MixRemix - Collaborate with Hairy Larry
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New Ways Of Composing
by Larry Heyl - CC BY
Technology has brought about fundamental changes to music composition. I remember when you sat down at a piano and notated a piece on score paper. Then after the score was completed the composer would transpose each part to it's own page. These manuscripts would be distributed to the musicians.
Composers like Billy Strayhorn got so good at this workflow that they could write a piece on the score with all the parts transposed and then write out the parts and have a piece ready to play in a few hours. On Brooke Gladstone's NPR podcast "Take The A Train", we learn Billy Strayhorn would compose in his head and he would only write the composition down after it was done.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100731586
Needless to say, not all composers have the talent of Billy Strayhorn, and most of them were glad to use music notation programs, like Finale, to transpose their parts. And the musicians were also happy to play from printed scores instead of manuscript.
Music notation programs were an important technological advance for composers. They are not, however, a great composition tool. There is something about a pencil and eraser that makes it easy to change and improve a composition. I prefer waiting until a piece is done before I go to the computer.
I do compose in my head sometimes, but unlike Billy Strayhorn, I've never written an entire piece before I wrote it down. In fact, I've been known to work on a melody or a change and then when I wake up the next morning it's gone. So I turn to technology.
This article describes my new way of composing. Every composer has their own way of composing and they can each devise their own new way.
My Toolbox
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Pencil and paper - Although I don't write out complete scores anymore I still always have blank paper and manuscript paper ready for jotting down ideas.
Electric piano - Not every composer works at a keyboard but many do. Not everyone has a piano. I have quite a few. I use my Roland Go:Piano for composing because it's convenient, fits in small spaces, and is battery powered with rechargeable AA batteries. I also use this piano for performing and rehearsing because it weighs 9 lbs and it's battery powered.
Speaker - The Go:Piano has built in speakers but for the best sound I play it through a JBL Eon One Compact. I never realised how good this piano sounded until I played it through this speaker. The Eon One Compact is also battery powered or it can remain plugged in for convenience.
iReal Pro on a tablet - I use a Kindle Fire for it's great sound and low price but to install iReal Pro on a Kindle you have to install Google Play first. Most people already have a phone or tablet that will work fine.
metronome - For practicing parts at different tempos. I also do this with iReal Pro. Sometimes I just want clicks. Sometimes backing tracks.
Zoom flash recorder - Again, any recorder, phone, computer, or tablet will work. I use my Zoom H4 because of the high quality built in mics, battery power, and I already own it.
Finale - Finale is supported on Windows and Macs. There are many alternatives including free alternatives and online alternatives. Finale has a free alternative called Note Pad and a cheaper alternative called Print Music.
My Workflow
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I write by playing piano. Sometimes chords first, sometimes melody first. I use pencil and paper to notate the chord change. When I have the start of something I'm happy with I record it. Otherwise I can easily forget part of the song I'm working on.
I can do this over a period of days. Playing the piece. Singing the piece. Trying new things. Recording parts I'm happy with. Sometimes a piece falls together in one writing session. More often I continue working on it tomorrow.
iReal Pro has an edit feature where you can enter your own chord changes. After I enter the chord changes iReal Pro has algorithms that play the bass and drum parts. (If you play a horn ireal Pro can also play the piano parts.)
I practice with a metronome and with iReal Pro. Playing the bass and drums backing tracks makes it easier for me to focus on the piano parts and learn the exact rhythms that I want. Improvisation is great and I do improvise during the composition process. My goal, however, is to complete a part with every note and rhythm defined and repeatable. My real composition space is the interface between my fingers and the keys.
Since I write jazz songs they usually have a form that is from 12 to 32 bars in length. The melody and the chord change is called the head. When I am happy with the head I practice it until I am able to play it from memory without mistakes. I continue improving the piece throughout this process, recording it frequently.
It helps to listen to the recordings to hear places that need improvement. So the recordings help me remember what I played yesterday and they also give me a listener's ear on the song.
After I am happy with the head part of the piece I transcribe it to Finale. Transcribing other people's work can be hard. Transcribing your own work is much easier. The hardest part, for me, is making sure all the rhythms are correct.
Jazz is often written in a rhythmic style called swing. Jazz rhythms often have a delay element where it sounds like the musician is playing behind the beat. Jazz vocalists often milk a part singing in what, at first, sounds like free time.
It can be tricky to notate these rhythms in Finale so that they sound like the piece I just wrote and memorized. This is the reason that I learn the piece before I start notating the piece. It is too easy to get used to a rhythm that is close but not exactly right after repeated listenings on Finale.
