Tomorrow will be too late. You can't catch up this time.

[piano]

(A story of taking action too late, and that too much action-faking/no action at all can and will most likely mess you up)
I went into the kitchen today and ate cereal. I was walking in a circle and noticed a letter lying on the kitchen table.



"It's december,
I've been wanting to compose a piece for a huge national music composition competition. I knew of it long ago, but I only started on the 22th of this month. The deadline is on the 5th of January and I am slowly losing my mind"

During december I was working on a music piece for instruments that I'm not even sure I have even all seen in real life before.
I wanted to start way earlier. In fact, I actually wanted to write 2-3 pieces, but the time was closing in on me so I only barely had time for 1. I had only 2 weeks left. I was working everyday for hours. I'd wake up, not even eating, go to the basement and compose for hours, with a calendar reminding me that I should have started 1-2 months earlier.

I honestly had no clue about the instruments I was writing for. I'm a pianist, not a string or woodwind player.
I also had no time to research about them. I was purely relying on intuition and foolish hope.
The days before I started, I'd be whining about minor inconviniences. Now I was taking daily naps due to exhaustion, each day.
I would continue like this for the next 10 days. Even working on new year's eve.
And at that time, new year's eve, I realized that I would need luck - luck I didn't even deserve - to win.

Mentally and physically uncared for, I finished in a distressed manner and tried to forget what happened.


I went to the letter in excitement and fear. It had the symbol of the organization I composed a piece for. I took it out of the envelope. I was scared.
I started reading.





It was the result I knew it would be.

 

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[Bekit]

Well-written post that packs a massive emotional impact. Congratulations on lighting a fire under me on those things that I know I should have started already.

(A story of taking action too late, and that too much action-faking/no action at all can and will most likely mess you up)
I went into the kitchen today and ate cereal. I was walking in a circle and noticed a letter lying on the kitchen table.



"It's december,
I've been wanting to compose a piece for a huge national music composition competition. I knew of it long ago, but I only started on the 22th of this month. The deadline is on the 5th of January and I am slowly losing my mind"

During december I was working on a music piece for instruments that I'm not even sure I have even all seen in real life before.
I wanted to start way earlier. In fact, I actually wanted to write 2-3 pieces, but the time was closing in on me so I only barely had time for 1. I had only 2 weeks left. I was working everyday for hours. I'd wake up, not even eating, go to the basement and compose for hours, with a calendar reminding me that I should have started 1-2 months earlier.

I honestly had no clue about the instruments I was writing for. I'm a pianist, not a string or woodwind player.
I also had no time to research about them. I was purely relying on intuition and foolish hope.
The days before I started, I'd be whining about minor inconviniences. Now I was taking daily naps due to exhaustion, each day.
I would continue like this for the next 10 days. Even working on new year's eve.
And at that time, new year's eve, I realized that I would need luck - luck I didn't even deserve - to win.

Mentally and physically uncared for, I finished in a distressed manner and tried to forget what happened.


I went to the letter in excitement and fear. It had the symbol of the organization I composed a piece for. I took it out of the envelope. I was scared.
I started reading.





It was the result I knew it would be.

But I'm sure you must be gutted after putting so much effort into the composition. Sorry it ended up that way.

Even if you didn't win, can you build on this piece, polish it up, and release the version that you wish you had produced and theoretically could have if you had started early enough?

Or can you adapt the best parts of what you produced in the piece and recombine them into a piece specifically for piano?

Sure, it wouldn't be for the competition anymore, but it would be one of your opus numbers. And it would be a stepping stone towards the next composition. And the next.

The young Schubert or Mendelssohn surely had pieces that they slaved over and didn't "come out ahead" like they hoped. But we're all glad to this day that they kept at it despite any setbacks.

Any chance you can share a recording? I wouldn't mind hearing it, even if it's just a midi version or one synthesized by your composing software.

And just to put a smile on your face and let you know you're not alone in this kind of thing, I'll just leave this here.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU

 

[piano]

Well-written post that packs a massive emotional impact. Congratulations on lighting a fire under me on those things that I know I should have started already.

Phew, I'm glad you liked it and that I was able to fire you up! It was my main reason to share this with you guys after all.

But I'm sure you must be gutted after putting so much effort into the composition. Sorry it ended up that way.

Even if you didn't win, can you build on this piece, polish it up, and release the version that you wish you had produced and theoretically could have if you had started early enough?

Or can you adapt the best parts of what you produced in the piece and recombine them into a piece specifically for piano?

Sure, it wouldn't be for the competition anymore, but it would be one of your opus numbers. And it would be a stepping stone towards the next composition. And the next.

The young Schubert or Mendelssohn surely had pieces that they slaved over and didn't "come out ahead" like they hoped. But we're all glad to this day that they kept at it despite any setbacks.

Thank you for the kind words! I am however thankfully fine with how the situation turned out and see it as a lesson (or am simply in denial. I don't know haha..).
I will compete again this year.
You're right, I could polish the piece/transfer it onto piano etc. But I think polishing it up wouldn't serve me as much ROI as moving on and trying new things. But I will very likely polish it one day.

Any chance you can share a recording? I wouldn't mind hearing it, even if it's just a midi version or one synthesized by your composing software.

Imma send you a short part of it in dms.

And just to put a smile on your face and let you know you're not alone in this kind of thing, I'll just leave this here.

