If you are a student composer 0r a teacher of piano students, you will want to take advantage of this great opportunity to submit interview questions to a living composer!
Kevin Costley, a wonderful composer published by FJH, has graciously agreed to participate in an interview for this blog. Students can submit a question for Kevin by simply leaving the question as a comment to this post. Teachers are welcome to submit their students’ questions for them. I will choose the best 5-10 questions, submit them to Kevin and he will write a response. This is a great opportunity to learn how a real composer composes!
Some of the subjects you might want to ask about might include:
- How he comes up with ideas
- How he composes his themes, how he comes up with material for his B sections
- What forms he likes to use
- How he comes up with titles
- How often he composes
Please tell your students to think of a question for Kevin and submit it in the next 2 weeks. Please encourage other teachers and their students to participate! The deadline for submitting a question is October 6th (2 weeks).
If you are not familiar with his music, Kevin has many solos and collections of piano pieces at all levels. His newest book, Summer Portraits, is published by FJH music and is a collection of intermediate piano solos. In the next week, I will be posting about some of my favorite pieces by Kevin. Kevin will also be sharing about his favorite pieces and many more exciting things! Stay tuned…
Don’t forget to leave your interview question as a comment!
I would like to ask him if he usually has some sort of inspiration before composing something which leads to his title or if he often finds he creates the music and then after he has written reflects on it until he finds a title he feels fits the music.
I have been talking to all my students about this. Interestingly, almost every one has asked the same question, “How do you come up with ideas to write about?”
That was asked by students who age run from 2nd grade to 11th grade. I thought it was interesting that that was the most asked question by all ages. I think that gives those of us who teach some thoughts about how we need to help students.
Yesterday an elementary age student (9 years old) asked, “How do you decided what key to use. That’s the hardest thing for me. I never know what key to write in.” I had no idea he was thinking about that.
So I think for us, as teachers, asking these questions can tell us a lot about our students.
-Susan Paradis
Great idea! I look forward to what these young people will ask him and will encourage my students to write! Peace,
Thanks for your participation Susan and Chris! I look forward to seeing any other questions your students come up with.
That’s so true, Susan. Hearing what our students ask will tell us so much about what is most difficult or perhaps most interesting to them!
I have a few more questions that my students asked.
Several more students wondered how do you get your ideas for your music. That is a very popular question!
One wanted to know how you think up titles for your pieces. That seems to be a big problem in my studio.
Another students asked how did you become a composer.
Finally, one asked if there is any one person who inspired you to start composing.
I was wondering what composer was most influential or inspiring to his composing.
From a teacher colleague:
How did you practice the art of composing when you were first learning? What kind of exercises did you do to practice writing forms that were not only theoretically sound but pleasing to the ear? Did you use method books? If so, what do you use? If you did, how did you branch off from there? If you didn’t, what approach did you use?
Hi. I am a student and I just wondered
“How do you decide what to write your music about?”
“Do you come up with the music first or the title first?’
“How do you figure out what sounds good to other people besides your self?”
“How do you compose each note in a sequence that sounds good?”
“To be a good composer how often do you have to practice and what are good compositions to play?”
What happens wen you get stuck?
I’m studying theory in college and am just beginning to appreciate the complexity of composing! I have a few questions for Mr. Costley…
-How do you keep coming up with fresh new ideas for compositions?
-Is there a particular genre or instrument you prefer to compose for?
-Can you estimate how often you revise a piece?
-How do you first approach your composing? Do you have a checklist that you use (i.e. title, form, performer level, etc)?
-In college we learn all about the “rules” of smooth voice-leading. When you compose, are you always thinking about this, or does it come naturally after awhile?
What a great idea Wendy! I’m excited to have the opportunity to ask questions — I am a big fan of Mr. Costley’s work!
My questions:
I’m wondering if you have a set routine for composing — do you compose every day at the same time & place — and for the same amount of time? Or does the routine vary?
Also, I’m wondering if you compose with pencil and paper and then input your work into a notation program — or if you compose directly with a notation program?
Thanks so much for the opportunity to ask some questions Wendy!
•How do you comes up with your ideas?
•Do you think about AB or ABA when you compose or does the song just come as is?
How much of your composing is thinking through theory and intentional effort before the inspiration comes and/or how much is song comes without any thought to that and then revise after have a melody?
•What forms do you like to use?
•How do you come up with titles?
•How often do you compose?
The questions are getting more and more interesting!
Bethany from my studio asks,
“How do you get a title for your piece?”
A few more questions from students in my studio:
From Jana:
Where do you get your ideas to write new songs from?
From Sarah
On average, how long does it take you to write a piece?
How old were you when you started composing and what was your inspiration?