Writing what's in your head

A lot of sketching!

It helps get your head on paper to start. And then you don't have to transfer directly from brain to score - you can run it through the paper.

How do you do your sketching, Christopher?

Also realize that what you think is fully orchestrated or finished piece really isn't (I'm assuming, of course, but I think I'm right). It's one thing to imagine a piece, and imagine it as if we're hearing it, and another to understand the process of writing it. Listen to music and follow scores and study scores....you'll learn how certain things sound when they go from paper to real life and, with a lot of studying and work, you'll then be able to write down on paper what you want heard and know why you choose what you wrote.

Technique

Originally Posted by M_is_D

As to dictations: I'm in music classes and we do three voice dictations. I have quite the share of them

I think you're assuming I have trouble writing down melodies in my head: no, that's extremely basic. What i can't accurately reproduce is potentially complex orchestration. I hear fully orchestrated pieces in my head but cant split each line in order to know what to write for each instrument section to make it sound as it does in my head.

Oh I see. I'm so sorry to have put it that way. So dictation must be quite easy for you then. I guess it wouldn't really hurt to experiment with the orchestration using a few tools, maybe a synth or your notation software, until it matches what you hear inside. I think that what you have inside your head will then translate in some natural way whether in writing or actually handling an instrument while you compose, so with a little bit of tweaking and some effort you'll be able to translate that.

Anyway, I'd like to share with you that it's nice to know something that Brahms and Kano Jigoro had a similar philosophical approach to action. Brahms was quoted as saying that the most excellent ideas come in with the least effort. Kano Jigoro is remembered for maximum efficiency with minimal effort. I guess, in some way or another, you just let that idea flow and work around with as many sketches as possible, your main idea will just stream from your head to your music. Or you might come up with something far better than what you've imagined.

I hope that helps.

Rhythmic dictation, melodic dictation, and interval training will help a lot.

Originally Posted by M_is_D

How do you do your sketching, Christopher?

I usually start by notating some improvisation. Then I deconstruct the improvisation into themes, melodic or harmonic relationships or excerpts, and then work on expanding each little piece, before I put it all together again.

Sing! I know this sounds ridiculous, but if you're doing something that's contrapuntal or involves voice-leading, singing is by far the easiest way to realise the silent music in your head.

When I'm composing counterpoint, I first write out the part that's carrying the tune, then compose the bassline by ear; for the middle parts (which are the hardest to write), I sing along with Sibelius! This usually results in my writing a more convincing line that if I'd simply added the notes of the chord that were missing.

Originally Posted by Zetetic

Sing! I know this sounds ridiculous, but if you're doing something that's contrapuntal or involves voice-leading, singing is by far the easiest way to realise the silent music in your head.

When I'm composing counterpoint, I first write out the part that's carrying the tune, then compose the bassline by ear; for the middle parts (which are the hardest to write), I sing along with Sibelius! This usually results in my writing a more convincing line that if I'd simply added the notes of the chord that were missing.

Or you could write your music using a piano, pencil and paper

Dictation is a key factor but there is something else i feel. Remembering everything about music theory you've ever learned. A tough task I know but here is why I say that. Prime example ... in your head you come to this chord that just needs to be brutal/vicious/out of place/scaryish. Obviously the chord in your head isn't a "normal" chord. But what kind of chord are you looking for? Boom! Then it hits you (at least you hope it hits you or something jogs your memory)! You need a tritone chord!

I come across this problem from time to time and need a little something to stir my brain up and come up with some ideas i've probably forgotten about or maybe never even knew. I came up with this thread to hopefully help solve some of these problems:
Don't Forget About ...

I don't usually like posting other thread links in a reply but I think it goes so hand in hand with this thread that you should take a look at it ... hopefully if enough people reply with their opinions it could be a nice bit of information to be able to fall back to when you're in a tight spot.