Composing for Dummies

When most people hear the word composer, they automatically think of classical composers like Mozart or Beethoven. This is the point where many "would be" composers freeze up because they tell themselves that their music could never be as good. And this is also the point where would be music makers end their desire to create.

When you compare yourself to another person you are really defeating the whole idea of creating to begin with. Why? Because your music is as unique as you are!

There will never be another person like you and there will never be anyone else who can create music like you. So give up your notions of becoming a great composer. Instead, focus on the joy that comes from being n the moment and creating your own music. To do this, learn how to improvise first.

You must have the ability to move forward without censoring what is coming out of you. Just like writers do with freewriting, so you too must do with improvisation.

Once you are able to just sit down at the piano and play without worrying if it's good enough, you'll be ready to put pen to paper and compose. Of course you could compose without learning how to improvise, but chances are the music will sound stodgy andfoursquare. It may not have the "life" that most composers shoot for.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

MORE RESOURCES:

Ticketmaster to Power Live Music Ticket Sales On Billboard.com - MarketWatch

Metacafe Invites Viewers to Get Their Groove On With New Music Channel - MarketWatch

Nokia Music Store Italy: More Than 4 Million Songs - MarketWatch

Sources: Apple, music labels talk DRM-free songs - CNET News

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He Can Bring the Wine and the Music - New York Times

Music Review: Chinese Democracy - Entertainment Weekly

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paidContent.org - Gaming Roundup: NatGeo; Music Mogul; Square Enix ... - Washington Post

Sleater-Kinney#39;s guitarist tries out Wii Music. - Slate

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Perfume maker sues musician Prince - Reuters

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A Little Bit of Country Music Goes a Long Way for Nontraditional ... - ABC News

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