Hey guys we're working on a guide for composers

Hey, guys!

We're working on a new guide for aspiring composers, but we really don’t want to leave anything out. So I’m doing a little investigation: Feel free to leave what you consider to be your BIGGEST questions about music making/composition --no matter how silly you think they sound ;)

(You composers out there can even comment on topics you think folks should know.)

For helping out, I'll send you a copy of the guide when it's done :D

Drue

Hey, guys!

We're working on a new guide for aspiring composers, but we really don’t want to leave anything out. So I’m doing a little investigation: Feel free to leave what you consider to be your BIGGEST questions about music making/composition --no matter how silly you think they sound ;)

(You composers out there can even comment on topics you think folks should know.)

For helping out, I'll send you a copy of the guide when it's done :D

Drue

How are you distributing it? We can mirror it here, if you'd like. I'd like to see a first draft, if you have one. Aspiring composers need to be disabused of too many notions...

Who is "we"?

Eric Whitacre had started a blog series a while ago about advice for the emerging composer, but he never finished it. These are some great questions he had planned to have answered.

Concerning the creative aspects of writing a piece:

1. How do I find my own ‘sound’?

2. How do I get the sound in my head on to the page?

3. How do I develop an idea/finish a piece?

4. How do you overcome ‘writer’s block?’

5. Where do you find inspiration?

6. Which program do you use for notation?

7. Do you write at the piano?

Concerning the business of being a composer:

1. How do I get my music performed?

2. How do I get my music published?

3. Should I get my music published, or should I self-publish?

4. What is a copyright, and how do I get my music copy-written?

5. How do I get commissions?

6. How much should I charge for a commission?

7. Can I make a living as a composer?

8. What is ASCAP? Or BMI? Should I join one of them?

I would LOVE to see these questions answered. I think they're all extremely relevant to today's emerging composers.

Cheers.

--Miggy

These questions aren't hard.

Concerning the creative aspects of writing a piece:

1. How do I find my own ‘sound’? - Don't worry about it. Write music the way you want to and it'll be "your sound." What might suck is that your sound is derivative, or whatever, but that's nothing a lot of listeninig can't help.

2. How do I get the sound in my head on to the page? - Notes - Ear Training. Timbres/Sounds - active listening with scores to see "oh this is how he did it, I can do similar things."

3. How do I develop an idea/finish a piece? - Develop: play with it, add counter-themes, variate the parameters in ways. Finish - with a sign that goes ||

4. How do you overcome ‘writer’s block?’ - Either force yourself to write or do things to become inspired.

5. Where do you find inspiration? - If you have trouble with inspiration, you're in the wrong business. Read, watch, play, learn. If something in your life doesn't make you want to write, you're not going to write.

6. Which program do you use for notation? - Whichever one you're most comfortable with works to begin with. Make sure you read/learn about score preparation to see if that program can last you to professionalism.

7. Do you write at the piano? - I'm not a pianist. Why do something uncomfortable unless that's the whole point of the piece or whatever?

Concerning the business of being a composer:

1. How do I get my music performed? - NETWORK.

2. How do I get my music published? - NETWORK/DIY OR DIE

3. Should I get my music published, or should I self-publish? - In the Internet age of 2010: DIY OR DIE.

4. What is a copyright, and how do I get my music copy-written? - It is once you've "published" it. Scribd helps. A website helps more. Don't want to "share" because "someone might steal it?" Once it's "published," no one can steal it -- all kinda of timestamps. Then again, if he registers his, things start to get increasingly hairy -- but that's a concerted thief.

5. How do I get commissions? - NETWORK or make your own shows.

6. How much should I charge for a commission? - One idea is a decent wage, the other is nothing. See what they offer, if it sounsd right, then it's right. If it doesn't, then don't take it.

7. Can I make a living as a composer? - You can make it if you try. Like being a musician, it's hard because of the limits on opportunity, but hard work and NETWORKING pays off. Not like I've succeeded or wanted to.

8. What is ASCAP? Or BMI? Should I join one of them? - I honestly wouldn't worry about this until you have a traditional record/publishing deal. Seriously? BMI? That's for royalties management and whatnot -- are you at the level that you're not physically talking to the people playing your music? Why do you need a composition guide then?

Probably why he stopped working on it. He realized he was done before a book was written :P

That's why I want to see this thing -- what question doesn't have a short, koan-like answer that sends noobs thinking?

I feel like a lot of those answers are a bit too general for what anyone asking the questions would want to know.... I think a lot of emerging composers would benefit from a more in-depth discussion of these topics, and not just simple one-line answers like "add a countermelody" or "NETWORK" or whatever, because for an emerging composer, the next obvious question is "well how the heck do I do that?"

I think it's common knowledge to veteran composers that there's not really ONE right way of doing things, but I think if an emerging composer looks for an in-depth answer and instead gets a bunch of quick tips, he's gonna keep looking elsewhere for the answers he wanted.

In other words, I think those answers u gave should all be elaborated on. Great start tho!!!

I feel like a lot of those answers are a bit too general for what anyone asking the questions would want to know.... I think a lot of emerging composers would benefit from a more in-depth discussion of these topics, and not just simple one-line answers like "add a countermelody" or "NETWORK" or whatever, because for an emerging composer, the next obvious question is "well how the heck do I do that?"

The thing is, you can't get more specific than that. Come on, "How do I develop a piece?" That answer changes piece-by-piece. Basically th only two things you can do is variate something you've introduced or add something new!

As for "NETWORK" -- people need to. No one does. Instead of asking questions from an e-guide, they should be AT LEAST asking questions of e-people instead... It's all about meeting people and just going to bars and talking it up with strangers about music. You'll find one dude who's looking to put on a show, and then you sell your music if it seems like a good business deal.

I dunno -- I just would rather see people try and fail before they go to a book for "all the answers."

I think it's common knowledge to veteran composers that there's not really ONE right way of doing things, but I think if an emerging composer looks for an in-depth answer and instead gets a bunch of quick tips, he's gonna keep looking elsewhere for the answers he wanted.

That "common knowledge" isn't too common.

And really, of course, if someone wants to be led by the hand, they're not going to like the harsh realities of it all: that you have to figure out the best way for you, and outside help isn't going to be that helpful....

Idk. I think you could show a little more effort. But whatever. It's your choice.