Usagi's Music Academy

[Usagi]

Hello, I'm posting here to offer my services as a game composer. I need to practice my composition, arrangement, and production so I figured a good way to do that would be to take requests for games. I can compose in several different styles. I've done ambient, orchestral, electronic and 8bit video game pieces previously in the past.

Because of the amount of effort and time it takes to make a song I'd like to only accept few requests at a time. I currently don't charge for my works, however I accept encouragement and constructive critism.

In order to be consistent I will only compose 4 minutes of song length. It takes anywhere from 5-10+ hours for a song, so I think that keeping the length at only three minutes is a fair deal.

I can work with you in order to get it sounding the way you want it. Don't be hesitant to point out parts you don't like. I can rework them. Now without further adieu I'd like to show some of my music so you can get a feel for my composition style.

About Myself, Musical Composition, and Notation Software

Spoiler

About MyselfI don't quite know how to explain who I am in real life. Many people (who don't know me that well) often tell me that they think I'm a well focused and talented individual. However, when they know a little more about me, they find that I'm actually the kind of person who doesn't let bad weather prevail. I love to play, laugh, have fun and do not care much about what others think about me.

Occupation

I won't go into details, though I can say I am a freelancer in the Arts area, such as graphic design, web design and composition. Currently, I am devoting my life to education as I am finishing my final studies. As for the virtual world, I love watching anime as well as creating and playing RPG games.

1. How do you make these?

Anyone can compose music, whether you're a total beginner or a skilled musician. Through education, I studied Music Theory, Composition and Practical. Therefore, I was enrolled in a class where we were given lessons on our specific instruments as well as a broad range. My instruments are Bass Guitar, the Drumkit and Piano.



Tip:

Please do not assume piano is the only way to go. Yes it is conventional, but many composers have begun their compositional careers on instruments such as the guitar, oboe and clarinet.

Within this, I learned the musical scales. The most powerful scale tool musicians have is the diatonic modes, which are just scales, starting on different root notes.

Next, I spent all my free time actually listening to musical devices and their sounds. In which, for this step you will require knowledge in Music Theory. After listening to other composers' music to learn techniques through instrument combination or rhythms that get the most out of each emotion, you can sit at the piano or pick up a guitar and have fun. Personally, I use a MIDI keyboard that hooks up to my computer which prints the notes onto sheet music. However, before you print down those notes, make a melody in your head, then hum it, then play it on the guitar or piano.

What if I don't own a MIDI keyboard?

Write the note combinations that sound good to your ear in a notebook with a pencil. With guitar, write down the chords and guitar lines you play.

2. What software do you use?

Sibelius 7, which currently is priced at $599.95.

Before requesting, there are a few rules to follow:

• You must have 10+ posts before requesting.
  
• You can only request once per week.
  
• You must provide details if you're gonna submit a request.
  
• The thread starter has the right to deny a certain request.
  
• The maximum duration of all requests must not exceed over four minutes.
  

As for the format of the request, I would appreciate it, if you would post as follows.

Name of Location/Track: This one is easy, what is the name of the place/person that I am writing for.

What Are The Emotions: Do you want the song to convey certain emotions. This one is important be specific.

Info about the song: Is there any lore, and history behind the location/person the song is for. This is great for establishing atmosphere and helps me immensely when writing.

Examples:

More Examples can be found throughout the topic. Cheers!

8-bit

Dungeon Groove

Themes

Village Theme

Jingle Theme

Battle Theme

Villian Theme

 

[Julien Brightside]

Ooh, I liked the song of that Dungeon Groove.

If I had to guess, I`d think that would fit in some sort of techno/future/science-related dungeon.

Perhaps a science facility where you have to rescue someone. (Or infiltrate or something.)

I`d love to request something from you, but at the moment I am drawing a blank.

 

[Usagi]

Thanks! I always appreciate feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed my composition. I have uploaded more of my works. ^_^

 

[Julien Brightside]

I liked that Jingle theme. I get the mental image of a village in the snow.

The battle theme. For some reason, i think it would be really good as a overworld theme. You know, when the protagonists walk around on the big map.

Just gonna throw an idea out here that can be discussed. I am making a game where the main protagonist is pretty much what would be considered the bad guy in other games. I am kinda thinking he`d have a more darker, rock tune to him.

Or how would you proceed to make music about a bad guy?

 

[Usagi]

Think of Megamind. He is considered a villian however it is through seeing and understanding his emotions and story that we feel sympathy for him as a character. Composing for your character will be just like composing for Megamind, except the only difference will be we don't have visual to back up our music. In order to accomplish the goal, music theory and composition is introduced. It would all include tones, modes, melodies, dynamics, etc. in order to accomplish the theme for the character.

I will shortly upload a villian piece for you. ^_^

 

[Usagi]

Update: Villian Theme uploaded on 14th July, 2012.

The duration of music requests have increased by a minute.

 

[TMS]

I like the villain theme. Also, though I probably wouldn't use the battle theme in my own game (sounds a little too old-fashioned; I think it would be out of place), I really love that tune. If I ever did a retro-style game, I would absolutely have to include it in there. I'll remember this topic when it comes time for me to make a game of my own.

 

[Usagi]

Thank you for the feedback! ^_^

 

[Julien Brightside]

I really like the sound of that villain theme.

 

[Usagi]

Ah, Julien! I thought you had left. Thank you very much! Please somebody, make a request! ^_^

 

[Julien Brightside]

Well, I can come up with a suggestion at least.

The main character of my game has to kill his own pet monster as it is blinded and going on a rampage. Got any idea on how to portray that?

 

[Usagi]

Hahaha, I have a few ideas! :lol: I'll get started.

 

[Luminous Warrior]

You're pretty good. I liked the battle theme, but I'm not sure how it's a "battle" theme. I also have a request. I need some background music for an area. Two songs to be exact. They both need to be fairly mysterious, but one needs to be creepy and invoke a slight feeling of fear, while the other needs to be eerie and mysterious, but also kind and slightly happy. It's for an old mansion that is haunted by the ghost of it's original owner and his staff, but it's also become infested with evil ghosts. The first one is for when you first get to the mansion, and you're trying to help the good ghosts get rid of the bad ghosts, and the second one is for when you go back to the mansion after the bad ghosts are gone. Thank you in advance.

 

[Usagi]

I'll get started. ^_^

 

[Usagi]

Here you are, Luminous Warrior! Your request, Haunted Mansion and Untroubled Mansion, is complete. I hope you enjoy your completed request. ^_^

The main character of my game has to kill his own pet monster as it is blinded and going on a rampage. Got any idea on how to portray that?

Would you still like this request, Julien? Considering I got my first client. ^_^ If so, could you explain more? Is it suppose to be comedic or sad? It is a pet 'monster'? I don't understand the context actually to get started... :huh:

 

[Julien Brightside]

Well, it would be more of a sad battle tune I imagine, considering that he has to put it down and that he has had it for a while. Not sure how to describe it otherwise.

Also, I like the tune of the Haunted and Untroubled Mansion.

 

[Kaiser]

The Battle theme... I like it alot, maybe because I'm such a sucker for a guitar being in a song.

 

[Luminous Warrior]

These were exactly what I needed. Thanks.

 

[Usagi]

You're welcome! Thank you for the replies everyone. ^_^ Your request will be finished shortly, Julien.

 

[Usagi]

Here you are, Julien Brightside! Your request is complete. I hope it was what you were after. ^_^

I'm always open for requests.