Composing for Piano like Joe Hisaishi

[@lukasgraesslin]

That theme is beautiful, really excited to hear it fully orchestrated.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thank you!

[@rikitiki864]

You recreated so well the style of Hisaishi I really had goosebumps same as with his compositions. I can't thank you enough for your work!

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thank you so much!

[@aidanchalnick]

This video needs more attention this inspired the shit outta me

[@xavierignatiuscordeiro8336]

I love that first theme particularly! And your analysis was especially useful, as I just so happen to be learning both those pieces! Great video!

[@Markrspooner]

Fantastic Alex, you really captured the essence of Joe Hisaishi's sound whilst still being original.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thank you!!

[@rubenmolino1480]

reminds me of toru takemitsu... with a very symbolic and or mystical art!

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Takemitsu is one of my favorite composers!

[@TiffanyNg100]

This is beautiful. My dumb ass was searching for the original song thinking there is a song like this. Not knowing it’s a “theme” inspired! You fooled me! :)

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@elektronlp6315]

Yeah tbh every simelar Video to this NEVER makes the Sound be original but just a copy of hisaishis work 😮‍💨 but yours really had a certain distance to his existing works with still being able to capture the essence of his style 👍 very well done And thank you so much ❤ i learned a lot from this 😊 also love your orchestrated Version in the other Video

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Appreciate that, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mpeacockmusic]

Such an amazing piece you've written!! So excited to see you orchestrate it

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks so much!

[@martialpanyvino]

I love your second theme so much ! Thanks for all these incredible videos you've been posting on your channel :)

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks so much!

[@maleake56]

I've been super busy in recent weeks and am late to the party on this one, but wow! Great job. These really do capture that Hisaishi sort of style. That first theme is especially impressive. I really love the tender B part, and the piano arrangement as it gets bigger and more expansive to close the piece is really well done. Bravo! I'm looking forward to viewing the orchestration video.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thank you so much, Michael!

[@aniketpatil2143]

CAN YOU MAKE FULL COURSE ON COMPOSITION. ( LIKE FUNDAMENTALS OF ORCHESTRATION). WE WOULD LOVE SOMETHING FUNDAMENTAL OF COMPOSITION.!

[@LukaGroulx]

This series is great!! Another composer I’d love to hear you talk about is John Powell! 🤩

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind!

[@WaltMusekamp]

Thanks again! It's very helpful watching you grow these pieces.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

You're very welcome!

[@DygresywnyWilk]

Probably one of if not the best analysis on music of Joe Hisaishi I've ever seen. You mentioned you are planning to also write a theme in 3/4 meter. Could you do show us this process in real time and how you approach it? I know there isn't a lot to say about writing motives, but maybe just what we should look out for when creating our own piece? Many thanks

[@AlexHeppelmann]

I'll definitely look at 3/4 meter when I talk about the How's Moving Castle music in a week or two. Stay tuned!!

[@aspaire9920]

Wow these themes are amazing... Well done alex! Quick question since these pieces are hard to play do you play the piano professionally or do you play bit by bit while composing or do even write them in midi(highly unlikely xd)?

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thank you! These were actually MIDI performances in the video. I play piano, but not well enough to play these pieces without many hours of practice. I play bit by bit while composing, but you definitely don't need to know how to play piano to be able to write for it!

[@mitsuki1388]

Really amazing, I noticed with it that I almost never use those middle parts in piano writing like you did, do you have any tips on how to think about them idiomatically?

[@AlexHeppelmann]

I'm thinking about making a piano writing series and/or course at some point!