Learning to compose music is a journey. Like any journey you have to start with a first step. Some people say that you cannot "learn" to compose. The main reason they say this is because they have difficulty describing what it is to compose. They say you can learn technique, and you can learn music theory. But its the other stuff... the creativity and inspiration that you can't learn.
Everyone starts from scratch in this world. Even Beethoven was a baby when he was born. And the best part is that not one person has been born, and then immediately written a symphony. They all started somewhere. They all wrote some bad pieces. But the important thing is that they learned to compose at some point.
Many people get training on music theory and some on how to compose. But most never reach the point of true mastery. This then leads to people saying that composition cannot be taught. They say those people just didn't have the creative spark, or they weren't inspired, or they just didn't have the talent.
What is the missing ingredient? Dedication. But aren't those people who compose their whole life dedicated? Why are they all considered great? Well it matters where the dedication is. Are you dedicated to just composing? Or are you dedicated to growing as a composer? Did you learn about music theory; or did you take that music theory; dissect it; use it in your compositions; find it in others works; reconstruct it; try to change it; try to break it? Dedication and perserverance count for little if they are misdirected.
You have to look at it like deliberate practice. Composing for the fun of it is great, but you won't see the strides you are looking for just doing that. Instead you have to focus on specific things that you are not good at, and gradually improve them.
This is best done through directed compositional exercises. Composing with focus. Look at the catalogues of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn... and many others. They wrote hundreds of pieces each. Not all of them are their Magnum Opus. Some of them are clearly studies or little pieces to hone a specific skill. So do like they did, and improve your composing.
Everyone starts from scratch in this world. Even Beethoven was a baby when he was born. And the best part is that not one person has been born, and then immediately written a symphony. They all started somewhere. They all wrote some bad pieces. But the important thing is that they learned to compose at some point.
Many people get training on music theory and some on how to compose. But most never reach the point of true mastery. This then leads to people saying that composition cannot be taught. They say those people just didn't have the creative spark, or they weren't inspired, or they just didn't have the talent.
What is the missing ingredient? Dedication. But aren't those people who compose their whole life dedicated? Why are they all considered great? Well it matters where the dedication is. Are you dedicated to just composing? Or are you dedicated to growing as a composer? Did you learn about music theory; or did you take that music theory; dissect it; use it in your compositions; find it in others works; reconstruct it; try to change it; try to break it? Dedication and perserverance count for little if they are misdirected.
You have to look at it like deliberate practice. Composing for the fun of it is great, but you won't see the strides you are looking for just doing that. Instead you have to focus on specific things that you are not good at, and gradually improve them.
This is best done through directed compositional exercises. Composing with focus. Look at the catalogues of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn... and many others. They wrote hundreds of pieces each. Not all of them are their Magnum Opus. Some of them are clearly studies or little pieces to hone a specific skill. So do like they did, and improve your composing.
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Not sure where to start, then start here!Learn how to compose music. Read this article on diatonic hamony and find out the right way to learn how to compose.