Orchestrating Piano Music
09 Apr 0 CommentsOne great practice for both learning orchestration and learning composition (they are connected you know) is taking an existing piece of music for piano and experimenting with orchestration. For
How do I proceed to learn Orchestration
09 Apr 0 CommentsThe only way you are really going to learn orchestration is by a combination or “stacking” learning approaches. You will need: 1. Work with real musicians: Knock on practice room doors, and
Transposing Vs. Concert Pitch Scores
09 Apr 0 CommentsTransposing scores is the most logically consistent in my opinion. One big advantage is you can see the tessitura in a much clearer way, and in my experience glean a
Shostakovich – 101
09 Apr 0 CommentsAs someone who loves most (not all) of the of the music of Shostakovich (I am fan of most Russian composers) I can offer a few points for an introduction.
What is “Bad Orchestration”
02 Nov 0 CommentsIn the Preface to RK, he says there are 3 kinds of orchestration: – that which sounds OK at first try – that which sounds OK after much rehearsal –
Lorca/Presser Grant Commission
19 Dec 0 Comments2016 will kick off for me in Baltimore. I will have a new work for Soprano, Flute, and Harp be premiered at the 2016 New Music Gathering held at the
KBAQ Radio Interview
18 Jun 0 CommentsHad a great radio interview with KBAQ 89.5 Phoenix http://kbaq.org/content/local-youth-orchestra-presents-world-premiere
Composer in residence for West Valley Youth Orchestra
19 Apr 0 CommentsWriting a new commission for the West Valley Youth Orchestra. Looking forward to being in Phoenix and working with all of these musicians !
Recording Session for String Orchestra Book
19 Apr 0 CommentsFor a long time I have had a goal of creating a range of educational products. Tonight I am recording the first session which will feature advance string textures and
Recent Project: Where you Are
13 Jan 0 CommentsI had the pleasure of doing orchestration work for composer Steve Lebetkin. The vocals feature my friend and wonderful singer Hilary Gardner. The orchestra was recorded in Prague. The player
Student Gallery: Phil Harlan
03 Dec 0 CommentsCongratulations to student Phil Harlan for releasing his single “Stabilize” You can have a listen here: Stabilize – Single by Phil Harlan https://philharlanmusic.bandcamp.com/
Student Gallery: Dane Scozzari
29 Nov 0 CommentsDane has just recorded an original song for the Guitar Center song writing challenge. Good luck ! So great to see my students creating music and putting it out into
Student Gallery: Tanya Dartson
29 Nov 0 CommentsTanya is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for her first music video. Tanya states “Music has always been firmly embedded in my DNA. My ultimate dream is to have my music
Study with Doug Gibson (online or in New York City)
16 Nov 0 CommentsI really love having two sides to my music career. I get to work on really cool projects with really great people. I also love teaching. I have been teaching
Vocal / Piano Workshop
13 Nov 0 Commentsr Nothing is better for learning composers than the chance to work with professional musicians. Having ones work realized by performers is so much more inspiring than hearing the
Learning to hear the overtone series
09 Nov 0 CommentsTwo topics I discuss a great deal in my lessons are ear training and the overtone series. Here is an exercise you can use on your own. Play the following
Summer 2014 update
25 May 0 CommentsHello. Well it has been too long since my last post. I will be giving more attention to this blog. I am currently in a recording studio in Nashville and
Music Composition Lessons
09 Jun 0 CommentsAs I mentioned I have been running classes in which composers write for professional musicians each week. The whole experience has been fantastic. Please check out below a sample form
New Music Composition Class – Fall 2013 NYC
06 Jun 0 CommentsI would like to make an announcement for those who live in New York City. In the fall I will be offering a composition/ orchestration class. The main goal of
JAN. 2013 NewsLetter
02 Jan 0 CommentsHappy New Year I would like to begin by wishing you a very happy and successful 2013. This is always one of my favorite times of the year. Out with
Doug Gibson November Newsletter
14 Nov 0 CommentsSandy: November has been a tumultuous month for those of us living in the New York, Tri-State area. Tropical Storm Sandy had a more devastating impact than anyone expected. As
General Principles of Orchestration
05 Jun 0 CommentsI teach music composition lessons online. Often an area of study we focus on in great detail is orchestration. This is of tremendous importance to all Film and Video game
August NewsLetter
14 Sep 0 CommentsI have been keeping busy over the summer. I am happy to report I had a great time recording a piece of mine for Viola and Piano titled In the
In the House of the Heavenly Dragon
11 Aug 0 CommentsI am pleased to share with you a new recording of a composition of mine for Viola and Piano. It was such a pleasure to work with such talented and
Favorite tools for music making
24 Jun 0 CommentsI wanted to share with you some of my favorite tools I have for making music. These all are essential items for me. If I was to loose one I
New approaches
22 May 0 CommentsFirstly let me apologize for the delay in getting this “Tip of the week” out to you. Things have been busy, but very exciting over here. Please let me explain.
