Dominic DiGesu 

4/29/20

Critical Reflection #3: Now that you’re three weeks (half way) into your senior project experience, are you answering your essential question? 

 

My senior project is about making music. My essential question is how can I tell a compelling narrative/tell a story through music in a time of quarantine. Gus and I are answering our essential question by making music happen. We are creating music, a lot of music. Some of it we use, some of it we don’t or we file away for later. We talk daily about what we are doing. 

 

The biggest challenge is sometimes just sitting down to get work done. During the time of quarantine, each day blends into the next and I think I have a lot of time so I can work on my project later. If I didn’t have Gus as a partner, I don’t think I would get as much done. Gus creates accountability for me, which I need. I get real time feedback from him, I trust him and know he gives me honest and constructive feedback. It is a true collaboration with the goal of creating great music. Gus and I electronically exchange the music we are creating. Sometimes I change my original composition so it fits better with what Gus has created. Other times, I am inspired by Gus and I change my original work, hopefully improving it. Another challenge is when I can play. We live in an apartment. My mom works from home. We have neighbors. The time period I can play how I want to play without headsets is between 7 pm and 10 pm. This is making the process a bit frustrating. Now I understand the value and luxury of a home studio or soundproof room with good acoustics.

 

As we have gotten into the project, there is an unspoken addition to the question which is about our eventual audience and listeners. We know we can make music and are answering our essential question because we are doing it. Gus and I have similar tastes and styles. We like what we are creating and we think it is good. What we don’t know is whether other people will like it? What is compelling to me, may not evoke the same response in others. Anything created, presented, or put out to the public will draw a range of responses both positive and negative. I haven’t given a lot of thought to whether or how much I care about what other people think.