Five new measures a week starting Monday, March 8. That's all I'm asking of myself.
It doesn't seem like much, but writing is hard. All too often, writing yields negative results, like when you have to axe several measures or a whole phrase. The "five new measures a week" requirement is only mildly ambitious, to allow for a few instances of backward progress. This type of constraint will hopefully prevent the axe from getting out of hand.
If I started this back in September, I'd have 30 more measures of music than I do now! It might have amounted to another piece, or might have meant I'd finally finish the triplet cadence I've been nursing along since the fall.
Let's lay out some more details:
- Each measure can be on a new piece, or existing.
- It's not required that I write one measure for each voice. If I only crank out 5 measures of snare music in a week, that is fine. I have to start somewhere.
- At the end of the week (Sunday evening), my measure count must have gone up by 5.
- If I write more than 5 in a week, that is ok. Next week I must still add 5 more.
Primary Goal
Get better at writing music by writing more music.
Secondary Goals
Improve my short term working memory for composing. I've got to think more regularly about piece I'm working on so they remain fresh in my mind. This is so I can benefit from "in the shower eureeka moments". As of now I can't remember where I've left off on any of my cadences, and I can't even play most of what I've written by memory alone. This is a detriment to progress!
In order for my brain to make the connections that will ultimately help me become a better composer, I've got to do it more.
Be pushed above and beyond, with the help of deadline pressure.
Have more instances to try writer's block smashing techniques.
Expand my marching percussion composition tips and suggestions through experience.
I'll be reporting my progress. Wish me luck.
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