Composition Lessons/Teacher?

Is it a good idea to get a teacher for composition? I have been wondering this and just thought I'd ask here. How many of you on here have teachers and how many are totally self taught? Does anyone know how many famous composers were self taught vs. how many took lessons?

Sorry for all these questions, I'm just curious and have been thinking about the subject quite a bit lately.

I started out doing everything myself at first but a teacher is definitely practical, even if just for professional feedback or somebody to push you out of your comfort zone.

I also found that I work harder now that there is somebody checking out my work, you can't "ignore" the little issues in your music anymore, you could of course be extremely self disciplined but this is just more practical(IMO anyway).

Oh and you might actually learn a lot too!

-Bob

It is absolutely a good idea to have a teacher.

I had a teacher in college-- he exposed me to different types of ensembles, methods and anomalies--things that existed outside of my own brain. That's valuable stuff. However, I'm a self taught pianist and piano composer who finally learned to sight read on my own, but the things I learned from him are very necessary.

I'm almost 5 years out of college and finding myself wanting to go back and study with him now that I have time to completely focus on compositions.

I also can't quote any non-modern masters off the top of my head who never had instruction. Actually I can't think of any modern composers either.

Composition instruction is like counseling. They give you the framework to work out your own problems--and most people are messes because they don't do it well enough on their own.

Is it a good idea to get a teacher for composition? I have been wondering this and just thought I'd ask here. How many of you on here have teachers and how many are totally self taught? Does anyone know how many famous composers were self taught vs. how many took lessons?

Sorry for all these questions, I'm just curious and have been thinking about the subject quite a bit lately.

Chances are you aren't good enough to not have a teacher

Because other people are smarter/more educated/more experienced than you?

I mean, I'm all for solo study, but you can't deny the usefulness of a private tutor...

God is your tutor.

No, God is your 'MAKER'... if you believe in such things...

Tutors don't 'make' things. Tutors... well, I guess they 'tute'... but beyond that, they pick up where 'God' left off (in terms of raw talent, at least).

James Aikman is the reason I can make money composing in any fashion. He is a great TEACHER on top of a good composer. I'll tell anyone to study with him anyday. Then I studied with Bright Sheng and WIlliam Bolcom. If I hadn't studied with Aikman, I wouldn't have understood Sheng and Bolcom.

True, learning orchestrations is not usually taught in lessons but in orchestration class.

Bottom Line: get a teacher!