From a wonderful forest to an irritable swarm of bees. Composing new pedagogical music containing contemporary playing techniques

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to consider how, by using contemporary techniques and their notation, a composer can better communicate with beginning students, who usually have no experience with contemporary music. My goal in the project was to increase the composer´s understanding of composing pedagogical music, and to make contemporary music more approachable by giving it an active role in early instrument studies.

In order to better understand and communicate how my notation communicates with musicians on different playing levels, I composed three versions of the work Piilo, commissioned by the saxophonist and instrument teacher Kalle Oittinen: for the beginning, the advanced, and the professional student. In the article, I reflect on the composition process, playing techniques, and use of notation in the Piilo project, and on the interactive Piilo cards which I developed to help the players familiarize themselves with the techniques I used in Piilo and, more broadly, the expression of contemporary music.

The article is situated within the framework of artistic action research. The research data included diary entries, emails, and discussions with Oittinen, as well as videos from four Piilo workshops for students and teachers.