Music

I used to be a music guy. I have a Bachelor's of Music degree and everything.

But I was a computer guy before that, and in the end, computers won.

"composer"

Allegedly, I was a composer. I wrote some music, but I'm not sure that this is all it takes to be a "composer." In fact, that realization was a major reason I decided not to be a music guy anymore. You have to "make the scene," fight egos, enjoy brief moments of triumph interlaced between hours of agony and self-loathing, and spend several years at it before it's possible that anyone will give a crap.

Also, writing music is hard work. When you're at Kinko's at 4:00am making 1,000 total copies of 35 different parts, then taping things together with scotch tape, then getting in your car to drive 90 minutes so the group can read your piece that you stayed up all night finishing, reality sets in and the illusory notion of "I am an Artist" just disappears.

But most importantly, there are lots of really great composers out there in the world, and as Kenny says, "you gotta know...when to fold 'em."

So with six credit hours of classes and "a work of major proportions" left before finishing my Master's degree, I bailed out. No regrets.

relics

I thought I'd use this space to share a few sonic gems. The only reason something might be here is that I opened up an old cardboard box, found a tape, and thought, "No one will ever want to hear this. I'd better make an MP3 and upload it."

In that spirit, here is some stuff you can waste your time with.

intellectual property

Embarrassingly, everything here is copyrighted by me. If you decide to put any of this stuff on your "Geniuses of Music" compilation CD, I have some advice for you:

• Sign up for "Music Appreciation" at your local night college so you can accurately contemplate the sheer immensity of the mistake you're making.
• If not convinced, seek counseling, you are sick.
• If still determined, tell me about it.

"Thou shalt not steal" doth verily apply unto thee.

Enjoy!