“Five Stages of Grief ” aims to remind listeners that creating music art can be a healing process, that pain and loss can blossom into something prolific and beautiful. The struc- ture of these compositions uses traditional and unconven- tional techniques such as Shöenberg’s 12-tone row, altered tunings, and asymmetrical time signatures. Rhythmic and melodic figures are laced throughout each piece giving a voice to subconscious musical decisions.