8 TIPS for Composers (with issues)

I look at 8 of the main issues I've seen student composers deal with (and that I've dealt with myself) and offer a few tips through the challenges.
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00:00 Introduction
00:42 I don't have any ideas, and when I do have ideas, they are always rubbish
03:02 I've got an idea but I don't know how to take it further
05:19 My pieces end up a bit of a jumble of different ideas, they lack coherence
07:46 Why does my piece sound a bit muddy, a bit lacking in life
10:39 I've got ideas, but what form should I use? I've no idea how to handle form
14:03 I find transitions really really hard
16:32 Why doesn't my piece seem well written for the instrument.
18:06 Those other people are geniuses and I'm obviously not, should I just give up?
David Bruce: Undula performed by Sequoia: • Undula by David Bruce ...
Oslo Philharmonic, Sibelius Symphony No.5 • Jean Sibelius: Symphon...
Adam Neely's video on "The most elegant key change in all of pop music"
• The most elegant key c...
David Bruce Composing Hacks: • TOP 10 COMPOSING HACKS!
#composing #composition #musictips

[@AimeeNolte]

The Amadeus stuff had me 😂😂😂

[@605gbird]

Love your work Aimee! Same here!

[@Terracraft321]

lmao

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Mozart went to see an opera and then went home and wrote the whole 3 hours of music down with no errors. He used to get music, even whole operas, appear in his head which he hated as he'd have to spend three days writing them down. Imagine you where born a musical genius and had no radio, TV, phones, internet, nothing to distract you, just other musicians to play and [gasp] inprovise with? Where do you think Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery got their chops from? Not the internet! And if like Mozart you had played violin, had perfect pitch and read music better than your native language then yes you too would be able to tell someone exactly what to write down - just as chess players can play six games simultaneously blindfolded. Tonight I listened the The Ivors Composer Awards 2021 on BBC Radio 3 and its literally disgusting how talentless composers are today. So, there you go, we are all talentless and any 'art' piece you write are only listened to by the judges of composer award competitions. Social media is contemporary classical music's only hope for innovation - while it has vanished up it's own backside, other types of music have flourished into new genres. So next time someone gets 4,000 violinists to play the quietest flautando then puts it through a broken reel to reel with a chimpanzee playing bells and looped samples of an 80 year old Scottish fisherman recorded in 1963 and has the audacity to call it art just punch them in the face as hard as you can as a) it will stop this crap and b) you'll get instant fame.

[@corduroyal8260]

You’re like the calm, reassuring, inspiring music teacher I always needed. This video is a godsend

[@pettermossberg1599]

are you saying he is calm and composed?

[@joelkulesha8284]

I really appreciate when professionals talk about the things they struggle with. Nobody is perfect and nobody knows everything, if you aren't struggling with your music then you aren't trying. There's always more to learn, nobody ever knows it all. So hearing a professional actually recognize that and talk candidly about it is amazing imo! It's really appreciated!

[@NahreSol]

Great video! Full of insights and loved the Amadeus part 😅!

[@ClarkPotter]

Can we all agree that David is a beautiful, brilliant human heing?

[@felicienne38]

Yes, definitely

[@milesrout]

Sycophant

[@rosssmith4179]

Re Tip #8. My dad was a theory/comp professor. He told me that at some point every composer has to face up to the reality that you won't be the next Beethoven, and instead focus on being the first 'you'.

[@vaclavmichalekmusic]

That last bit spoke to me so deeply...I've learned that being a musician goes way further than handling music. It's a lot about handling yourself: your habits, mental health, self-awareness, needs, obligations....There has been so much time I wasn't able to spend time making music because I was dragged down by my inner struggles, even though I had exciting projects saved in Cubase

[@Mike-lx9qn]

No

[@rozzgrey801]

@@Mike-lx9qn Yes. 90125.

[@Mike-lx9qn]

@@rozzgrey801 Those are nice numbers. 90125 is a deficient number. Is it supposed to mean something?

[@rozzgrey801]

@@Mike-lx9qn It's an album by rock group Yes. I was just taking the piss out of the shit you posted, twatto.

