I compose.
I can't play for shit. Attempting to learn clarinet, so I can then move onto bass clarinet.
Most people will tell me how its an impossibility for a composer to be poor player, but Gabe can vouch for me in saying I'm not a terrible composer (he is though
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I'm a huge fan of the weird instruments, or playing traditional instruments in a weird way (see instrument/video I posted in blog).
I love deep instruments, bassoon, contrabassoon, bass clarinet, tubax, bass trombone. I also love mallet instruments, marimbas, balaphons, metallophones. Crotales also rule.
As of right now I'm a budding musician trying to find a voice. I take elements from all kinds of contemporary composers (particularly Elfman, Schyman, Beltrami, Taylor). I try desperately to avoid resorting to the usual motifs you hear in music today, and want desperately to create my own motifs that make me identifiable as a composer. I think my use of basso instruments helps in that department.
And Gabe, don't even TRY to say Jay Easton beat me to it. I will rape you while wearing a clown costume, I swear.