About Crescendo Companion

Making music. Building things. Still learning.

Crescendo Companion is where I bring together music, software, and the things I'm figuring out along the way. Sometimes a question becomes an article. Sometimes it becomes a piece of software. Sometimes it just gives me something new to try.

Learning music alongside the rest of life

I didn't grow up in a family of musicians. Much of my learning has been self-directed. I played violin for a few years in high school and returned to it recently after a long break. I dabbled in piano, too, and want to learn more instruments?

There have been busy periods, things I've forgotten, and things I've come back to. That's part of what I want to write about: learning music as it fits into an actual life.

Guitar is my main instrument, and I've been playing on and off for more than ten years, with busy periods, long breaks, and plenty of coming back. I'm not always sure how to count those years.

Time, energy, and capacity differ for everyone. Responsibilities change, and so do our musical goals. I still want to learn more, but I want to make room for music in a way that fits my life, including the times when I step away and return.

Building what I wish I had

Tempo Kit grew from wanting to practice efficiently with the time I have. Note Pierce focuses on ear and rhythm training. Fret Craft brings together my interest in guitar and understanding the fretboard. They come from the same curiosity that drives my playing: trying something, noticing what's difficult, and looking for a useful way forward.

You don't have to be just one thing

Music wasn't my college major. I studied computer science and software engineering. There have been times when music was all I wanted to focus on. I still want to grow as a musician while making room for other parts of my life.

Building tools, playing guitar, exploring other instruments, and sharing what I learn all have a place in my life. I'm still learning as both a musician, developer, and human. Learning takes time, and I'm still figuring out what helps. Crescendo Companion is a place to share that process and make things that might help someone else along the way.

This is a bootstrapped project. I build and maintain the products, write the articles and guides, and respond to messages and feedback. If something here helps you learn, practice, or try again, I'm glad you found it. Happy practicing and best of luck with everything!