FAWM: "ForGracie-simple piano test"

ForGracie-simple piano test

1 week ago by @karendemello

ForGracie-simple piano test

karendemello

00:00

Liner Notes

In January I wrote this short 8-bar piano piece (I'm taking a Coursera music composition course - it's captivating and I'm learning lots!). I figured that because it was a short piece it would be a good candidate to learn how to use GarageBand on my phone. After a week I gave up the phone and downloaded GarageBand on my computer and watched lots of YouTubes. I just am not getting it! Last night I gave up on GarageBand and installed MuseScore (also free) and I spent today learning how the editor works (lots more YouTubes to watch). After 12 days I have something that sounds like what I played on the piano last month in 5 minutes LOL. My next step will be to orchestrate it to see how that works. Stay tuned :-)

It's much easier to read the MuseScore version than my usual scribbles:

Comments

@schnowd 6d

Great start to FAWM and welcome back. For someone (meaning myself) that can't read music, I so appreciate those who can. Awesome composition!

@karendemello 5d

Your comment has me remembering about teaching a coworker how to read music years ago ~ I drew a staff on the whiteboard in his office and we chatted during breaks, and a few months he reported that he could play some simple songs on piano. I, on the other hand, took lessons a few years ago to try to learn how to sit down at a piano and play something WITHOUT music - it was so hard to figure out what to play. I should work on that more :-) Thank you for the comment and bringing back some great memories.

@paulharrison 1w

Wow...that's a very nice composition that should serve you well as you continue with it and the various tools you are using. If you take it further this month, I suggest you repost...it would be fun to see where you go with this lovely beginning.

@karendemello 1w

We'll see ~ I've definitely been thinking about developing it into something bigger, then I feel overwhelmed LOL. Thank you!

@kahlo2013 1w

It is nice to hear this. It sounds like you are making good progress!

@karendemello 1w

Thank you! It’s amazing how an 8 measure snippet can feel like an exciting accomplishment LOL

@hbusse 1w

Sounds like you've put a lot of time into learning some new tools with this! I'm sure it won't be wasted, those are all great tools to know about. A pleasant melody you're playing with here!

@karendemello 1w

Thank you! I have to say, composing at my computer keyboard (vs at the piano) has been way more enjoyable than I ever would have imagined. It’s going to save time in the long run :-)

@nickweisenfels 1w

I will always listen to somebody's piano. Here's why: I cannot play piano. But I want to hear things. Keep making things for other people to hear. Get after it!

@karendemello 1w

You mean you can't play piano YET ~ maybe someday :-)

@nickweisenfels 1w

Yes...I'm learning.

@karendemello 1w

Yay! :-)

@russkeys 1w

Very nice. I've done a lot of Orchestrating on MuseScore and I love the way they turn out. This is a wonderful little theme that should yield some good results. I clicked on the song because I have a cat named Gracie. She was one of 5 kittens to a feral mom that gave birth in our yard 2 years ago. She is the only one of the 5 that has stayed feral (along with the mom). But she has the most amazing milky green eyes. She still comes for food, but won't stay. She was the runt of the litter and is now the biggest of the 5. I look forward to hearing the theme for her.

@karendemello 1w

Green eyes ~ Gracie sounds beguiling and beautiful. Good to know you like MuseScore; I'd never heard of it until yesterday, this is all new to me. Thank you for the encouragement!