After I notate the piece I sometimes find ways to improve it. In particular I can get lazy with my left hand rhythms while I'm working out a melody. If I have an idea for improving the left hand rhythms I will notate that idea and then play through the new notation. After I am comfortable with the new rhythm I decide if I want to keep it. If I don't actually like it better Finale supports undo.
As I build out the piece beyond the head, adding harmonies, counterpoint, alternative melodies, solos, and background parts I work back and forth between the Finale notation and the piano and voice. I always focus on the music first and the notation second. The notation should derive from the music. For reading musicians this is sometimes hard to grasp because throughout all their music training they are handed a piece of sheet music and then they derive the music from that. This is exactly topsy turvy from the way a composer writes a piece.
Anytime I add a new part I always go to the piano or voice first. I play until I get something I like. I practice it. I record it. I listen back and I improve it. And then, finally, I notate it. So it's just like the workflow described above, done for each new part.
The exception to this, in my workflow, is writing homophonic harmonies. Since the rhythms are already there I am dealing with note choices so I work with the notation and the piano at the same time adding harmony parts to a melody.
I also use Finale to play just the harmony parts over the bass or just the harmony I'm working on and the melody over the bass. Finale has a mixer that allows me to solo just the parts I want to hear. By leaving out the other instruments it makes it easier to hear the new harmonies.
My goal in writing each harmony part is to write another melody that sounds good played alone as well as when played with the melody or the whole band. Playing just the single harmony part with the bass makes it easy for me to hear that part's melody.
When I have a section where it is listenable I seek knowledgeable advice. I play, sing, or play the finale version for people who will give constructive comments. When you play your music for most people they try to be polite and say things like "that's nice" or "I like it". Try to find people who will go beyond that, actively listen, and point out the parts that work for them and the parts that don't.
I do not rigidly adhere to this workflow. It is my general practice.
Your Toolbox
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You may not play piano. You may be more comfortable writing on your own instrument. You may want to write melodies on your horn and write chord changes on guitar. Or, like Billy Strayhorn, you may prefer composing in your head.
Every composer and every musician has a different skill set and a different approach to music composition.
You still need a toolbox. Probably at least this.
Pencil and paper
An instrument or your voice
A metronome (could be your phone)
A recorder (could be your phone)
A notation program (could be online)
Your Workflow
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You will develop this by exercising the practice of composition. The important thing is not to follow a particular workflow but to be aware of what your workflow is. Develop your own workflow thinking about what you do in those terms. Document it if it helps. It certainly helped me.
Creative work is still work and sometimes creative people have to deal with time constraints and deadlines just like anyone doing any kind of work. An established workflow makes it easier to complete tasks on schedule. An awareness of your workflow makes it easier to start projects and easier to finish them.
As the famous composer Sly Stone said, "It's your thing. Do what you wanna do."
MixRemix - Collaborate with Hairy Larry
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Collaborate With Hairy Larry
Delta Boogie Network - Let me state clearly This is Ambiguously - Permalink
Posted on Wednesday January 17, 2024Collaborate with Hairy Larry. Play along and record.
Here's the script for this song.
Head - 2
Guest solo - 2
Piano solo - 4
Guest solo - 2
Turn this piano solo into a duet - 2
head - 2
— PermalinkHairy Larry Live at HairyLarryLand on 2024-01-04 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Posted on Wednesday January 17, 2024Collaborate On Crates With Hairy Larry
Turn this jazz trio into a quartet
Recorded Live at HairyLarryLand on 2024-01-04
In a nutshell
Play along while listening on headphones.
Record to phone or tablet in vertical mode (portrait not landscape).
Share your video with hairylarry@gmail.com.
I will add your video to the left side of this video and post the finished video.
Details
Your shot
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Pick a good background in a well lit room.
— PermalinkCollaborate On Crates With Hairy Larry - YouTube
Posted on Wednesday January 17, 2024Collaborate On Crates With Hairy Larry
Turn this jazz trio into a quartet
Recorded Live at HairyLarryLand on 2024-01-04
In a nutshell
Play along while listening on headphones.
Record to phone or tablet in vertical mode (portrait not landscape).
Share your video with hairylarry@gmail.com.
I will add your video to the left side of this video and post the finished video.
— PermalinkMixRemix - Collaborate on Malaysia - 2021-10-17 - Permalink
Posted on Tuesday January 16, 2024Collaborate on "Malaysia" - 2021-10-17
I played this on my twitch livestream on October 17, 2021, with an arrangement designed for collaboration. Collaborators play over a piano trio with the bass and drums provided by an irealpro script with the chords for my original song, "Malaysia". The irealpro app can be viewed running on my tablet on the right side of the video screen.
— PermalinkMixRemix - MixRemix - Permalink
Posted on Tuesday January 16, 2024Collaborate with Hairy Larry
A new purpose for mixremix.cc.
