List of Movements:

Blue Beavers
Stroke of Green
That Smirk
A Real Stinger
Minuet Antique
Evening Attire

In the Fall of 2024, I found myself writing in a manner that was frustratingly slow and deliberate. Determined to break this lethargic pattern, I embarked on a creative experiment aimed at fostering more fluid and natural output. I approached this challenge in two ways: first, by immersing myself in the study of music from a variety of sources and styles; and second, by attempting to compose at lightning speed, with minimal reflection or second-guessing. The result of this experiment is Day Jobs, a set of six short compositions for solo piano.

The title Day Jobs carries multiple meanings. It reflects the speed of composition—each piece was written in a few hours, a single day, or at most two days. It also nods to a question that many creative artists hear all too often: “What’s your day job?” For many artists, this question can be a source of pain, as it implies that their creative work alone is not enough to sustain them. My heart goes out to those dedicated individuals who pour their passion into their art while juggling other work to finance their creative endeavours.

Several of the pieces in Day Jobs draw direct inspiration from the works of other composers, borrowing and adapting distinctive characteristics or elements. In some cases, these relationships are subtle, while in others they are more pronounced. For some, I’ve chosen to reveal the sources of inspiration in the score itself, laying my cards on the table for listeners and performers alike.

— K.B.