Compose Music

Compose Music... Choosing a Teacher

The single biggest reason I went to the college I did was to study with the composition professor.  I knew since music composition was going to be my major, it was critical I found a professor who would both encourage and stretch my understanding.  This professor did just that.  He is retired now, but I enjoyed the way he saw my potential, yet challenged me to think of things I may have never before considered. 

When looking at colleges, I looked at literally a half dozen schools.  One school in particular had a professor who insulted me and my music, calling it "derivitive," sounding like others' music.  Sure, I was only 19 years old and had not yet found my personal voice compositionally.  He could have seen my potential and encouraged that.  Instead, he lost about $80 grand for his school because there was no way I was studying with this guy whose little sample of music he played for me sounded heartless and cold.

It is important when seeking a composition instructor, that you choose a person who will not shut you out or tear you down.  We all have much to learn.  That is okay.  But we can always use some guidence when trying to find ourselves musically.  The compositon is like a baby.  The composer is the mother.  The composition instructor is the midwife.  Together, you bring life to this music into the world. 

Compose Music... Write Often

It is known that if you want to do something well, it is a good idea to do it often.  Practice may not make perfect (is there really such a thing as perfection?), but it can and usually does make us better at what we do.  When I was in college, I wrote music almost daily.  I wrote it, I practised it, I sung it, I conducted it.  Simply put, I was immersed in music because that was my major.  It is a good idea to write something every day. Even if it is just a musical phrase or motif or rhythmic idea - write it down.  As I've written before, it doesn't hurt to express ideas.  You may use them, you may not, but that is really not the whole point.  The point is to practise your craft as often as possible to grow into the best you can be. 

Compose Music... It's All Important

I wrote before about the importance of keeping sketches you may have rejected in the past.  You never know if or when you may want to use that material in the future.  It is also important to remember not everything will be masterful and that is okay.  WIth each composition or musical idea you create, you learn. 

Brahms would destroy his compositions he did not believe were "worthy."  He only wanted his very best compositions to remain.  I can understand.  As a composer myelf, there is plenty of things I've written that make me blush with embarassment.  But, there are also many more I'm still proud of, even if they do not reflect my current style of composition.  We can all learn from others and ourselves.  Sometimes I learn things by looking at things I've done in the past.