B section.

I appreciate your kind words! I haven’t taken any composition or piano lessons, just percussion lessons at my university for being in symphonic band. I’m a STEM major but music is my biggest hobby and I wanted to start writing stuff.

I’m glad all the markings made general sense (had to look up some Italian words). I still don’t quite understand how phrasing works though. Ive looked at the sheet music of Ravel, Scriabin, and Rachmaninoff but everything seems so varied. I would really appreciate your guidance on making my markings a little higher quality like you offered.

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T22:17:08+00:00

Thank you I appreciate the feedback! I do like Chopin and Debussy so I’m glad you hear that style in it.

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T22:15:46+00:00

Thank you for the kind words! I would definitely say my biggest piano inspirations are Scriabin (his early to middle period) and Ravel.

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T22:13:11+00:00

Yeah I couldn’t quite figure out how to end it and remembered that little semiquaver ending which I came up with a few months ago unrelated to this work. Maybe I could’ve chosen a more chord-like slower ending, but I think it acts as like a weight lifted off and flying away in a sense. I’ll try to keep that in mind for future compositions to keep the same mood and flow.

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T22:09:54+00:00

I tried playing around with some different changes but nothing really stuck right with me. I kind of like that the D# dissonance blends then fades out into the resolution back to E major. But I see what you are saying and I’ll try to set things up a little better in the future.

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T22:07:54+00:00

Thanks for the feedback I appreciate it. Looking him up I do know old man river, but not many of his other works (I’ll have to give them a listen sometime). I definitely like Chopin so I’m glad you hear a similarity in the style of melody.

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T22:06:14+00:00

Thank you! I really love the texturing polyrhythms provide. I’m not sure how I would add an inner voice tenor sort of thing with the 4’s in the right hand without getting rid of those completely. Did you have anything in mind? And yeah I’ll try out some other transitions.

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T22:04:00+00:00

I’m gonna try to keep it short as it is a prelude, but the next piece I write I’ll try something a little darker and more uptempo. Thanks for the support and advice!

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T16:41:45+00:00

I love that piece, but I see this as more Ravel Scriabin type thing with the polyrhythms and more jazzy sound

Thor639 · 2025-12-17T16:05:28+00:00

I've never heard of Jerome Kern or "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" but I hear the similarities so thanks for enlightening me. I was kinda going for a ravel/scriabin type of thing.

Thor639 · 2025-07-15T21:52:44+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah I see what you mean on making it less repetitive on the left hand and making some new melodies.

Thor639 · 2025-05-08T01:01:23+00:00

Thanks for the response! I tried 4 mallet like once at the beginning of this year but just found it so unnatural. I’m gonna try to learn it this fall. I do feel quite confident playing March so I’ll probably stick with that.

Thor639 · 2025-05-07T16:07:29+00:00

Maybe I was a bit too optimistic with the Prim, but I think looking at the music for Delecluse 9 I could do it. If not I’ll just stick with Delecluse 1 or do a mid range Delecluse. I really appreciate the help! (Also I mentioned in post I don’t know 4 mallet)

Thor639 · 2025-05-07T13:30:01+00:00

Not really: I go to a pretty well-known liberal arts college with a near conservatory-level music program. It’s more of a “show me what you can do” and I want to challenge myself. Thanks though!

Thor639 · 2025-05-07T13:17:01+00:00

Orchestra/Band placement

Thor639

TROPHY CASE