Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast - Composing with Knobs and Patch Cables, Featuring Mike Olson

Composing with Knobs and Patch Cables, Featuring Mike Olson

10/29/14 • 59 min

Composer Quest: A Songwriting and Music Composition Podcast

Mike Olson schooled me in the ways of old-fashioned analog electronic composing, where you only have dials and cords to create music with. In this episode of Composer Quest, Mike shares how his creative process works when he’s at his Moog modular synthesizer. We also talk about how to sound-treat your home studio, and what makes music go from merely “perfect” to “hair-raisingly transcendent.”

Previous Episode

Quest 12: Suzuki Flute Choir

For the 12th Composer Quest quest, I challenge you to write a piece of music for flute choir, with parts that can be performed by beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. We’ll be collaborating with the Minnesota Suzuki Flute Teachers Association, who have some fun concerts lined up to premiere these Composer Quest submissions. For the inside scoop on this challenge, take a listen to my talk with two of our collaborating teachers (and exceptional flutists), Bethany Gonella and Andrea Myers.

Next Episode

Geriatric Songwriters and Music Therapy with Angela Johnson

It isn’t every day you hear about a CD release party at a nursing home. Music therapist Angela Johnson worked with some older folks to create a CD of songs that include everything from sage advice to dog barks. In this episode of Composer Quest, Angela gives us the lowdown on being a music therapist, and she shares what it’s like dealing with death on a regular basis. She also plays some of her beautiful songs live.