I've had an interesting experience recording my Moon Composition during the last month. This is the first time that I can think of that I have ever had as much time as I wanted to make a recording. I've been able to obsess over every detail, experiment with different recording equipment, play around with different recording software, and even write and rewrite parts of the piece while recording.

This is not generally the normal experience. When recording in a studio, musicians are usually charged by the hour, so the goal is to create the best recording in as few takes as possible. It's important to be completely prepared before a recording and to be able to make quick adjustments and execute them well. Even when making a home recording, there is often a time constraint. It's rare to record music completely by yourself. You don't want to waste the time of the other musicians you are working with or drag out an album release date.

I've found this experience to be both freeing and difficult. I love having the extra time to really contemplate my recording and make it sound exactly how I want, but it's hard to decide when it's "finished." Is that small scratch or squeak worth recording the whole piece over again? Could I bring even more emotion into the recording if I did it just one more time? So far, the answer has been "yes," which is why I haven't posted it quite yet. Every time I record, however, it sounds better than the last time. I feel like I am getting close.

I've been working on a new composition on and off for a few weeks now. I started writing it in January on the night of the full moon. For some reason, I was feeling particularly artistically inspired that night. That full moon was the subject of many different conversations that week, and as a result, it kept hanging in the back of my mind.

Sometimes when I compose music, the feeling or moment associated with the particular piece doesn't carry over to other days or other situations. I'll listen to it later and I can't understand what on earth I was thinking writing down those notes. This piece, however, has managed to bring back the full moon every time I play it. I'm going to start recording it this weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to put it up soon.