So how do I go about learning musical composition?

Play a bit of guitar, but I don't know much about composition. I guess I first need to learn all my theory. Can anyone suggest some good websiteS?

you need to study harmony, and you need to study counterpoint

i suggest looking for well rated textbooks of each

and also i suggest getting some sort of keyboard and learning some basic stuff on it at least, its not hard

thats your starting point

Yeah, get harmony books. After that you can study orchestration: I recommend Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestration book. Good luck.

I guess I first need to learn all my theory. Can anyone suggest some good websiteS?

As far as websites go, I think you found it...

Definitely learn the theory...BUT, I think the most important thing you need to do is buy some CDs....lot's of them. Listen. listen, listen...And check out the scores, see what you're hearing...

Depends on what you're aiming to compose.

Harmony is a must. I suggest buying Tonal Harmony by Kostka and Payne - it's the book I learned out of.

Orchestration, counterpoint, etc. are not as important to study from books (though they would certainly help if you're aiming to write for orchestra or concert band, or even smaller groups of instruments).

The most important thing is to listen, and if you can, to follow what you're listening in the score. If you hear something you really like, try to see in the score how the composer is doing that. This generally means paying more attention to what's in the background than to the melodies themselves.

There's too little attention given to writing melody (something I still suffer badly about). My 'teacher' instructed me to write a couple of works for solo instruments so if this is a simpler way for you to start, study a monphonic sintrument like the violin, cello or clarinet - you don't need to learn to play it but look at a few scores, look up its range, the characteristics of playing - and write something for your choice.

It doesn't get you out of learning harmony. Any harmonic progression has to be implied by the melody. You don't have to worry too much about that because it'll become clear as you go. Just be aware.

Now that montpellier mentions that, an important point is raised. The ability to construct convincing single melodies is very important. And like anything learnign from masters will get you far. Try to hear Bach's solo violin works, for me and for many they are the supreme example of this skill, the melodies are harmonically so strong and and well written and even contrapuntally strong. Although there is not much counterpoint going on, it is implied very strongly. Just absorbing all these melodies will give you a tremendous sense of melody as I found out studying these pieces on the violin as a kid.

Thanks everyone.

Actually montpellier raises an interesting issue. Melodies are one of the main things I get stuck on. I always seem to have an idea for a chord progression in my head, I can lay that down but I don't really know what to do with it. I can't seem to come up with good melodies, if I do, it probably sounds very similar to something I've written before.

But as you say, I guess I need to put in more time studying a monophonic instrument. But I dont know how to go about doing this, is it just a case of looking at score while listening to the music?

I'll have to remind you, I don't have a good background in music. I play the guitar a little but its all self taught and I don't know whats right and wrong. I love listening to music, I feel maybe subconciously I understand composition, orchestration, harmony and counterpoint (its human nature) its just I cannot seem to use what I know when it comes to writing and composing.

Hi Jonathan.

What I suggest, if you can, send us some ideas you have and at that starting point which will come from you, we shall be able to seek what is lacking and what is already strong in your conception of music.

Indeed to listen to lots of music and looking at score can only help. Indeed writing for solo instruments at first is a good suggestion also. To say that harmony comes out from melody have been contested par lots of composers in the past... so it depends on what you feel more comfortable with. Either is possible. You can sculpt melody out of harmonic stuff or shape harmonic relations from a melody. In fact, maybe you could try out these two ways and see what comes out.

But of course... these two are far from all the possibilities. The most important would be for you to come up with 'new' ideas that you though by yourself and surprise us ! That would become to be real artistic creation. I'm preparing a reference list for instrumentation and composition tools... maybe more for advanced composer... but we never know where you gonna find your new inspirations next !! ;)

Does anyone know where I can get some good scores for solo monophonic instruments?

There is of course all the Sequenza of Berio which gives you probably almost all teh possibilities of a solo instrument. You can find de Sequenza in any music departments of any universities or conservatories (score and music). You can buy the music in any music store that has contemporary music.

But maybe, the best way would be than an advanced student that has played contemporary music show you what they play -- and the goal there is not necessarily for you to like or dislike the piece but to learn from it... anyway even if you don't like a piece, there's is probably something you can learn and turn it to your own advantage (the musical style that you'll create yourself with time). There is no point according to me (some will arg here) to create what has been already masterfully crafted in music unless it is to practice a style. You have to find the musical language inside you that will inevitably borough from lots of sources.

I personnally learned a lot from Arab, Indian, Antique to Baroque occidental music. There is already a lot of website where you can learn about the rythmic and melodic modes of these cultures or periods. If you are interested in winds - there very good books on the subject which are quiet expensive. Maybe you can ask them as gifts if you don't have to money to buy them :

You can consulte these book below. I gonna add a topic about book references right now so everybody can see them.

Flute :

The other flute de Robert Dick.

The techniques of Flute Playing I et II de Carin Levine et Christina Mitropoulos-Bott, éditions Bärenreiter. Le second volume traite du piccolo, de la flûte en sol et la flûte basse (excellent volumes!).

Oboe :

The Techniques of Oboe Playing de Peter Veale et Claus-Steffen Mahnkopt sous Bärenreiter encore une fois. Volume incontournable !

Clarinet :

New Directions for Clarinet de Phillip Rehfeldt sous The Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Bass clarinet :

Nouvelles techniques de la clarinette basse de Henri Bok et Eugen Wendel sous les Éditions Salabert.

Saxophones :

Hello! Mr.Sax de Jean-Marie Londeix aux Éditions Musicales Alphonse Leduc.

Bassoon :

Methodo per fagotto de Bruno Bartolozzi aux Edizioni Suvini Zerboni à Milano.