While watching, I thought you were mocking me with how accurate it was LMAO
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Bekit]

Phew, I'm glad you liked it and that I was able to fire you up! It was my main reason to share this with you guys after all.

Thank you for the kind words! I am however thankfully fine with how the situation turned out and see it as a lesson (or am simply in denial. I don't know haha..).
I will compete again this year.
You're right, I could polish the piece/transfer it onto piano etc. But I think polishing it up wouldn't serve me as much ROI as moving on and trying new things. But I will very likely polish it one day.

Imma send you a short part of it in dms.

While watching, I thought you were mocking me with how accurate it was LMAO
Thanks for sharing!

Hey thanks for the clip you sent me! Thought it was really good!

That's a fair point on making a decision about ROI.

While watching, I thought you were mocking me with how accurate it was LMAO

Hey I'm in the same boat! No mockery intended. If you liked that, you'll probably also like his blog post on how to beat procrastination and this other one about the procrastination matrix.

 

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[srodrigo]

And just to put a smile on your face and let you know you're not alone in this kind of thing, I'll just leave this here.

I remember reading some of this guy's posts. They are freaking books turned into blog posts. They are really dense and take a while to digest, which is a good thing. I abstained from the rabbit hole of reading more of them to avoid wasting time, but this blog looks like a gem.

 

[piano]

I got a message from my composing group:
"Hey guys, did you already get a reply-letter from the competition?"


A year passed and the same competition was held once more.
This time I would have the experience of last year and knew to start earlier.
I learned from my biggest mistake so deeply in fact that I started a whole whopping 20 days earlier (Hey! That's an impressive 200% increase from the original 10 days...)!

"Hm, maybe I should give up?"

And so I started composing! I had a compelling idea for the piece and got to work.


And yet It was so hard.
I was about to give up. After all, all these cards were stacked against me, right?
I chose an idea that was once more too big for me.
I thought that I had no one or nothing to work for.

Except, my music prof was rooting for me by exchanging mails with me, sharing his opinion and giving advice.

So I pulled through regardless because I didn't want to have his time wasted and because maybe there is going to be a future me. A me who is going to appreciate what I did for him. A me who can be more happy.

While I can't delve into every detail, over the last two days before the deadline, I managed to submit my work just five minutes before it after having been tinkering relentlessly for forty consecutive hours.

Devoid of any sleep.

Finally bringing a sense of completion to my quest.

No matter the outcome


I went to the mailbox in indifference. A letter had the symbol of the organization I composed the piece for. I ripped the envelope open. I thought I knew the result, so why?
I started reading.





It was the result I knew it would be.



No,
It was the result I had dreamt of.

 

[AmazingLarry]

Great thread and congrats on the win!
What happens now that you won?

Any way we can hear your composition?

 

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[piano]

What happens now that you won?

It's going to be performed live at a very cool place and a recording will be made. I also get a free workshop THAT'S A WHOLE WEEK LONG

Any way we can hear your composition?

I'd love to show all you guys, but saying or showing anything more of myself might compromise my identity one day

 

[srodrigo]

It's going to be performed live at a very cool place and a recording will be made. I also get a free workshop THAT'S A WHOLE WEEK LONG

That's incredible! As a fellow (now amateur) musician, very happy for you

So when are you delivering the next piece?

 

[Nostalgia]

I got a message from my composing group:
"Hey guys, did you already get a reply-letter from the competition?"


A year passed and the same competition was held once more.
This time I would have the experience of last year and knew to start earlier.
I learned from my biggest mistake so deeply in fact that I started a whole whopping 20 days earlier (Hey! That's an impressive 200% increase from the original 10 days...)!

"Hm, maybe I should give up?"

And so I started composing! I had a compelling idea for the piece and got to work.


And yet It was so hard.
I was about to give up. After all, all these cards were stacked against me, right?
I chose an idea that was once more too big for me.
I thought that I had no one or nothing to work for.

Except, my music prof was rooting for me by exchanging mails with me, sharing his opinion and giving advice.

So I pulled through regardless because I didn't want to have his time wasted and because maybe there is going to be a future me. A me who is going to appreciate what I did for him. A me who can be more happy.

While I can't delve into every detail, over the last two days before the deadline, I managed to submit my work just five minutes before it after having been tinkering relentlessly for forty consecutive hours.

Devoid of any sleep.

Finally bringing a sense of completion to my quest.

No matter the outcome


I went to the mailbox in indifference. A letter had the symbol of the organization I composed the piece for. I ripped the envelope open. I thought I knew the result, so why?
I started reading.





It was the result I knew it would be.



No,
It was the result I had dreamt of.

What was the fire that made you work so hard for this? Is composing music a dream / passion of yours?

 

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[piano]

What was the fire that made you work so hard for this? Is composing music a dream / passion of yours?

There are lots of factors I think.
For starters, music is indeed my passion, piano in particular (who would've guessed right) and I have a very big dream and plan that I've told noone yet.
I'm honestly not sure what exactly propels me forward that much, but personally a competition is for me a perfect opportunity to learn and get feedback both for the piece (how good or bad does the product work) and the judges (market who bought from me out of many other products/alternatives).

Most of the reasons are in the post actually. Sometimes that is enough to slave away with copious amounts of coffee all night(s) long haha!