“We Want Them to Feel Proud of What They Created”

I now have a number of soundtracks that I created with different DAWs during the past couple of months. Even though they are just explorations and tests, I’ve listened to them many times myself, and I really am proud of them! Even though I will probably not do that kind of thing as much as I play classical guitar or compose traditionally, I feel very positive about that output. I’m not sure if everyone else would like them as much, but it really does not matter. The whole purpose was for me to explore, learn, and enjoy. And I achieved all three. And I think I can help others do that too.

I do not call these sound explorations my portfolio or anything, but I value them as much as I value anything else that I do as a musician and educator. As our mentor, Brad Fuller, says, it takes a bit of open-mindedness to appreciate how much value, joy, and learning material is out there. You do not necessarily need to dedicate your whole life to it. It is enough to know what’s out there and how much depth is waiting for you if you decide to dive in. I agree with Kuhn and Hein about students thinking of the word “portfolio” as being too formal (Kuhn and Hein, 2017, p. 12). In fact, I find the word a bit outdated and no longer very relevant to our world. No matter what we call it, there is surely some pride in it.

I did create some traditional works during the past few months, too, but, to be honest, I’m not as proud of them as I am of the electronic stuff I made. Surely it is because these are my first experiences, and I was proud simply because I had done something. I was proud when I wrote my first traditional compositions, which I do not even know the whereabouts of today. But I have never forgotten the joy of having explored, learnt, and created something for the first time; the joy of having autonomy over a project; and the joy of creating something that did not exist before. This is why I like composing and writing. The idea of “joy” and “pride” that Kuhn and Hein emphasise in Electronic Music School is crucial for motivating young people. We need to keep reminding ourselves of this, too.

Reference:
Kuhn, W., & Hein, E. (2021). Electronic music school: A contemporary approach to teaching musical creativity. Oxford University Press.