The front cover of this weeks New Scientist boasted a promising article about procrastination. Uncharacteristically, I ripped it open and began reading immediately. If anyone in my orbit would like to borrow it, just ask and I’ll bring it in sometime in the next fifteen years.

Seriously though, my mountain of NS back-numbers is quite redundant because, as a subscriber, I have access to the complete NS archive. If anyone would like some for their school, department, spouse’s waiting room etc. just let me know and I’ll try to get them to you.

As one of the world’s worst procrastinators, I’m in no position to offer advice. Yet if a new, unmentored instrumental instructor were ever to ask me about producing numerous ensemble arrangements to deadline throughout the year I feel that I would have a few pointers.

1. Reduce the whirlwind of disabling possibilities simply by starting. Once an arrangement is under way, many distraction options are then ruled out by your initial choices.
2. Assuming you are using software, save every 30 seconds and before getting into too much detail, consider creating two versions - one for reading and one for sound. Aim for clarity and (apparent) simplicity in the reading version and remember the ancient proverb from the Province of East Lothian “One overlooked layout decision - a thousand repeated sentences.” Pepper the parts with rehearsal marks. No pupil has ever complained that there are too many. The audio version, the potential source of multiple midi versions at graded tempi, can benefit from features which would make the written parts unfriendly e.g. the insertion of rests to emphasise articulation. Only in this version need you worry about audio features such as the stereo spacing relative volume of parts.
3. Before committing to print, play through the various parts at breakneck speed. This will flag up any technical or reading difficulties more vividly than simply looking over the arrangement.

Pic: Procrastination

Categories: Behind-the-scenes, Music, Technology