Travels - Downbeat

Composition Lead SheetMastering theCompositional ProcessYoung composerslean on influencesoutside of themusical realmWinners in the Original Composition—LeadSheet category share manycommonalities when it comes to their compositionalprocess and sources of inspiration,including excellentleadership fromGeorge Heid IIItheir instructors andmentors. This philosophyis especially truefor one undergraduatewinner, drummerGeorge Heid III.“I’ve had the honorof studying with manymasters from the time Iwas a child, but the manwho has been mostinfluential on my lifeand playing is RogerHumphries," Heid saidof his former instructor.“Those who know himbest lovingly refer tohim as 'Dad.'"Heid so admiredHumphries that he evenpaid homage to him inone of the first songshe composed, which hetitled “Dad." Humphrieswent on to record thestudent's composition Luca Ferraraon an album that featuredtrumpeter Sean Jones.Guitarist Luca Ferrara, a winner in theperforming arts high school category, notedthat teacher Lee Secard “strongly encouragesus to compose our own music.” LikeFerrara, vocalist Emily Merrell attributed thehigh quality of her work to the high standardsto which she is held by teacher RosanaEckert.Compositional ideas come from severaldifferent impetuses. From Merrell's vantagepoint, inspiration can come from sourcessuch as lyrics, melodic content and form,but also from literature, films and other nonmusicalinfluences.“Each time I write something new, Itry to write something very different fromanything I have written before,” Merrellexplained. Each student has his or her ownMichael Orensteinway of arriving at the source of the“aha” moment in composing.Pianist Esteban Castro, winnerof the junior high school category,also nodded to his influences as thefoundation for getting his creativejuices flowing.“Listening to records from thegreats is very inspiring to me," Castrosaid. "They are so accomplishedand have produced such beautifulmusic. Every note and phrase is likea treasure waiting to be discoveredagain and again.”It’s sage advice from a musician of anyage, especially someone as young as Castro.Like their heroes, the winners are accomplishedmusicians in their own right withgoals in mind for the future; to what degreeof specificity is varied.High school winner Michael Orenstein,a pianist, said that his goal is simply “playingcreative music that I like to play and toalways be innovating.” Heid hopes to catapultcurrent projects that feature his writing,such as his co-led group Elevations, into thenext level of performance.In what is perhaps an effect of Eckert'slasting impact, Merrell wants to teach, in additionto record, tour and perform. “I wouldlove to build a vocal jazz program at a universityfrom scratch," Merrell said.—Adam Larson112 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2013