Thank you to all the students and teachers who submitted questions for the interview with Kevin Costley. All of the questions were interesting and thought provoking. I found that several of the questions overlapped, so it was easy to find 10 questions that at least touched on every person’s interests. Here are the first five questions and Kevin’s answers.
Kevin’s History:
1. How did you become a composer? How old were you when you first started composing? Was there any particular person that inspired you? What composer has been most influential or inspiring to your composing?
I became a composer quite by accident. In the late 1970’s I wrote several hymn arrangements and a helpful piano teacher friend helped me clean up my drafts. She taught me a lot about correct rules of notation. I laid these arrangements aside and paid no attention to them for years. Every year, I would take my own piano students to our local piano festival. Every year after returning home, pieces would roll around in my head. I thought, “I think I can write a piano piece.” Yet, I never sat down and wrote one. Finally one year, I went home from the festival and actually wrote five pieces. A dear, published composer friend, Glenda Austin encouraged me to publish these pieces. She said, “They are good!” After these pieces were published, my wife was very supportive of my writing. Also, I used Glenda’s pieces as models in writing, yet Glenda told me to refer to a well-known composer, William Gillock’s solos. She said that “Everything you need to know about pedagogical composing is in Bill Gillock’s works.” And so I did refer to him frequently during those early days of writing.
Kevin’s Ideas:
2. How do you come up with fresh ideas for your pieces?
I must say that I am very fortunate to never want for an idea to write. Most of my compositions come from inspiring locations, themes, or memorable events. 99 percent of my pieces begin with a title; I then build the piece around the title. I seldom write a piece and then say, “What am I going to name this piece?” I am always motivated by sights and sounds of the environment. I find motivation in what people do for enjoyment. I like to write about the beautiful earth where we live. I like to write about human emotions (i.e. “Remembering” – a romantic piece). I like to write to the heart of people. If a piece is about people, teachers will use it and it will sell.
Kevin’s Technique:
3. How do you first approach your composing? Do you have a checklist that you use (i.e. title, form, performer level, etc)?
As stated in an earlier question, I usually have a title and a scene or image in my head. While writing, I gradually build that scene until I get the desired outcome I want, an outcome I think the audience would want to experience (audience being piano teachers, students, and audiences who listen to these pieces). I don’t have a checklist while writing; however, as a major writer for the FJH Music Company, I do write to FJH’s keyboard director, Helen Marlais’ criterion for leveling (i.e. early elementary, elementary, late elementary, early intermediate, intermediate, late intermediate, early advanced). Therefore, while writing my own projects and “assignments for hire” (assignments assigned by FJH), I always have these important checklist by my side while writing. I check it carefully to stay within the chosen level. Some people might think that this criterion stifles the composer’s creativity. Actually, the opposite is true for me. Although the leveling of any piece is a challenge, even for the most seasoned and experienced composer, creativity can still abound within a specific level. There can still be ‘creativity within limits.” I believe that beginning composers should begin writing simple pieces with limits, then expand into repertoire of greater complexity.
4. Do you usually have some sort of inspiration before composing something which leads to your title or do you create the music and then give it a title that fits?
How do you come up with titles?
I have a title book where I save some titles. Titles come from many places (i.e. roadmaps, signs, sights, sounds, travel brochures/magazines, children’s books, catalogues, etc.). However, although I have many titles in my “Title Book”, I don’t use them all. The point is: never lose a good idea; it might serve the composer well later on in writing. I have written many pieces in the middle of the night after experiencing something wonderful or emotionally impacting during the day. While in Boston several years ago, I rode the trolley. In the middle of the night, I wrote, “Old Town Trolley” and “New England Getaway.” As you look at all of the titles in my duet collection, “Travel’s for Two”, most of those titles came from my traveling to various places. Sights and scenes motivate my very best and most imaginative writing.
Kevin’s Routine:
5. Do you have a composing routine? How often do you compose? Do you compose with pencil and paper and then input your work into a notation program or do you compose directly with a notation program?
At this point in my composing career, I have no routine at all. Most of my work at this point is “work for hire” for the company. In essence, major writers spend much time writing collaborative projects together at different levels. I also submit some of my own personal works and will continue to do so in the future. When I began composing, I became addicted and would often get out of bed and write in the middle of the night. I no longer do this. I’ve learned how to turn the creativity off (like a water valve) when I need to it off (in order to get other personal/professional things done in my busy schedule). I write most all of my compositions with an erasable pen on staff paper. I occasionally compose first on the Finale, yet very rarely. My goal is to write the grunt draft first (the hardest work!), then without delay get my original ideas on Finale, then…tweak my draft several times from the Finale copy before sending in the copy for publication. The best publications aren’t sent in immediately; the best writers sit on them and revisit them several days in a row, checking all details!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this interview with Kevin Costley, coming Wednesday!
