The Magical <<ly Simple<< Way to Compose:

[for some reason this post was deleted and I don't feel like rewriting this, so here's the shortened version:]

Get a blank score & writing utensil and push the point of the utensil to the paper moving it about the lines.

... I learn to be able to recognize any chord or note and to name all the notes in that chord and the name of the individual note. This helps so much to be able to compose in my head. ...compose in your head trying to depict the notes and chords along the way and remember them.

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Sounds a lot like my concept of cerebral contextualization. Although, I don't focus on specific notes/chords - I find it a better pre-compositional process to extract aspects of the piece such as form, orchestration, melodic shape, harmonic rhythm.... Work out the specifics like voicings, exact melody later, at the piano.

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Oh, I do love these flashy terms. My own method is a kind of metamusical transmogrification. I set up my composing table then, facing east, I cast a treble clef in the air with a conductor's baton; then I turn west and cast a bass clef, then draw the music down from the cosmos onto the paper. You can't use a computer for this method because transistors etc won't conduct metamusic.

:(