How to Compose Music
Musical composition is a challenging and rewarding practice. Learning how to compose music that is engaging and interesting can be very difficult for some people to learn. The education and concentration needed to make a composition great can cause some people to abandon projects all together. However, composing music doesn't have to be like doing a math problem. Learn some easy steps to compose a piece of music.
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Instructions
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Begin by assessing whether you have the mental characteristics associated with a good composer. Ask yourself whether you have the ability to concentrate, a relatively rational mind, a good ear for sound and mixing and a working knowledge of music and music theory.
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Brush up on your basic music theory skills. Begin with the most fundamental aspect of music which is rhythm. Learn voicing techniques, stylistic concerns (dynamic considerations, tempo and genre constraints), and how to write on musical staff paper.
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Determine what type of music you want to compose. Listen to various artists and compositions of that style of music and pay special attention to each nuance of the music.
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See if you can visualize the music on paper and, if possible, get a hold of the musical transcript so you can follow along while listening; it will give you a good idea of where to begin. Start with a melody and move on to the supporting parts
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Obtain a keyboard, piano or guitar, since it will be the easiest way to write your musical piece. After you have decided on genre and instrumentation, buy a musical composition program to make the composition process easier; it is especially helpful for beginning composers. The best practice will be gained through handwriting the parts. Work on your piece in small sections, using an introduction, a middle and a good ending.
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Take time to assess what you have written each day after writing. Listen to your own music and make sure you go through and play each part yourself so you are intimately acquainted with what you have written. If you are writing for just one instrument, then write something you can connect with.
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Enroll in a music composition course at a local college or music conservatory. Alternatively, you could consider an online course in composition if you do not have access to a college course. Start small (a five or six-line-long piece) and work your way up to the big stuff.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are writing a vocal music selection, then begin with melody. Consider a catchy chorus and a hook to bring it all together. Follow the standard ABA format--A being melody, B being chorus, and A being melody again (or verses).
Get a small group of friends together to play your music if you are writing for an ensemble. This performance will help you get a feel for how your composition will sound when played as a finished piece.
Make sure your music theory skills are excellent before composing a multi-part piece or else you could end up with a senseless mess.
