Home - Do's and Don'ts for composers - Nederlands (Dutch)
First I must emphasize that this FAQ is made for amateur or beginning composers who like to write music in a classical or contemporary style. I'm not into popular music.
Why did I write this FAQ? Well, I'm a classical trained composer, I teach composition and I want to help out. If you feel my answers sound a bit blunt though, it's because of all the poorly written scores I had to read.
Let's start with the FAQ. It is very important that you read all the questions and answers. Don't forget to read the Do's and Don'ts for composers.
I can't read music, but I like to improvise on the piano. My friends think I'm good at it. It sounds a bit like Chopin. Shall I send you a MP3?
1. Please do not send me a MP3. First learn to read and write notes. Learn some music theory as well. You must be able to recognize in what key you're in. Then e-mail your composition to someone who might be able to help you, but always ask permission first.
I use a midi sequencer and a virtual orchestra to compose. Would you like to hear my Third Symphony? It's in a classical style. By the way, I don't play an instrument, but I do have a lot of experience making electronic music.
2. Unless I'm mistaken, you can't read music either. Read answer 1.
I prefer to write somewhat abstract music. Most of my music is based on mathematical logarithms. I don't care much for old music theory. As a contemporary composer, who taught himself guitar, I believe in the use of modern techniques. If you want me to, I could send you an example of my work.
3. It's the "who taught himself guitar" that makes me suspicious. My guess is you never studied music theory. Even when you want to write abstract music, you have to study compositional techniques first. I'm not interested.
I'm a trained musician. Although I never studied composition, I know my music theory. It has always been my dream to write a symphony. I've been trying to write one, but the first part is already taking me three years. What am I doing wrong?
4. Take some distance. Put the symphony aside and start a new and short composition for a small ensemble or a solo instrument, like the piano. Finish it, enjoy the result and then, after some time, make another one. Meanwhile don't even take a glance at the first part of your symphony. Send me one of your new compositions, if you want me to take a look.
Thanks for the short composition. It's nice and you do know your theory. I even wished you knew less about harmony. You made no mistakes, not even when a mistake would sound better. You need lessons in music composition.
What's more important is this: Why do you want to compose a symphony? I can understand that someone wants to write music, but with you I have the feeling you just want to be the guy that wrote a symphony. Do you need to become famous? Chopin never wrote a symphony. Or is it the sound of a full orchestra?
First you should write compositions for solo instruments or small ensembles. Take lessons in music composition and orchestration. Write on a regular basis, but don't overdo it. And then, when you feel like it and your teacher thinks you ready for it, start to write a new symphony.
I studied music once, but I dropped out because I didn't want to write contemporary music. Now I feel like writing again, preferably melodic music, like classical or new age. Should I take lessons again? I didn't like it the first time.
5. When you study composition, you have to learn several compositional techniques. As a student I had to study some work by Anton Webern. In the same period I wrote music in the style of Eric Satie, just for the fun of it. A fellow student was writing a musical. No one was ever forced to adopt a certain style. I think you should take lessons again.
I think my son is gifted. He is eight years old and he's learning very fast. Today he played a part of a sonata on the piano. Should I encourage him to write music, like Mozart did?
6. Encourage him to play the piano. Mozart did write music as a young child, but he got a lot of help from his father (who was a composer too). Make sure the piano teacher is qualified. Your son will need a good teacher. If he starts to write music, ask the teacher what to do.
Is it really necessary to study a heap of music theory, if you want to write music? If you're a genius, you're bound to do the right thing, don't you think?
7. A genius needs proper lessons more than an average student. Take someone like Paganini. What would have happened, do you think, if he learned to play the violin from a street musician? And why did Beethoven take lessons from Haydn, Albrechtsberger and Salieri? He was a genius, wasn't he?
I learned music theory from a book and I've been playing the organ for quite some years now. Would you mind if I send you a fugue? I would like to know if it's really a fugue, because I'm not sure about the structure.
8. You should show your fugue to your teacher. I gather you don't have a teacher. Why is that? A fugue written at your level is homework. A teacher should check it.
Counterpoint is hard to learn. Most people think that if you can write polyphonic music, you must be some kind of a genius. That is a tempting thought for amateur composers. But you play the organ. Organ players usually are fond of counterpoint.
It's best you take lessons in counterpoint. Have your teacher look into your work.
I'm not much of a student, but I have been writing music since I was a child. My music teacher at college thinks I could be very gifted. I've written several sonatinas for piano. Do you think it's possible to have them published?
9. You're not much of a student? You probably mean, you didn't study much music theory, but you can read music and you like to compose. Your music teacher at college is right. You could be very gifted, but how are we going to find out?
First of all, do not try to get your sonatinas published. Cherish your work, do not throw it away and if you feel like it, play your music for your family and friends.
Ask your teacher if he studied harmony and counterpoint. If not, ask a qualified teacher to have a look at one of your sonatinas. Let him/her show you the mistakes you made. It's possible you'll be very disappointed in yourself.
There's no way around it, college student. If you really want to become a professional composer, you have to study music theory and composition, even when you're very gifted.
I showed my work to a composer once. She told me that I didn't know the keys very well. There were also some beginner mistakes, as I recall. I took some lessons and I learned from studying music scores. Would you care to have a look at my latest composition?
10. You took some lessons, but you ask me for my opinion. My guess is you didn't take lessons in composition. I'll probably advise you to do just that, study composition. Send me your work, if you really think I can help you.
I don't get it. You told me that my composition isn't any good and that I need to take lessons, but I showed the same work to a musician I know and he said that it was very nicely done. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?
11. I most humbly apologize. Your composition is very nicely done.
I've been writing music for more than twenty years, so don't tell me I should study music theory. I must have learned enough by now. Perhaps I should send you my Cantata. You prefer compositions for smaller settings, but my Cantata for Choir and Orchestra is the best composition I ever wrote.
12. I have not yet seen one page of sheet music written by you, where you didn't make a beginner mistake every ten measures.
I don't care how long you have been writing music. On the contrary, the longer you have been writing music without ever feeling the urge to learn music theory, the more I am convinced that you will never learn anything.
How long does it take to become a professional composer?
13. At least six years, if you already play an instrument at a reasonable level. It will take you at least eight years, if you can't read music.
I would like to make some money by writing catchy tunes. I don't think you will have to learn music theory, as a song writer. The Beatles couldn't even read music. Can you give me some advice on how to write catchy tunes?
14. Yes, I can. No, I won't.
How long does it take to become a good enough composer? I'm a senior citizen and I would like to give it a try, but it's possible I won't be able to finish the training because of my age.
15. It is not the goal that should give you pleasure, senior citizen, but the path you have chosen. Write music and take lessons.
A musican told me that if I want to become a composer, all I have to do is write music. It's just a matter of experience, he said. Is he right?
16. That depends. If you want to write songs and accompany yourself on the guitar, then you might get away with it. In the land of the blinds, the one eyed is the king. However, if you want to write music for musicians who play instruments you don't play yourself, especially trained musicians, you'd better learn some theory first.
Rowy