New 2012 Blog Schedule:

Mondays: Oboe Coaching (playing and teaching tips plus questions answered)

Wednesdays: Muse Echo (about Kathryn's work, inspiration, creative process)

Fridays: Philosophy

All blogs are (C) Kathryn Potter

"How do you compose?" That is the most commonly asked question I hear.
This blog is a window into my creative process and philosophies as a composer, teacher and oboist. Thank you for your interest. Enjoy.

My Archives

February 2012

January 2012

December 2011

November 2011

October 2011

September 2011

August 2011

July 2011

June 2011

May 2011

April 2011

March 2011

February 2011

January 2011

December 2010

November 2010

October 2010

September 2010

August 2010

July 2010

June 2010

May 2010

April 2010

March 2010

February 2010

January 2010

December 2009

November 2009

October 2009

September 2009

August 2009

July 2009

June 2009

May 2009

April 2009

March 2009

February 2009

Feb

3

Friday philosophy - What is music?

Dear Guests,

Friday philosophy continues with the question "What is music?"

What is your personal definition of music? Has it ever changed through out your life?

For years, I've asked myself this question - "What is my definition of music?"

Is it organized sound?

Is it sound that inspires? (What is inspiration?)

Is it both organized sound and inspiration?

What do you think?

For now and for a while now, my personal definition of music is organized sound that inspires.

Would you agree or not? I'm not interested in an argument, simply your thoughts.

Thank you for visiting.

Musically yours,

Kathryn



Feb

1

Muse Echo: 100 Flowers

Dear Guests,

Hello and welcome.

"Composers are chefs of music." music is food, composing is cooking mmmmm


This past week I've been composing more flowers for the 100 Flowers collection. I sent out 14 more flowers to editor Gilles MANCHEC so he now has a total of 61 of the 100, including all the level 2 (intermediate) and level 3 (superior) solo oboe flower portraits for those 2 separate books.

The past few days I've been very focused on composing more level 1 (easy) flowers. As I compose these flowers I think a lot about food - food for sensitive digestion, high quality snacks, meals, purees even for the very very young and delicate. This food must be nutritious, delicious and encouraging.

I take my job very seriously! I get very warm and maternal and also sometimes silly about it.

On the other hand - it is all about the essence, love and geometry of the flowers.

Composing these are fun. I'm more structured with these flowers - measured, tonal - usually modal - and I require each flower to have an innocence and mystery to it.

As always, meditating on flowers to create sonic portraits is consistently doing wonders for my psyche. My ability to see colors and nuances of colors keeps returning more gradually over time as the depression I once had fades into the past back out to sea.

Looking at flowers helps open doors of emotional well being, a peaceful joy and a deeper love of life for me. As I compose and play these portraits of flowers I grow and bloom inside and evolve into a greater love. Perhaps these flowers will have a positive influence on oboists and audiences alike more and more over time as well.

Thank you for your interest.
Musically yours,
Kathryn