Jay C. Batzner is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida where he teaches theory, composition, and technology courses as well as coordinates the composition program. He holds degrees in composition and/or theory from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, the University of Louisville, and the University of Kansas.
Jay's music is primarily focused around instrumental chamber works as well as electroacoustic composition. His music has been recorded on the Capstone, Vox Novus, and Beauport Classical labels and is published by Unsafe Bull Music.
Jay is a sci-fi geek, an amateur banjoist, a home brewer, and juggler.
|
7/29/2008
Exercise
This summer has contained a lot of exercise. Physically, I've been doing a lot. Compositionally, I've been doing some. Tech-wise, I've been having the hardest time.
Allow me to vent some frustrations for a moment, if I may.
There are two specifics architectures that I've been trying to learn. The first is Jitter. The second is SuperCollider. My motivation for learning these packages is to challenge myself and work with different tools. I'm getting bored with doing what I already know how to do. I need some challenge to push me further.
I'm a very good tutorial-doer and I've been working through their respective tutorials (with SC3 I've been using a variety of sources). The tutorials don't click with me the way that other tutorials do, though. I consult help files which seem to be geared towards advanced users. My creations, if one can call them that, make me think that I will never, ever, ever make anything artistically worthwhile with either program.
What has been the hardest is the fact that I'm not sure the end results are going to be worth the effort I'm putting in now. The same frustration has manifested itself in my physical workouts. I work hard and yet I see little or no results from that work. I follow the advice of experts and I'm just as flabby as I was before sweating my ass off five days a week.
But I keep going back, keep hitting my head against the wall, keep telling myself that it is all worth it in the long run. This summer, the thing that seems to be getting the most exercise is my patience.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
|
| |
