Music Compostion Coursework

For my coursework I've got to compose a piece of modern music. I've chosen to do a cello rock song as I've fallen in love with Apocalyptica. It's something I've never thought of trying before and I was really up for the challenge but it's not working out to well. I know how many cellos I want and what key and time signature I want but I just don't know how to start it. Maybe I lack inspiration. I don't know. It's jsut frustrating. :( I know what I want, I just can't get to it. What do you guys think? Has anyone got any advice or has composed something similar before?

Just start by sketching out brief melodic ideas and chord sequences. If it's a rock song, you'll need precious little more than that. Think a bit about structure too.

Hope that helps. :(

If you're looking for a great compositional exercise in general:

Choose 5 pitches. Analyze them for pitch and intervallic content.

Write a short melody using only those 5 pitches - you may repeat pitches, but not if you've changed pitch between them.

Write 5 rhythmic variations on your melody.

Write 5 free variations, using inversion, transposition, etc.

Do the whole sequence once a week.