Now that Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory students have finished taking their advanced placement exam, they have yet another role to fill, that of composers.

Twenty-six students will present their original compositions at the annual free concert, held this year on Thursday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the newly renovated band room.

Thursday’s program will include a composition by Strauss – Martin Strauss, that is, a Paly senior and AP Music Theory student.

This concert has had a long history at Paly, with music scores dating back to the 1960s, according to AP Music Theory instructor, Michael Najar. One of the rules of the assignment is that students may not perform their own three-minute composition. However, with a breadth of musical talent present at Paly, potential performers abound.

"I like how you’re forced to do it," Strauss said. Strauss is a Certificate of Merit – Level 10 piano player with 13 years experience who composed a Spanish dance called a bolero. "It’s actually really fun. It gives you a push to start."

Senior AP Music Theory student and flautist Ben Beitler said, "When it comes to compositions, everyone has their own set of skills they can incorporate into their piece. People’s talents and musical interests are incorporated, as well as their personalities. Just looking at the titles ["Hebrew School"; "Walking the Dog"] tells you a lot about a person. I think my piece reflects that."

Describing his piece, Beitler said, "It’s very melody-based. That’s very much the musician I am."

The most difficult aspect of creating an original composition, according to Beitler, is creating the beginning and end.

"Where do you start? Some start with a rhythm, a chord, or a melody," he said.

Junior percussionist Patrick O’Konski said, "I had a lot of ideas, but trouble stringing them together."

"Mr. Najar told us to think of something that inspires us," Beitler said. "He gave us examples, such as a leaf falling on the ground, a car passing by, or the moment right before it rains. You try to imitate that feeling."

O’Konski said, "It’s really individual, and you can do what you want to do, but Mr. Najar makes suggestions."

For some, the project is time-intensive. The piece is the culmination of a yearlong course of study. Students are encouraged to incorporate such lessons as chord progressions and scales.

"It takes a really long time," O’Konski, who is considering music as a possible career, said.

O’Konski’s composition, a march titled "Here Comes the President," includes parts for each section of a marching band.

"The more parts you add, the longer it takes," he said.

Beitler said his "simple" piece took around 10 hours to compose, which does not include time spent brainstorming ideas.

During the composing process, students used technology to display sheet music on a screen while hearing a digital version of their composition.

"I’m looking forward to seeing how people’s pieces turn out with instrumentalists, because up until now, we’ve only been hearing them in MIDI [Musical Instrument Digital Interface] files," Beitler said.

Thursday’s concert will showcase Paly’s breadth of musical talent and allow students and the community to hear compositions live, many for the first time.

Describing his composition, Beitler, who chose junior flautist Adrian Sanborn to perform his piece, said "I just wanted to give him something to show off on."