more quality time discussion

I think it really is important to discuss when people find time to
compose. This is an important topic, and I would say that there are
fewer people who have unlimited amounts of time to do this than one
might suspect. I think there are *very* few people like that. Most
people have to balance composing in with other jobs... day jobs,
teaching, whatever. There really is only a limited time for it.

Even when I was in grad school, most of my "day" hours were spent
studying for exams and so forth, so I have to say that almost all my
composing for the last 30 years has been in the evenings.

Usually I spend a couple of hours each evening on it. When working
on larger projects, I must admit that I get a little "obsessive" and
I have been known to do this two to three hour stint *every* evening
of the week...

But then, I take breaks, too... there are concerts I have to attend,
etc...

I watch *no* television. I probably haven't turned one on for a
year.... However, I *do* read the New York Times regularly... but I
do that during lunch on my *day* job...

And... the Tunings Lists... Well, I'm like Kraig in that. I do
those, generally as little "breaks" from composing, etc.

Actually, I frankly don't believe it is too productive to compose
more than two or three hours a day on the same piece. One needs a
bit of PERSPECTIVE. I know for myself, when I come back to a piece
on a second evening, it sounds sometimes ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY than it
did the night before!

Things have to *sit* for a while before one really knows what's
happening with them. Some composing nights are better than others.
Sometimes I have *tremendous* nights, sometimes just average, and,
fortunately, only a few real "losers."

Those evenings I spend *lots* of time on the Tuning Lists... :) :)

__________ _________ _______
Joseph Pehrson