We spoke to masonbates, the first composer-in-residence of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, about how he's working amid the pandemic.
is asking individuals from all sectors of the music business to share stories of how they work now, with much of the world quarantined at home and unable to take in-person meetings, attend conferences or even go into the office. Submissions for the series can be sent to [email protected]. Read the full seriesThis installment is with Grammy-nominated composer Mason Bates, the first composer-in-residence of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
From about 8:30 to 11:30, I have my biggest block of time. There are usually three or four hours at the end of the day when I can get some lower-priority creative stuff done, like orchestration, notation, that kind of thing. When I start to make dinner by six o’clock, I put on some music that’s good for whatever project I'm working on.
I’m trying to be mindful of, there's a lot more suffering out there that's greater. But it is trying to have to suddenly be the kids’ teacher, and also stay focused on your composing. I'm giving myself composition assignments every morning, saying, “Okay, today you're going to write a bluegrass string quartet movement that has surprising harmonic shifts,” or something like that. And it's helped me to have a little bit more of a rigorous schedule.
I think it's okay to be unproductive. I think it's okay to not have to throw together some digital opera. Honestly, I’m trying to be charitable here, but if the future is all these online performances, then, shit, I hope we can do better. Because our field, like sports, really depends on the live experience. So I'm putting up this series, and that helps me feel like I'm contributing.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Assassin’s Creed’ Composer Jesper Kyd Returns to Score ‘Valhalla’Composer Jesper Kyd is returning to the “Assassin’s Creed” franchise. He will score the upcoming “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla” alongside Sarah Schachner, who work…
Read more »
Meet The Artist Selling $950 COVID-19 Masks Made From Her PantiesHannah Bates says she's making a political statement with her panty respirators.
Read more »
British Songwriters, Composers See Royalties Climb to Record $990 MillionPRS for Music, the organization that represents the rights of British songwriters, composers and music publishers, collected a record £811 million ($990 million) for its members last year, an 8.7% …
Read more »
Alton Mason’s Debut Short Film Is an Ode to the Creative Spirit of LagosAlton Mason's debut short film, featuring his first single, is also a fundraising effort to support the Khan Foundation, a Lagos-based non-profit that is currently providing relief supplies to some of Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities. Watch it here
Read more »