I'm thinking I may need to nix the 2+2+3+2 idea. So far it sounds too much like Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo A La Turk." Granted, his is 2+2+2+3, but I'm worried about going too far into such familiar territorry.

Started work on the Linn-Mar commission this afternoon. It’s always strange sitting down with a blank piece of paper, trying to will a composition into being. Strange, but exciting, too. I would like to continue my exploration of rhythm along the lines of my pieces "6" "Crossfade" and "12." I had an idea for something in 9/8 that has an uneven pulse of 2+2+3+2. I think this kind of thing is exciting, but lots of players hate counting. String players aren’t as bad with counting as singers, but I’m still a little worried about going too far into difficult rhythms with high school players. I’ll keep developing it and see what happens.

Last year, I won a commission to compose a new piece for the Linn-Mar String Orchestra. (You can read about it here.) Shortly after that I left Iowa to begin a new job in Michigan. Director Joshua Reznicow and I were worried that the distance between Linn-Mar and me would diminish my interaction with the students--after all, the commission is supposed to bring them into the compositional process. So I suggested that a blog might bridge the gap a bit.

I intend to write blog entries keeping the Linn-Mar students up to date on my progress. Who knows? Maybe I'll even include audio clips when I get that far.

Hey students! Please read this thing, okay? It's going to be non-stop excitement. I promise. I hope you'll feel free to respond to my blog posts with questions or comments. It'll be a good way for us to get to know each other a little bit before the premiere this Spring.

The experiment begins...