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Interview with Ken
Elkinson
by
Edward Weiss
Ken Elkinson saw his musical dreams
come to fruition when he released his debut CD of original piano
solos in March, 1997. Entitled Midnight Conversation, Ken’s
CD finds its roots in Pennsylvania at Muhlenberg College. It was at
Muhlenberg that he found many comforts and sources of inspiration;
its artistically-minded, close knit community and close proximity to
New York City helped shape Ken’s outlook and composition. More info
below.
Edward: How Did
You Get Started Playing New Age Piano?
Ken: I started piano
lessons when I was 5 studying classical. I
ended up competing on the junior classical circuit - but grew tired
of it. I then switched to jazz and pop study in
high school. In college I took some classes
in composition and improvisation, and I guess that is when you could
say I started playing New Age piano. I feel
the music contained on all four of my CD releases is a combination
of all my different backgrounds - but it does tend to get classified
as New Age.
Edward: What Inspires and
Informs Your Music?
Ken: I know that people
won't believe this - but I am not really inspired by anything
specific when I write my music. My writing tends
to be across the board, from very upbeat stuff to very
melancholy. I do hear a lot of other artists say
that when they are sad, they write better
stuff. But for me, mood does not really come into
play. I don't see a beautiful sunset and then write
something happy about
that.
Conversely, if I am sad over losing a good
friend - I don't write something downbeat. I
generally take ideas - sometimes I hear melodies in my head, and
then sit down and work them into songs. I also
listen to a ton of music, from bluegrass to rap to pop to
gospel. I draw from artists I like, but am always
very careful to make sure I am never ripping anyone
off.
Edward: What Is
Your Method for Composing a Piano Piece?
Ken: As I said, I
sometimes have ideas or thoughts in my head, and then sit at the
piano. The large majority of the time, I record
everything I play using a Mini Disc player. That
way, if I come up with something I like, I can go back and review
it. Unfortunately, there are probably a lot
of workable ideas that I have not had the time to further
pursue. Once I come up with a line or theme, I
expand it. Some of my songs are very structured, and some
others are more free
form.
Most songs come
very quickly, or I agonize over them for
months. There does not seem to be very much middle
ground in terms of time it takes me to
compose. However, I generally know once I have
"hit it" and am comfortable with what I
write. There is always that unknown of whether an
ending could have been different - but I generally do not go back
over and over and change things. I am off to the
next project.
Sometimes I listen
to something I have written in amazement that I came up with what I
did, sometimes I am appalled at the trite nature of what I have
composed. In general, I try to make my stuff as
unpredictable as possible, but still melodic. It is
hard to explain in words - but take this
example. When you hear a chord, your brain goes to
what the next chord you would expect. When I
write, I try to make it a different chord, not the one you expect,
but something that surprises the listener so they will say, "I did
not expect that, but it sounds great." It probably does
not always work out that
way.
Edward: Do You
Get Blocked Creatively, and If So, How Do You Get Past
It?
Ken: Absolutely. Sometimes I hear the next
chord of a composition, and I just can't place it.
I go over it dozens of times trying different chords, and it
drives me crazy. I usually don't abandon stuff -
as I don't like to leave unfinished business. To
get past it, I usually put it aside and work on other
things. Then, I will go back to it with a fresh
mind, and I often find it
works.
Edward: What
Advice Would You Give To Aspiring New Age
Pianists?
Ken:
The advice I would
give is that make sure you are playing for yourself, and not because
someone is forcing you. My parents never made me
practice, they used almost a reverse psychology on
me. It gave me the attitude, "I will show
them." Make sure you find a teacher that will let
you play what you want, not what they want. Also,
don't get caught up with the fact that there are a lot of people
playing and composing in the New Age style. Come
up with your unique take, and draw inspiration from wherever you
feel comfortable. If you are not
enjoying it, then move on to something else!
Ken Elkinson saw
his musical dreams come to fruition when he released his debut CD of
original piano solos in March, 1997. Entitled Midnight
Conversation, Ken’s CD finds its roots in Pennsylvania at
Muhlenberg College. It was at Muhlenberg that he found many comforts
and sources of inspiration; its artistically-minded, close knit
community and close proximity to New York City helped shape Ken’s
outlook and composition. Learn more about Ken at http://www.kenelkinson.com
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