How did you compose your concerto?

I compose my music on my computer. There is a free program called “MuseScore” that allows you to do music notation. So, I was able to write my music while playing the piano onto the computer. I wrote for five parts: the piano, violin 1, violin 2, viola and cello/bass.

What goes into the process of composing music?

Composing music is kind of hard because you kind of need to be in a mood to do it. It’s kind of like a muse. Sometimes I had content droughts, where I didn’t really know what to do. Sometimes, it just naturally comes to you. Honestly, we kind of call it ‘force writing.’ You can force write a couple of pieces to see what you like and then take that and develop it. Honestly, if you have a music idea that’s original, you can turn that into a whole piece.

What type of music do you typically like to compose?

(I think) my style is kind of a mix of classical piano and contemporary.

How long does it take to compose pieces?

This concerto took me a year to compose, so it varies on the piece. I composed one piece in two weeks and won first place at the Indiana State Fair last year. This one was a much bigger endeavor.