A home for collaborations, collaboration scripts, and songs recommended for collaboration.
Do you want to collaborate with Hairy Larry?
Email - hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
— Permalink
Click here for more songs arranged for collaboration.
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Plants | Something Blue
Posted on Saturday May 31, 2025This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Gary Gazaway, Lisa Ahia, Rebekah Todd, and Karina Rykman. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
— PermalinkNoam writes: ""Are you sure I can't tempt yo…" - G+DBN
Posted on Sunday May 18, 2025"Are you sure I can't tempt you?" Drew asked, drizzling generous amounts of maple syrup on a stack of pancakes.
"It smells good, but I don't think I can eat yet. I'm still recovering from seeing you change."
"Suit yourself. It's hungry work."
— PermalinkDraggin | Something Blue
Posted on Saturday May 10, 2025This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Animal Liberation Orchestra and Daniel Donato. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
— PermalinkDraggin | Something Blue
Posted on Sunday May 04, 2025Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear an original song recorded at the Arkansas Roots Festival.
I first met Sky City at Blues Fest. They volunteered so I booked them. They have always delivered wonderful performances.
Since then they played again at Blues Fest, Sunday In The Park and Bebopalooza. Nathan Crouch even joined us for an evening of Grateful Dead songs at TheArts@311. It is also through Sky City that I met Tonja McKay, an entomologist, and a fine violinist or fiddler, as we say in Arkansas. She helped me record “Three songs from Astral Weeks” at TheArts@311.
In fact all the musicians in the band are outstanding. Playing at the Arkansas Roots Festival on April 8, 2017 were Nathan Crouch – acoustic guitar and vocals, Grant Camp – bass and vocals, Tanja McKay – violin, Matt Pierce – electric guitar and vocals, and Jason Hatcher – drums, all long time Jonesboro residents.
I will leave many links at the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
— PermalinkDJ Hairy Larry Presents John Good and Friends Playing Honky Tonk Joy | Something Blue
Posted on Monday April 21, 2025Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a musician I played with 30 years ago who sent me some songs recently recorded.
Back in the nineties a guitarist called Duke was jamming with Hairy Larry and The Flying Hungarians. He even played at Blues Fest. A great guy and a great musician.
Now, 30 years later, I get an email from John Good. Duke is his stagename. John Good is his name. I probably knew that back at the time but I only remembered Duke.
And he sent me two CDs recorded by John Good and Friends. Excellent work played by excellent musicians from Little Rock, Arkansas.
— Permalinkspaf: "Has anyone else noticed that w…" - G+DBN
Posted on Tuesday April 15, 2025Has anyone else noticed that when time travelers grab you by your shoulders and ask what year it is, and you tell them, they don't reply, "Then I'm not too late," anymore?
That's rather concerning.
— Permalink
HairyLarryLand Tumblr
Bebop Beatniks Live At Blues Fest Craighead Forest Bandshell Jonesboro, Arkansas September 24, 2023
Posted on Wednesday September 27, 2023
Bebop Beatniks
Live At Blues Fest
Craighead Forest Bandshell
Jonesboro, Arkansas
September 24, 2023Songs
00:00 African Violet
11:24 Thanks Mr. Cloud …
12:14 The Blue Crane
21:20 The dance floor is open …
21:42 Low Earth Orbit
31:08 Honky Tonk Jazz …
31:54 Sail Boats
38:37 In the audience …
39:15 Freddy’s Blues
45:34 Silence …
45:19 Malaysia
55:53 Introducing the band …All songs by Larry Heyl
Personnel
Tyler Remagen - sax and flute
Hairy Larry - piano and vocals
Jeremy Jackson - bass
Alex Washam - drums
Conley Hunt - percussion and vocalsbebopbeatniks.com
deltaboogie.net
hairylarryland.com
youtube.com/hairylarryBebop Beatniks Larry Heyl Composition Recital ASU Band Room September 10, 2023
Posted on Wednesday September 13, 2023
Bebop Beatniks
Larry Heyl Composition Recital
ASU Band Room
September 10, 2023Songs
00:00 African Violet
14:30 The Blue Crane
23:30 introducing the band …
24:24 Low Earth Orbit
33:32 Sail Boats
42:22 Freddy’s Blues
52:35 MalaysiaAll songs by Larry Heyl
Personnel
Rike Robinson - trombone and vocals
Tyler Remagen - sax and flute
Cody Daugherty - trumpet
Sophie Hacker - guitar and vocals
Craig Collison - drums
Jeremy Jackson - bass
Conley Hunt - percussion and vocals
Hairy Larry - piano and vocalsLivestreamed to Youtube from my Samsung Galaxy S10
bebopbeatniks.com
deltaboogie.net
youtube.com/hairylarry
Posted on Tuesday July 25, 2023
Bebop Beatniks At Beatles ParkWalnut Ridge, ArkansasMay 27,...
