|
Interview
with Catherine Duc
by Edward
Weiss
Catherine Duc is a composer of Ambient
music with Celtic, World and Electronica influences. More info
below.
Edward: How Did
You Get Started Playing New Age Piano?
Catherine: I started learning
classical piano in school, but only started to become interested in
New Age music when I took computer music classes in my senior year
at school. I was very fascinated with all the atmospheric
sounds that could be produced by the music school's
synthesizer.
Edward: What Inspires and
Informs Your Music?
Catherine: My inspiration
comes from beautiful sceneries - this can be from nature, photos,
paintings or movies. Also listening to a wide variety of music
from New Age to World to Classical gives me ideas. For information,
I've taken formal music classes from piano to recording to composing
for media. I also do self study on orchestration and production
and read performance/motivational books such as 'The Mastery of
Music' by Barry
Green.
Edward: What Is
Your Method for Composing a Piano Piece?
Catherine: The first idea
usually comes from a chord progression or a melody that I hear in my
head as I'm going about day to day activities. I then develop
the piece with counter melodies, accompaniment, percussion and
effects.
Edward: Do You
Get Blocked Creatively, and If So, How Do You Get Past
It?
Catherine: I rarely find myself in
this position because I only compose when I'm inspired. I
usually don't have any external pressure to produce
compositions. However, if a melody or accompaniment is not
falling into place easily, I stop composing and do something else
like listen
to music, watch a movie or go for a walk. I
like to compose in my mind and try out different combinations to see
which one would work
best.
Edward: What
Advice Would You Give To Aspiring New Age
Pianists?
Catherine:
Firstly, have fun and don't force or rush
yourself to learn. When you have fun in playing and composing
music, you'll learn easily. If you can find a music artist
whose talent you admire, this is a great motivation. Try to go
and see live New Age musicians or watch a DVD of
their
concerts. Some recommendations: Vangelis and Secret
Garden.
Catherine Duc is a composer
of Ambient music with Celtic, World and Electronica influences.
Learn more about Catherine and her music at http://www.catherineduc.com | 
