Meet Marina Zhuravleva, a composer based in Russian Federation and a member of the StudentFilmmakers Filmmakers Network. See Marina’s Network profile to connect.
What instruments and tools do you use to compose and edit your music?
Marina Zhuravleva: PC, Realtek Audio AC’97, no mixers/studio tools. Yet. Yamaha PSR-E313 together with USB-MIDI interface from M-audio. As a multi-track recording software I use Mixcraft 5. Sound Forge is good for editing voice or single instrument. I also use an ordinary sheet of paper and a pen in moments when digital resources are not available.
When you’re composing music, what kinds of things do you use for inspiration? What inspires you?
Marina Zhuravleva: It is usually some kind of spark in my mind, which gives a flow of inspiration. This spark can be a result of any emotional shake – love, happiness, sadness, surprise, deep understanding of some fact. Music, especially classical music can bring emotions to a new level. Often inspiration comes with dynamic changes in life or anticipation of an important event. In the list of inspiring things there are: Sea, Night, Rain, Blizzard, Grey Autumn Day, Blue Spring Day, View from the Top of the Mountains, Loneliness, The Road Itself, Busy City, Wild Nature, etc.
Could you share with us a little bit about how you create music, and what your process for composing music is like?
Marina Zhuravleva: The process of composing can start differently. Sometimes, unwillingly, I clearly hear the main theme or just some notes, with words or without, and need to write it quickly not to forget it, as it disappears as suddenly as appears. It does not happen very often. The other way to start is composing on purpose, because of inspiration or just a wish. I simply invent melody and work on its development experiencing with harmony lines, rhythms; if I use PC, trying new instruments works very good as well. Important: Tea or coffee with chocolate is a must in this process. Could you share with us one or more composing tips or techniques?
Marina Zhuravleva: (1.) Listen to the feeling you would like to express.
(2.) Depend on that, choose a general mode for composition – major or minor. Or, perhaps, there should be both?
(3.) Imagine your composition as a story. How it starts? Where will be the climax, how it will end? (4.) Find the temp, try different rhythm-styles.
(5.) If you work with a keyboard, listen to different instruments. Sometimes, the only sound of an instrument might bring you an idea for melody. Keys that go up the scale will give more positive, cheerful, hopeful feelings, than the ones which go down.
(6.) Harmony is a way, melody – a path. When you have a melody, try different harmonies to find the most logical, beautiful one which will light the melody up.
What is your favorite tool for composing?
Marina Zhuravleva: Difficult to decide whether it is intuition or imagination.
If you could share one piece of advice for new and aspiring composers around the world, what would it be?
Marina Zhuravleva: Genial things are simple. Explore, experience with enthusiasm. Knowing possible variants it is easy to pick up a suitable one. Knowing nothing it is possible to create something new. Dare! I would like to wish everyone to be honest in their creativity, not trying to copy styles of other talents. There is a unique way to open one’s personality.
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