A case for sketching large-scale works …

In the past, I only partially sketched my large-scale compositions. However, as I write my first grade 4 band piece, I  have decided to experiment by  sketching the entire piece using a piano grand staff, vibraphone, marimba, and bass drum. My rationale is that this smaller format allows for easier corrections of elements like harmony, form, and pacing, compared to working directly with a full score.

I want to emphasize that this approach is personal, and I respect the diverse methods composers use—whether they sketch extensively or write directly into a full score. Each composer's process is unique.

Part of what lead to me experimenting with this is that I have noticed a difference in the quality of my small-scale works compared to my large-scale works. The exception has been my choral work, which I wrote almost completely by hand before engraving it). Logically, there shouldn't be a significant quality difference between writing for a small ensemble versus a large one, so I decided to refine my process.

I have noticed a huge difference in writing for this piece compared to my last large ensemble piece. In writing this piece, I feel more connected to my inner artist, similar to when I compose for chamber ensembles. I've realized how the timbral complexity of a full ensemble's playback can distract from fundamental compositional elements. After all, a harmonic issue will persist whether it's orchestrated for 22 parts or condensed into a piano line.

As someone with severe ADHD, I can be impatient and stubborn, but watching Leonard Bernstein demonstrate sketches of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 was a wake-up call. If Beethoven or Stravinsky weren't above sketching, why should I be?

Moving forward, I plan to sketch my large-scale works in their entirety. For small-scale compositions, I typically sketch by hand to resolve problems and make global decisions, like form. While I might adjust this process, I find there's less need to sketch extensively for pieces scored for three instruments versus thirty.