My first experiment using Garageband mixing and mastering - just an excerpt!

Bright City Excerpt

Here is the whole version of my sample track from last week.  I'm still editing and polishing the sound so here is the work in progress.

Bright City (New York Lights)

I have used the trumpet stem to create a variation of the theme provided by Hans Zimmer. It also includes use of the solo voice, choir and piano, bells & harp stems. To that I've added a main piano part supplemented by synth and percussion tracks. I think this piece would serve a more contemplative part of a movie and I feel that the end of the excerpt leads the listener on to a major transition. I hope you enjoy listening!

Bleeding Fingers Contest Destiny's Door Reflected Destiny

I have used the trumpet stem to create a variation of the theme provided by Hans Zimmer. It also includes use of the solo voice, choir and piano, bells & harp stems. To that I've added a main piano part supplemented by synth and percussion tracks.  The second half of the piece is an entirely original section of music developing the piano part and adding a different choral sound, violas, cellos and further percussion.  I added this second section when I realised my original entry was too short for consideration in the competition!!  However, I'm really pleased with this extended variation and I hope you like it too.

Bleeding Fingers Contest Destiny's Door Reflected Destiny Extended Variation

Rough cut of a piano piece recorded on digital recorder from my electric piano.

Beneath a Starry Sky

This is a 'live' version of a previously loaded track, again recorded using a digital recorder from my electric piano.

Bright City - 'Live'

Waltz

Looking for You

Hello!  Having recently read 'The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything', by Ken Robinson, here I am in pursuit of my Element, music.  Ever since I sat at my Grandfather's piano as a child, pressing the keys and enjoying the sound they made, I have been drawn to creating my own music, although in all honesty that first came about a few years later when I was a High School student.  I came close to studying music at university but at the time I chose to follow another passion: teaching.  And so, with a little coercion from my wife, and inspiration from my favourite quote: 'if not now, when?' - which is somewhat ironic for the king of procrastination - here I am pursuing a dream.

I am an amateur composer, working solely on piano.  My dream is to be a composer of film/TV soundtracks.  I am using Garageband for editing and mixing my compositions so please forgive any rough mixes at the beginning.  I also plan to try some arranging using the software instruments on Garageband.  My major musical influence is Barbra Streisand, both as a composer herself and the composers/musical directors she has worked with throughout her career, e.g. Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Matz, William Ross, Michel Legrand, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, etc.  Other influences include Billy Joel, Neil Diamond and The Carpenters.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you enjoy the music.

Rybla