Too many projects, too much time to do them...

Currently, I am working on about seven composition or arranging projects. This is not a point of pride, but a point of panic. Part of me knows that this will keep me busy for a time, but another part of me knows that I may never finish some of them. It seems that if I don't have a deadline to keep me motivated, I begin to languish over every small detail. There are a few projects that if I finish them I may make some money, so that is a good motivator, but the others are for my eventual application to a PhD program [yawn]. I have read books dealing with routines of other composers (Beethoven and the Creative Process, Aaron Copland: 1900 Through 1942, and others). This doesn't seem to help, as I cannot seem to stick to a regular schedule.

After a while I begin to doubt my prospects as a composer, but quickly remind myself to keep on plugging. It doesn't matter if you compose ten hours a day (although that would help), or if you write ten pages of orchestration a day (Phillip Glass). It matters that you love what you do, when you do it. I am luck in the fact that when I do have a deadline, I tend to really enjoy composition.

For those that care, I am working on the following projects:
1. Solo flute piece (untitled)
2. A piece for solo clarinet and piano (In The Village)
3. A piece for full orchestra (Untitled)
4. Reharmonizing three pieces for Sound Music Publications (vocal jazz)
5. A piece for full chorus and mixed ensemble (Untitled)
6. A series of snare drum and timpani etudes and solos (All Unititled)
7. A collaboration with my friend Josh (all songs unititled)

There you have it. It would be niceto knock a few off of tis list, although I know other composers that have a much fuller (is that eeven a word?) plate that I. Kudos to them...