New Composer Looking For Insight and Advice

Hi everyone!

I'm a 28 year old who just started learning how to play piano in January. I'm self taught and have my inspiration from composers/songwriters such as Billy Joel (my favorite), Elton John, Bruce Hornsby, etc.

I also started writing songs and I actually tried composing music to one of them recently. I know I just started and I'm a beginner, but I wanted to try my hand at it. Besides, I have to start somewhere, right?

I have no formal training at all, although I have played my song for a couple of people on a music note editor, non-related people LOL, and they were surprised at how "good" it sounded for someone who has no training. I put the word good in quotations because I am hard on myself.

I know I'm just a beginner, but it gets frustrating at times. I have been working on the song for about a week now and I have composed music to 2 verses (which repeat) and a chorus. I composed an intro as well, but I think I want to change it. Next I need to compose a bridge.

I have trouble with structure though. I look at other artists works and sheet music and I see they hardly ever cross over into other measures with tied notes unless it's planned that way. I even found myself compromising the melody just to try to fit notes in. This is one problem I have. Another problem I have is with filler. It just doesn't come to me that easy. I also need to learn how to work other instruments into the pieces.

I know I can't become an expert in such a short time, especially self taught, but I would appreciate any advice or insight.

Hi Pip,

I think you should just keep doing what you're doing. And don't have any shame at being self-taught. Nobody can teach you how to compose, after all. Someone can teach you chords and technique, but nobody can teach you how to write a good melody. You just have to do it a lot. My advice is to compose as often as possible, without a care in the world for how "good" it sounds right off the bat. It might be frustrating early on, but try to just enjoy the act of creating your own sounds. Piano improvisation is a great aid to this end, partially because a piano sounds so much better than MIDI (unless you have a really amazing sound card/sound fonts). And try never to get bogged down with rules. too many improvisers and composers get in a quagmire of symbols, theory, and neurosis.

*addition* a sense for form and structure will come with time. I think that is when one starts to gain real depth in their musical output. I don't mean mastery of "sonata form" or "song form" necessarily, but just the ability to use previous ideas in your music in a new way later in a piece or improvisation and make it sound different or climactic or what have you.

HI!,

im 14, and i got into "music" in the 6th grade and my primaraly percussion.
i composed a small, "amature" marimba solo, and a snare duet. i really want
to compose for concert band. but i really have no idea how to start one.
i have quite a good understanding on rythms and notes, i have put little "melodys" together (i basically pick and notes and rythms that sound cool.) i am willing to learn!!! im deffanitly a begginer when it comes to composing.

[[[[[[: anything helps
i have

Originally Posted by Derek

Hi Pip,

I think you should just keep doing what you're doing. And don't have any shame at being self-taught. Nobody can teach you how to compose, after all. Someone can teach you chords and technique, but nobody can teach you how to write a good melody. You just have to do it a lot. My advice is to compose as often as possible, without a care in the world for how "good" it sounds right off the bat. It might be frustrating early on, but try to just enjoy the act of creating your own sounds. Piano improvisation is a great aid to this end, partially because a piano sounds so much better than MIDI (unless you have a really amazing sound card/sound fonts). And try never to get bogged down with rules. too many improvisers and composers get in a quagmire of symbols, theory, and neurosis.

*addition* a sense for form and structure will come with time. I think that is when one starts to gain real depth in their musical output. I don't mean mastery of "sonata form" or "song form" necessarily, but just the ability to use previous ideas in your music in a new way later in a piece or improvisation and make it sound different or climactic or what have you.

Hey Derek,

Thanks for replying! I appreciate it!

I have actually composed about 12 intros and one full song so far. I have been self teaching myself piano since January, but just started composing about a month ago.

I really do want to make it a lifetime passion. I guess I can't really "make it" a passion because it really just "is" a passion.

Thanks again for the reply!