How to become a music composer: where to study, the pros and cons of the profession

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Music is an integral part of everyone's life. Each of us is a listener, everyone listens to music both at home and on the street, in cars, trains and the subway. This is because a favorite composition can relax or, conversely, motivate you to new strengths in work, for example. Can you imagine life without radio, music channels and concerts? Probably not.

But if you have a certain musical taste, a sense of rhythm and you think that you can become a real composer, why not try to do it? How to become a composer, we will analyze in detail in this article.

Music history

Real virtuoso composers appeared in the Renaissance, when classical music became a luxury, because at that time almost all compositions were performed only live, by huge orchestras in large acoustic rooms specially designed for music. The masters of music were highly valued among the royal families, because it was very difficult to become a musical genius in those centuries, few people knew how to write and read correctly, not to mention music. Nobody knew how to become a composer either, the musicians learned from each other, andthere were too few special music schools - after all, the art of the manuscript was more in demand.

First composers

However, it was during the Renaissance that the first works composed by professional composers were born. The whole world today knows Mozart, Bach, Strauss and Beethoven - their music is still relevant today, you most likely heard it in films or in the theater and know it from childhood. The Russian classical school of musical arts also did not stand still, its prominent representatives are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov and other great composers known throughout the world.

Become a composer, like the above personalities, many musicians dream of today. In pursuit of dominance on the stage, a whole cohort of musicians was formed who worked in their own style and manner. And today we can observe countless genres and their representatives: from pop music to hard rock, from rap to musical poetry and recitatives. Every year, new genres of music are opened and the "throne" of the master of music passes from one artist to another.

Music education

But how to become a composer, you ask? In order to write music, you must first understand it more than a simple listener. The sense of rhythm, unfortunately, is not given to everyone by nature, but with the development of certain skills and abilities, one can achieve success in composing simple melodies, moving on to more complex ones.songs.

Contrary to the opinion that to write the first hit you need to get a musical education, you can cite a few people from the world of music who did not graduate from music schools and conservatories. For example, Jimi Hendrix is a self-taught guitar virtuoso and composer who is included in the "World's 100 Best Guitarists" list.

Rock 'n' roll legend Chuck Berry also passed his musical education, and this did not stop him from becoming famous all over the world. There are also many artists on the modern stage who have become composers without the intervention of a music school. Till Lindemann, the frontman of the Rammstein band, currently known in every corner of the Earth, does not have a musical diploma, but has a unique vocal and writes some of the group's compositions on his own.

The start of the journey

Where should you start in order to competently and originally compose music? How to become a composer without leaving home?

To begin with, we recommend that you decide on the genre of music that you perceive best. It can be absolutely any style and no matter how relevant it is, because popularity is determined not by the number of listeners, but by the quality of the product. You must understand that music, like any other art, is not understood by everyone. If you like psychedelic rock or country that no one in your backyard listens to but you, that's no reason not to develop in these directions. Of course, pop singers are listened to more often than garage philosophical music, the lyrics of whichveiled in metaphors. But again, don't chase fame. Music is the product of an idea in your head.

How composers become, no one will answer you either, this process is purely individual.

Playing an instrument

But inspiration alone will not be enough. As a general rule, if you decide to write your first song, you should be able to master some instrument or vocal, at least at an advanced level. The study of the instrument also implies the development of the correct scales and other means of constructing melodies. Nobody forbids you to replay the compositions of famous musicians and disassemble them in parts. Modern computers allow you to emulate most musical instruments, you can use this. Electronic music, for example, is generally written entirely on a computer, why is a DJ not a composer if he correctly and originally wrote a beat?

Multi-instrumentalist?

Beginning composers should understand that any melody, as a rule, consists of several parts, collected in the correct order. It is important to be able to hear and arrange the instruments so that each of them sounds original and harmonizes with others. Even if you are an excellent guitar player and want to write a guitar song using, for example, drums, but at the same time, you have never de alt with percussion at all, build up this skill. It is not necessary for a composer to be able to play the drums, it is important to know at least the theory of each instrument separately. And if you also acquire the basic skills of playing at allthe instruments you intend in your compositions - this will be a huge plus.

Many world-famous composers prescribe parts for instruments and record a song with professional musicians. This is how collectives, groups and orchestras are formed. Session musicians can also help you build the right part for an instrument they own. Don't be afraid to experiment and communicate with people, one head is good, but two is better.

Let's consider 2 cases of becoming composers: with and without musical education.

I have a musical education

How do they become composers if they have a musical education?

If you went to a music institution, this will surely give you an edge over the rest. The discipline of playing the instrument helps to unlock the potential, as well as make friends with other musicians. When teaching music classes, separate groups are usually formed with professional teachers.

Path through the stage

When you achieve success, you can get into the orchestra and try yourself as a musician on stage - feel the kitchen from the inside. As a rule, most music teachers and composers were once ordinary musicians themselves and did not even mean that they would achieve something more. You can initially set a goal to become a creator, go through several steps from a musician to a composer and start writing your repertoire.

When you receive a musical diploma, you also strengthen yourpositions in front of other musicians. If you studied at a musical institution, then you know musical notation, music history and the basics of composition - everything that a novice composer needs.

In this case, you have everything except inspiration and courage. Find the missing pieces of the puzzle and start creating.

No musical education

But how to become a composer of music if you have never studied at a music school? Is it even possible? Is it possible to become a composer without a musical education?

Definitely yes. Of course, more effort and effort will have to be made. But if everything goes well, you can also write music. For someone who has never had anything to do with writing music, there are numerous videos on YouTube and other video hosting sites where professional music producers share their experience.

A modern person should understand that today music is often written with the help of computer software: all instruments are emulated and mixed even by a simple home computer, you just have to want to. In about the same way, you can become a composer of songs on a computer.

Of course, if you don't have an ear for music, it will be difficult at first, but as you gradually build up your skills in a home recording studio, it will be easier for you to work with instruments separately. Sequencers are almost always used to work with music on a computer. A sequencer is software for recording, mixing andaudio file processing. With proper work with it, you can achieve studio-quality sound. Also, such programs allow you to connect VST-instruments (software instruments that emulate the sounds of real analogues). We recommend Cubase or FlStudio - the most popular and oldest sequencers, they are great for beginners.

Composers of the highest echelon like Hans Zimmer or Max Richter write music on computers. Moreover, having a lot of experience and original material, it is quite possible to become a composer for games, like Stuart Chatwood or Jeremy Soule.

That's how you can just start composing music with a keyboard, a computer and enthusiasm. Absolutely anyone can become a composer without education, as a professional if they wish.

Electronic music

The growing popularity of electronic music often does not require any experience in writing scores, you can take advantage of this and become a music composer from scratch, like many DJs and electronic musicians. Witch house, techno, drum and bass, or ambient are genres that often feature compositions from other musicians. That is, the original track is taken and modified by applying an additional beat, effects or instruments to it. A cut from several different tracks is welcome.

How to become an electronic music composer? Do you need a musical education for this? No, it doesn `t need. Moreover, electronic music most often implies a hobby. But it is worth noting that there are cases when such a hobby develops into a professional hobby.

The critics of such music are other listeners, and there are many portals on the Internet, on which remixes of the most different quality are posted. No one will mind if you try to compose or glue something. Creativity is always welcome, and quality work is usually financially motivated.

Conclusion

Working with music inspires not only you, but also your listeners: you are free to choose genres, methods of performance, recording and mixing yourself. Even 20 years ago, in order to record any instrument, it was necessary to pay a lot of money to a recording studio, but now all the manipulations can be done at home and get quite high-quality material at the output. Write music and become composers.