Making My Own Music (Inside Video Game Music)

Originally posted on October 25, 2013 In this episode, I talked about and played a song called “Tremble” that I composed and recorded in October 2013. It is my first “Trance” dance song. When listening to trance music, I heard a great song called Symphonica by Daniel Kandi . It had a number of elements that I really liked, and I used it as a loose reference track on this song. I used Reason 5 and...

Originally posted on October 11, 2013 In this episode, I talked about and played a song called “Escape!” that I composed and recorded in September-October 2013. It is the kind of song that could be used in a video game. I talked about an article I read a few months ago about making money with composing. They suggest video game music is the way to go. Danny Baranowsky has been much more successful...

Originally posted on September 1, 2013 In this episode, I talk about and play a smooth jazz song I wrote in August 2013 called “Summer Strut.” The song features my saxophone throughout. If you use LinkedIn, connect to me and endorse my skills (saxophone, songwriting, recording, mixing, and podcasting). You can also connect with me on Facebook . I read email feedback from Peter and Nicholas. Send m...

Originally posted on August 11, 2013 In this episode, I talk about and play two songs that I creating in the iOS app Figure: Lypasi and Do Re Mi. I also talked about Jenn and my participation in Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 4. My wife Jenn and I discovered Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choirs, and after seeing the first 3, we wanted to participate when the next one was available. When we got notified a...

Originally posted on July 28, 2013 In this episode, I talk about three songs that I have re-mixed and re-released since the original episodes. I talk about my upcoming move, moving my studio to a new house, and my career change to work on music full time. I got an email from Nicholas who is a music educator in New York City. He was interested in a version of Rue’s Whistle that did not have the sax...

Originally posted on October 24, 2012 In this episode, I talk about my punk rock cover version of “A Teenager In Love” that I recorded in October 2012. I sing and play the electric guitar, and used synthesizers for the bass and drums. I’ve been busy with the Revolution Fan Podcast about NBC’s show Revolution. For that podcast, I created a short bumper called “Scientific Revolution.” It is in a sim...

Originally posted on August 19, 2012 In this episode, I talk about a classical song for orchestra that I composed in August 2012 called “Revolution Fan Podcast Theme.” This will be used as the theme song for the Revolution Fan Podcast starting soon about the new NBC show “Revolution.” I started reading a comment from Bill Sullivan about the Untitled Pop Rock Song 1 from episode 9. I talked about h...

Originally posted July 15, 2012 In this episode, I discuss a rock song I originally wrote in 1996 that still has no lyrics, along with some recording techniques and new tools I’ve been exploring. I also briefly cover Apple’s new Podcasts app and announce a new podcast about NBC’s upcoming show Revolution . I open with a short, fun drum piece created with my son Logan, ending with his voice saying...

Originally posted on June 24, 2012 In this episode, I interview Steve Lanciano about producing, composing, arranging, and recording his Christian & Gospel CD “ Modern Day Psalms – My Heart Is Fixed ” and play a track, The Unity Song (Psalm 133). I start by announcing that I will occasionally write a text-only blog post on MakingMyOwnMusic.com. I also announce that I launched a new website, MyO...

Originally posted on June 3, 2012 In this episode, I talk about my jazz fusion piece “Fusion” composed in 1994. I also talk about extended major and extended minor chords. I started by reading an email from Steve Snively and a comment from Viv Black. My favorite chords are the extended major and minor chords that are built by stacking alternative major and minor thirds. For major: C-E-G is a major...

Originally posted May 20, 2012 In this episode, I discuss my new age piece Late Day Storm (May 2012), along with new age music in general and the Tangerine Dream track “Exit.” New age music is often used for relaxation and stress relief—during yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, massage, and more. It can be acoustic (guitar, flute, piano) or electronic (primarily synthesizers). Tangerine Dream, formed in 1...

Originally posted May 6, 2012 In this episode, I talk about my composition “Sleepy” composed for a jazz combo in 1991 . I thank a woman from Argentina calling herself Nightlock for @mentioning me on twitter. @ItsAboutJobros tweeted to her followers about how she liked my Rue’s Whistle song on my YouTube channel. I then talk about 4 types of minor scales: Natural minor Harmonic minor – raised 7th M...

Originally released on April 22, 2012 My composition “Funk (for solo piano)” was composed at Penn State for a composition class. We had to write a piece using a lot of perfect fourths. I created this piece for solo piano for that exercise. Below is a link to a PDF of the sheet music. You can click on it to view, or right click to download it to your computer: Funk (for solo piano) sheet music “Fun...

Originally released on April 8, 2012 In this episode, I talk about my composition “Powerhouse,” composed and arranged for a jazz band when I was in high school. I begin the episode talking about the response to episode 1, Rue’s Whistle. I read a website comment from Rich Snively, Jr. I talk about the Hunger Game movie and what the “Rue’s Whistle” scene was like. I then talk about the standard piec...

Originally released on March 25, 2012 In this episode, I talk about my composition “Fountain” inspired by the fountain outside the old music building at Penn State. The original Fountain melody was composed for a composition class. This piece was sequenced and recorded for an Electronic Music class the following year. I talk about chord progressions, and I play this piece’s chord progression: Em,...

Originally released on March 11, 2012 In this episode, I introduce myself and my musical background, and then talk about my composition “Rue’s Whistle” inspired by the Mockingjay Call from the Hunger Games soundtrack. You can play the podcast using the play button below, or right-click on the “Download” link to save it to your computer. Notes from the episode: Fireside Chat podcast talking about m...