Author Archives: lcheg

Have you ever saved something and then not been able to find the place you saved it from originally? This happens to me all the time with music. Like many classical musicians, I download a fair bit of music from IMSLP to peruse and potentially perform. Like many Australians, I read English quite well. Unfortunately forContinue reading “Dances and Duets – Marvellous Musical Monday”

A new year is upon us! That means it’s time for fresh starts, promises to yourself and promises to others, often known as New Year Resolutions. I generally try to pick an interesting resolution, rather then the stock-standard ones like ‘eat healthier’ or ‘exercise more’ (though those are both good goals, and probably things IContinue reading “Avalon – Marvellous Musical Monday”

Today’s post is a little bit exciting! I’m trying out something new: recording audio and video for the music that I write, and so today’s blog features a video of an arrangement I made recently. Now, I’ve made a few videos in my time, notably last year for my Christmas Carol Advent Calendar, but mostContinue reading “New Adventures!”

I have an unpopular opinion amongst musicians: I actually really like Christmas carols and songs. Most musicians get really sick of them, playing the same old boring arrangements over and over again, and the same songs year-in, year-out. One friend even told me that for her playing Christmas carols feels yucky, like something she shouldn’tContinue reading “111 Days Till Christmas!”

Sometimes, I forget that the work I do depends on people wanting me to do that work. That if they decide I’m not experienced enough, or not old enough, or not good enough, they’ll tell me to stop, and I have to, because I’m a contractor and not an employee and contractors don’t get notice.Continue reading “When you’re not enough.”

It’s been quiet around here lately! Very quiet. In fact, it’s been a month since I was last here. But I have a good reason! I’ve been working on a very Big Project (yes, the capitals are necessary) which is taking a very long time and all of my compositional energy to do. I’ve beenContinue reading “Big Projects”

This will probably be the first in a series of posts I make about orchestration. Today, I’m talking about orchestrating piano music, as the title would suggest. One of my goals with my music arranging and creating is to arrange pieces I really love for ensembles I really love. Those who know me know IContinue reading “Orchestrating Piano Music”

Writing music is one thing. Presenting it well is an entirely different thing. I’ve been revising my score and part layouts for more then five years, and I somehow doubt I’ll ever stop. I have a standard template which I adjust for whatever instrument group I happen to be writing for, and every time IContinue reading “Score Preparation”

I’ve had a freebies page sitting empty on this blog for a little while now. Good news! It’s not empty anymore! I’ve just uploaded a bunch of music, sorted by instrument page. At this stage, all the music is for beginner string players (including Double Bass!) but I’m aiming to expand it, and hopefully itContinue reading “Free Music!”

Every single musician I know have been part of flexible ensembles. Some are in bands, and have members change occasionally so are constantly revisiting their music to make sure it still works. Some work solo, but occasionally gather a band around them. The more classical musicians I know also work flexibly – there’s rarely enoughContinue reading “Flexible music”