21 Days of VGM

I'm joining in VGM Academy's 21 day video game music challenge! Using different prompts, the purpose is to compose 2-4 bars of music (or more) every day for 21 days. No exceptions. This is my entry for day one!

Prompts used: A Minor Challenge, Music Box

Little One's Lullaby

Day 2 of the 21 Day Video Game Music Challenge. I imagine adventuring at night under the stars.

Prompts used: None

Under The Stars

Day 3 of the 21 Day Video Game Music Challenge. A fun, relaxing overworld loop (I've obviously been playing Animal Crossing too much...).

Prompts used: The Forgotten Beats (starts on 2 1/2, technically - that counts, right?), If It Ain't Got That Swing

Lazy Days

Day 4 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge! Today's loop is a cold, winter setting - more melodic and emotional than a soundscape, though.

Prompts used: None... again.

Dance of the Winter Winds

Day 5 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge! This track was particularly challenging for me for a number of reasons: I have never composed using 8-bit sounds before, I hardly ever write upbeat songs, and I am horrible at coming up with beats. But it was actually really fun! It is supposed to sound like a chiptune battle theme. Can you tell that it is heavily influenced by Pokemon?

Prompts used: Kickin' it Old School

Game On

Day 6 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. Today's track is that staple epic moment where the hero decides to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. It's spine-tingling and inspiring and emotional all at the same time. I've always wanted to know how to make tracks like this, and I have to admit, I may or may not have pulled from a few different pieces I love for this one... But that's what this challenge is all about, right? Learning how to use the tools we have and learning techniques from other great composers - while keeping it our own, too, of course.

Prompts used: The Julie Andrews

A Hero Rises

Day 7 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. For today's track, we were prompted to write a track that would sound like waking up to the sunrise on a farm and going about regular, peaceful morning activities. This one was a lot of fun to make!

Prompts used: Something Borrowed, Inspired by Nature

Morning on the Farm

Day 8 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. This piece isn't really for a game, honestly. There are pieces like this in games, but I wrote this for a different reason today.

Yesterday, I found out that a sweet, old woman I used to care for passed away. When we talked, she would always tell me the same stories over and over again, because she had dementia. Where others may have found it irritating, I found it endearing, and I cherish those stories and her kind, funny, caring manner even more now. This is for Rita.

The Photographer's Daughter

Day 9 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. For today's track, I attempted to make what would sound like a warriors' chant in preparation for battle - like that of indigenous tribes, or the vikings.

Prompts used: Attack of the Drones

Battle Chant

Day 10 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. Almost halfway done! For today's track, I wanted to try composing something from another part of the world, and I absolutely LOVE traditional-sounding Chinese/Japanese music. Imagine walking into a beautiful, towering royal palace filled with finery and poise and meeting the emperor, decked out in long, flowing robes and with an heir of majesty. That's what this track is.

Prompts used: Take a Musical Journey

Porcelain Palace

Day 11 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. Over halfway done now!! Today, the open seas are calling, and the captain needs an extra hand on deck. Do you think you have what it takes to be a pirate?

Prompts used: A Pirate's Life for Me (except it's a shanty, not a jig)

They Called Him Captain

Day 12 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. Sometimes game tracks are short, and so it is with today's theme: naptime! Something I wish my son would do easily...

Prompts used: Nap Time

Naptime

Day 13 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. For today, I used something I've been sitting on for a while. And by a while, I mean, like, years... I want to make this a big, orchestral fantasy intro/story piece, but I keep getting stuck - either I don't know what mood to achieve next or I can't figure out the orchestration (my orchestrating needs quite a bit of work...). But I figured maybe getting it out into the open might help me get past this rut! What do you think?

P.S. The mix is bad since I used a MIDI file from Sibelius and it wouldn't let me automate any of the tracks... Working on figuring that one out next. The finished piece will sound WAY better than this!

Prompts used: Compounding the Problem, Something Old

Kingdom of Light and Shadow

Day 14 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. I can't believe it's been two weeks already! For today, I started out trying to write a "secret meeting" track, but it turned into this - similar mood, but this felt like it had more movement and more at stake for getting caught. I also used the Name Game prompt to write the melody! You take your full name and use only the musical letters in order, so mine was BEEEEFE. Exciting stuff. It ended up working out well, I think.

Prompts used: The Name Game, Pizz Off

Keep Hidden

Day 15 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. I've been feeling a little under the weather today. Probably because, now that I've been doing this for two weeks straight, it's getting harder to stick to it, to find new inspiration, and to not feel like everything I write now is bad. Instead of being inspired by all you other awesome composers, I'm becoming intimidated. Is that normal? I know that we as creators are always our worst critics, but it is really hard to believe in ourselves sometimes and our work. Anyone else feeling like this?

Anyway, I returned to the instrument I always find solace in today - the piano. It's a bittersweet tribute to memories of the past, and a look to a hopeful future. Soft and simple. Sometimes that's all you need.

Prompts used: None

Remembrance

Day 16 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. I've been indecisive about what themes to write lately, but I eventually decided to go with an 8-bit town theme for tonight (inspired by Pokemon again, of course). And, obviously, it had to have a flower name.

Prompts used: None

Wisteria Town

Day 17 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. Today's track is a sister to my Day 7 track "Morning on the Farm." I was feeling in the mood to do another relaxing guitar piece and thought that a forest ambience would be perfect. I had also never used a shakuhachi in a project before, so it worked out nicely!

Prompts used: Something Strange & Wonderful

Voice of the Forest

Day 18 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. This track is nowhere near finished, but is more of a first layer to work with and add onto later. It's supposed to sound like it could be a boss fight, but the kind where you're going to be doing battle for a long time; the word "perseverance" comes to mind.

Prompts used: None

Weather the Storm

Day 19 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. I heard someone else do a medieval tavern theme and really wanted to try making one of my own! This is inspired by some of my favorite tracks from Skyrim. I can just picture myself, mead in-hand, listening to a traveler tell tales of courage and heroism while the bard plays enthusiastically in the background...

Prompts used: None

Mead and a Tale

Day 20 of the 21 Days of Video Game Music Challenge. Only one day left!!! Tonight's piece was inspired by none other than my son, who has the absolute worst time in the universe getting to sleep... We'll get there. For now, he is sleeping peacefully, and I am not long in following him.

Prompts used: None

Hush Now, My Darling

Beret Finken is Southern Minnesota-based composer, musician, and vocalist. Blending the sounds of her soft, ethereal vocals, simple yet rich instrumentation, and unique folk-inspired compositional style, Beret strives to evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and introspection in her listeners through her musical storytelling.

To learn more about Beret and her work, visit beretfinken.com