Making it Stick
30 Apr 0 CommentsThis week as I was thinking about music composition I thought about a book called “Made to Stick – Why some ideas survive and others die.” I was wondering
Musical DNA
17 Apr 0 CommentsLast week I read an article in the New York TImes on musical motives and it’s connection with our own human DNA New York Times article on musical DNA. This
Dovetailing
09 Apr 0 CommentsThis week I came across a really nice set of “Masterclass” videos done by the members of the London Symphony Orchestra. While of course working with a performer is the
Process for creating a new music composition
03 Apr 0 CommentsWhile it must be said that there is not ONE process for how to create a piece, the following is a guideline I use: Step 1 Keep an idea notebook,
Karate and “making it” as a composer
28 Mar 0 CommentsIn Karate they say that once you have been given your black belt it does not mean that you have mastered anything. Rather it simply means that you have done
Study with Doug Gibson
15 Mar 0 CommentsI have three spots currently (as of March 2012) available for one-on one study. My studio is ideally located in the heart of Manhattan, just 2 blocks away from Carnegie
Turbulence: For Cello and Piano
29 Feb 0 CommentsConcert video of my composition “Turbulence.” Thank you Sarina Zhang and Hui Xu for your outstanding performance. Unbelievable they learned this in 2 or 3 days. Also thank
How to begin the creative process
12 Feb 0 CommentsHow to begin Last weekend I had a wonderful musical experience. I received a note from Sam Adler, who is head of composition at Juilliard, that one of my compositions
Composing for the Guitar (Part 2)
04 Feb 0 CommentsIn my previous post I mentioned some of the critical things one needs to consider when composing for the guitar. I detailed the voicing on the piano that are crucial
Coaching for moving your career forward as a musician
03 Feb 0 CommentsWell…. I don’t have to write much in this post. If you want to make a living doing music, sooner or later you have to figure out how to make
The link between Classical Music and Film Music: Part 1
01 Feb 0 CommentsOne of the things that we need to do as film composers is to very quickly learn about different styles. In any given film score you may only have one
Music Transcription Services
01 Feb 0 CommentsNeed a song made into sheet music ? How the whole process works: I try and keep it very simple and straight forward. Simply send me a MP3 of the
Orchestration 101: From piano to woodwinds
15 Dec 0 CommentsThe following example take a short composition for piano and is arranged for a large wind section of an orchestra (with auxiliary instruments)
Awakening Within
15 Dec 0 CommentsOne of my earlier compositions recorded in 2006. This piece was meant to evoke the images of the whirling dervishes of the Sufi religion, and their ascent into ecstasy.
How to write for Guitar
31 Oct 0 CommentsWriting for the guitar can be a very perplexing experience if you are a composer who does not play the instrument. With the exception of solo harp, guitar seems to
Never Stop Growing as a Composer
06 Sep 0 CommentsSet reachable goals — Try breaking up the year into four 13-week segments. How about setting one goal a week. As the old saying goes you begin a journey of
The Next Generation of Music Scores
06 Sep 0 CommentsI have been wondering why more composers do not incorporate any kind of multi-media or web component to their scores. I believe that there is a change coming with regards
Top 10 Sibelius Time Savers
30 Aug 0 CommentsNumber 6: using the “Go To Bar” and “Go To Page” function instead of scrolling through large scores. Level: Intermediate to Beginning Advanced
Film Scoring Devices: Creating Killer Ostinatos
15 Sep 0 CommentsK “If all this seems too complicated for you, learn how I can help you today with lessons over the internet”
Qualifications for becoming a University Professor in Composition
15 Sep 0 CommentsQualifications The qualified candidate will possess: • Well-developed technology skills with expertise in current music software. • Substantial teaching experience is essential. • Administrative experience, either in education or the
Orchestration 101: From Piano To Strings
15 Sep 0 CommentsThe following is an example of taking a piano composition and arranging for a string section of an Orchestra (Harp, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)
Music Streaming and Copyright: Revenue for artist
18 Aug 0 CommentsLast night I went to a seminar by internet music distribution company Tunecore (http://www.tunecore.com/). The seminar was put on to talk about the, yet again, upcoming shakeup to the music
Where to begin Part 1.
11 Aug 0 CommentsHow do I begin being a composer: I’ve composed a few pieces but I have problems even knowing where to begin with a piece. I end up making up very
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