Posted on Wednesday May 31, 2023
Bebop Beatniks At Beatles Park
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
May 27, 2023Songs
00:00 We are Bebop Beatniks …
00:23 The Blue Crane
08:53 What a wonderful audience …
09:00 Candles
16:43 I’m going to rap …
17:04 African Violet
28:24 When Conley was a percussion student …
28:48 Low Earth Orbit
38:17 OK, here’s a swing song …
38:25 Sailboats
45:11 Crates is the companion piece to Candles …
45:20 Crates
53:36 One more song …
53:46 MalaysiaPersonnel
Hairy Larry - piano, vocals
Alex Washam - drums
Conley Hunt - percussion
Rike Robinson - tromboneAll songs by Larry Heyl
https://bebopbeatniks.com/
https://deltaboogie.net/
https://www.youtube.com/hairylarry/Bebop Beatniks On The Twitch PorchApril 16, 2023Northeast...
Posted on Wednesday April 19, 2023
Bebop Beatniks On The Twitch Porch
April 16, 2023
Northeast ArkansasSongs
00:00 The Blue Crane
08:45 Playing With Aries …
09:34 African VioletPersonnel
John Shepherd, guitar
Alex Washam, drums
Hairy Larry, piano and vocalshttps://bebopbeatniks.com
https://hairylarryland.comBebop Beatniks On The Twitch Porch April 2, 2023 Songs 00:00...
Posted on Wednesday April 05, 2023
Bebop Beatniks On The Twitch Porch April 2, 2023 Songs 00:00 Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael, public domain 08:27 African Violet 17:05 Sail Boats 24:26 Malaysia 33:37 Low Earth Orbit 42:37 The Blue Crane
Something Blue
Plants
Posted on Friday May 30, 2025Something Blue – Plants – May 31, 2025 Karina Rykman This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Gary Gazaway, Lisa Ahia, Rebekah Todd, and Karina Rykman. For more … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents Lisa Ahia Singing Confessin The Blues
Posted on Saturday May 24, 2025DJ Hairy Larry Presents Lisa Ahia Singing Confessin The Blues From The Archives Of Something Blue 2025-05-25 Gary Gazaway and Lisa Ahia Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear Lisa Ahia Confessin The Blues About 15 years ago I wanted … Continue reading
Always
Posted on Friday May 23, 2025Something Blue – Always – May 24, 2025 The James Quintet This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Bob Reynolds, The James Quintet, and Blancheneige Bazaar Orchestra. For … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents Hairy Larry Singing Twin Stars
Posted on Sunday May 18, 2025DJ Hairy Larry Presents Hairy Larry Singing Twin Stars From The Archives Of Something Blue – 2025-05-18 Hairy Larry and George Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a song I sang at my Senior Composition Recital. I was taking … Continue reading
Sunflower
Posted on Friday May 16, 2025Something Blue – Sunflower – May 17, 2025 Jeff Parker ETA IVtet – The Way Out Of Easy This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring luvtrst. and Jeff … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents luvtrst. Playing Straight No Chaser-Bb Blues-Blue Monk
Posted on Saturday May 10, 2025DJ Hairy Larry Presents luvtrst. Playing Straight No Chaser-Bb Blues-Blue Monk From The Archives Of Something Blue 2025-05-11 Cody Ballard Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear the Bb Blues with heads from two jazz standards recorded live at Stage … Continue reading
Draggin
Posted on Friday May 09, 2025Something Blue – Draggin – May 10, 2025 This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Animal Liberation Orchestra and Daniel Donato. For more about the show visit the … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents Sky City Playing Rain Song
Posted on Sunday May 04, 2025DJ Hairy Larry Presents Sky City Playing Rain Song From The Archives of Something Blue May 4, 2024 Sky City Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear an original song recorded at the Arkansas Roots Festival. I first met Sky … Continue reading
Size
Posted on Friday May 02, 2025Something Blue – Size – May 3, 2025 Jeff Beck – Wired This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Jay Shepherd, Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny, and Billy Cobham. … Continue reading
DJ Hairy Larry Presents Jay Shepherd Playing Maiden Voyage
Posted on Sunday April 27, 2025DJ Hairy Larry Presents Jay Shepherd Playing Maiden Voyage From The Archives Of Something Blue – 2025-04-27 Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a Herbie Hancock song played at the Delta Jazz Workshop. Jay Shepherd On July 12, 2016, … Continue reading