1. Thank you, first of all, for sharing your compositions with the Literary Magazine. We’re very curious as to what inspired you to create such a piece - or, for that matter, any piece of music. Do you remember why you started composing in the first place, or did it just kind of happen?

 

     I don’t remember exactly when I first started composing, officially at least. As long as I’ve had my saxophone I’ve been one to make up and play my own little melodies, improvisation. When I finally began to put these melodies to paper, I can’t say. As for Heartbeat I wanted to make a piece that would inspire some sort of emotion or image in the listener’s mind, and several notes later, Heartbeat was created.

 

2. Can you tell us anything about your music experience outside of composing? How have these experiences affected your own arrangements, and to what extent does music affect your everyday life?

 

     I have a good deal of musical experience outside composing. I have been a member of the band since I got my instrument (alto saxophone) almost 9 years ago. I was also a member of the Easton Middle School Jazz Bands for 4 years total, and have been in the Oliver Ames Marching Band since I became eligible in 8th grade. I also once played in a church band for Christmas Mass. I have experience with guitar, trombone and I dabble on piano. I believe that these experiences influenced my compositions. For one, I often write pieces for large bands with many varied instrument types (like our own band here at the high school). My skill with guitar also gives me many of the melodies I end up using in my pieces as well.

     As for music in my everyday life, It is actually vastly different from what I compose or play. While I might write a dynamic and (pardon my pun) heartfelt piece like Heartbeat, it is quite different from bands I might listen too such as Linkin Park or Get Scared. Although in some respects, other musicians I listen to are quite similar, such as SayWeCanFly. I also often listen to my composer friend Jonathan Tolub and his works, which I think also influence my work.

 

3. What was your process while writing this piece (Heartbeat)? Did you have a structured method to how you arranged this, or was your method more improvised?

 

     My method fluctuated between improvised and structured. Somedays, I would figure out which chords were to go where, for example, and write my melodies to follow. Others, I might just start writing and let the music take me where it wants to go, and change to fit what it wants. For example, the piece underwent many different changes to key and melody notes, originally being written in Bb major, then into F major, and finally landing in G minor.

 

4. Lastly, do you have any plans for future arrangements? Do you see your style changing much in the future, or do you plan on it remaining pretty constant for the time being?

 

     I plan to write more arrangements in the future, and I do believe my style will change as I learn better how to compose. I do have a piece I am currently working on called Swan Song of Ragnarök, a piece inspired by video game battle music.