I'm gonna take a moment and share a
secret with all my composition friends-being a composer sucks. Oh
don't get me wrong: being a composer is amazing, wonderful and all
that crap. However, the actual art of learning to write music is
frustrating. Composers don't really get a practice room. We can't
pick up the magical instrument of composing and just practice for an
hour each day. Rather, composers practice by doing.
There're
a lot of fields where there is just no good substitute for actually
practicing the craft. Composition is one of these things. I often get
compliments on my craftsmanship or attention to rhythms/interactions
of parts, and my response is always the same: I continue to get there
by experimenting and practicing.
One of
the ways I've found composers can make up for not having a practice
room is to practice an idea
when composing. Yes, I know a lot of composers (including myself)
don't particularly care for theory. However, there is a clear
difference between studying theory and theorizing in a class on your
own. Sitting down and analyzing a score is only one half of the goal
in a theory class- as composers we're supposed to experiment and play
with ideas. I've found in my own experience the greatest thing a
composer can do is place limitations on himself (rules for a game, if
you will). The more you constrict yourself in a work, the harder you
have to think of escaping the trap of monotony while following the
rules you have set before yourself. I started doing this when I was
just beginning private lessons, and it's something I still do to this
day. Sometimes I write something absolutely amazing, other times I
write absolute shit. The major thing is that I at least attempt
at it, look at what I've done, and process the information.
There
are a couple of elements one can look at when composing, and a bunch
of areas composers can think about when writing music. Some of these
elements include:
- Melody
- Harmony
- Rhythm
- Texture
- Mood
- Gesture
- Phrasing
- Form
Ergo,
when writing there are a ton of ways we can analyze a particular
element in the art of music writing and attempt to play with it. For
example: some of the ideas I've used for myself in the past:
- The work must have at least one of two notes played in every chord
- The piece must constantly shift the feeling of the down beat without changing meter
- The work must strictly be in Ternary Form
- All Phrases must last for 3 bars exactly.
- My melody can only consist of five notes
Ultimately
what I'm trying to say is the only way to get better is to actively
look at and analyzing your own music. Just some food for thought.
