Derek Jacoby

For a composer, the creative process can often be something of mystery, a particular combination of inspiration, hard work, gut feelings, and experience. Having to articulate and defend aesthetic principles is not easy in an abstract language such as music.

I have found that the act of teaching itself has served as a great inspiration for my compositional work, in the sense that it has most effectively made me better at my craft. Working with such bright students has compelled me to distill and organize my own thoughts on an abstract and subjective topic to a much greater extent. This necessary clarity, developed originally for the student, is invaluable when I apply it to my own music. Over time, it has given me a better understanding of music composition and of the application of creativity, which has allowed me to see my own compositional work in a clearer light.

Reprinted from Andover magazine.