So there it began. The early stages of songwriting.
I went home later that night, and started to fiddle around on my Yamaha EX5 Keyboard, which I still use to this day. This was my first taste in composing. As I was messing around on my keyboard, there was a big question I asked myself. "HOW DO I RECORD MY IDEAS?"
I took out the instruction book for my Keyboard and didn't understand a lot of the terms. I was desperate at that moment to record, but I calmed myself down and I quit for the night. It was too late and I was tired.
Fast forward to August of 2002. By this time, I figured out how to record on my keyboard and learned what "tracks" were. I created a remix of an old korean traditional folk song called "Arirang" using piano, strings, drums, and bass - sounds that were all built into the keyboard. It definitely had jazzy elements to it. As stated in my previous blog, Jazz had a big influenced on me and it showed in this remix.
Few days pass....
I actually remember sitting down, and being serious about finishing a full instrumental piece. By this time, I already learned how to record into my keyboard by reading the instruction book. I started with a piano sound, and started composing. I took my score-pad out, and started notating each note of the melody and chords up above the melody. This way, I could remember it and see it. Thanks to my classical training, I knew how to do this. I remember the song took me three days to complete. I named my very first instrumental piece "Lost Memory". Corny title, but it did suit the feel of the song. After it was composed, I played it for my dad, and I think I remember he liked it. Didn't seem like he was blown away or anything. Honestly, I didn't expect much of a reaction.
Over the course of a couple weeks as school started, I immediately started on my next song "Good Day", and then "Beautiful Butterfly". Once again, both corny, but worked well. They were also notated on a score-pad. Next after that was "Rose Petaled Heart" [As I'm writing these titles, I am disgusted], and then some other unnamed song I didn't complete.
After the pieces were composed, they were all stored in my keyboard. I couldn't share them with people or get critiques without having them stand next to my keyboard so I could playback what I recorded. So what did I do? Recorded them to cassette tape using a cheap tape player and a cheap radioshack microphone.
Later, in the middle of the school year (I was in 10th grade, or 16 years old), the school district held a "Reflections Contest". I don't remember the theme, but it was something I was interested in. I wanted to see if I was good enough to keep pursuing this music thing. So I entered my song "Lost Memory", and to make a long story short, I won for my school division (I think 2 people entered), and I think I placed 3rd in the next division (I think there were 10 contestants [pulling the # out of my butthole]). I lost to someone who scored a piece for a string quartet [score notated music]]. I have to admit it did make me a little angry/competitive because it was something I knew I could have done (extra work and takes more time), but I thought an instrumental song would sound "cooler", so I went with that. I did get a certificate and some medals.
My first award for music!!
I honestly did not bask in the measly amount of glory that came with the win. There was no time for that!!! But it was just enough to drive me to pursue music even harder than before.
Out of 10th grade.....
PS. Try typing "Lost Memory" and "David Choi" on google or yahoo and you can find it on the internet :)