MITCHELL

My first attempts at composition came through changing other people's pieces as I played them. As a young guitarist I would play solos in local concerts, and on occasion, would be unsatisfied by what I was playing, so I would adapt the music to what I felt was more interesting... Throughout my career as a military musician, I've grasped every opportunity to write, and generally, my bosses have made sure that my music was played; sometimes only in the practice room, but when it was successful, in public too, often in very high profile situations... Many musicians who write, do not get the chance to hear their music. A writer learns so much from hearing the first playing (as sight reading). Sometimes a piece works straight away: your instincts were good, the piece is right. Sometimes you need comments from the players about how to make the part-writing more effective, more successful, and sometimes the players need your own explanation or direction.