[@Rubrickety]

My problem is that I have plenty of ideas, but my inner critic speaks in a distorted, vaguely Germanic electronic nightmare voice, and I'm too disturbed to compose anything. ;-)

[@rainbowkrampus]

DAMN YOU ROBACH!!!

[@krakenkrispykremelivinthedream]

does anyone know what it is called?

[@imlxh7126]

dude lean into that. it worked for kraftwerk

[@Bushwhacker-so4yk]

@@rainbowkrampus Robach, hahahaa!

[@asa.pankeiki]

I think these are good tips not just for composition but creativity in general Thanks so much for sharing them

[@florisheijdra6086]

When you have an idea and you've written it down, but you think it sucks just add a new parameter. Dynamics and maybe a different tempo can work wonders. They give a plain, rather stupid, idea a flow. They give it direction. Then after you can change notes, but you will see how much dynamic markings make a difference when starting with an idea!

[@amarug]

What you say around the 4min mark, how essentially "not to fear patching stuff together" is a really important point and reminded me of the great Nobuo Uematsu who once explained that he wrote little fragments, day by day for like a month and at the end he just puzzled it all together and out came "One Winged Angel", once of the most unique and iconic pieces of video game soundtrack ever written....

[@bigogle]

When I'm thinking of form and repetition I take Elgar's side: if an idea comes back, it's never the same, ever.

[@FormulaXFD]

In composing the masterpiece that is "One Winged Angel," Nobuo Uematsu had something like 8 unique and different ideas where he had to sew them together.

[@mikhail2406able]

I needed this today. Been such a task to get everything going.... but this has been very timely and helpful! Thanks David!

[@Pattamatt1998]

Always comforting to know I'm not the only one, best of luck with your work, I hope you're able to make something great :)

[@mymasmith7848]

The everyone else is a genius reminded me of a time many years ago, in the first class on the first day of grad school for chemistry at a Big Name university, the professor walks in a starts by saying "Let me be clear, none of us in this room will win the Nobel prize, including myself, now let's learn some chemistry". I suppose it is similar in composing where nearly all of the composers will not win the Pulitzer prize or a Grammy or Oscar or such.

[@mr88cet]

“Restrictions set you free” is one of my pet peeves related to Microtonality: If you have no boundaries, then there is no cleverness to be had. If I could telepathically transmit any arbitrary feeling into your mind, then it’s all just dream-state experience! What’s interesting is how turn a limited framework of expression to your advantage.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

This is mental health for us composers. God Bless This Channel. It would be an honor to share my work with you one day sir!

[@CuratorOfRealities]

Two examples presented without context or what part of the video reminded me of them: Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde: last movement, singer has one phrase repeated three times, and a flute accompanies the first two but transforms the third by its absence Rachmaninov, Symphony No. 2: march featuring a tuba solo in the scherzo

[@Akumasama]

4:05 -- literally how One-winged angel was composed.

[@emmak.1313]

Thank you David! I've been battling with a simultaneous eagerness and fear of creating music for years. As an adult learner I tend to notice way too often which areas of music are "too next level" and "out of reach" for me. Your approach to music edutainment helps me to concentrate on what is possible and doable. Tricks for confused moments, yes, that is me. I suddenly realize I am already a composer with a musical mind. I will not shy away from half-ideas anymore but embrace and cultivate them with your tips.

[@eliotmccann2589]

This video couldn't have come at a better time! Thanks, David!

[@severalfrogsinatrenchcoat408]

A lot of your advice apply very well to visual arts as well, I really felt it helped me too, even though I don't make music. Thank you ❤️

[@oscarjohnzen9808]

I’ve been waiting for this so much! Thank you so much!

[@dleov4645]

Love this, thanks for making this video!

[@oranharkin8855]

Just what I've been needing. Thanks David!

[@CarlosLalonde]

These tips are so invaluable, David. Thanks for sharing these!

[@janhugosaabye3800]

Thank you once again, David Bruce, for an inspiring talk! I really do enjoy your way of giving advice!

[@nigelhaywood9753]

Excellent advice. You’ve gone through all the stages there. Thank you .

[@ccrider5398]

Thank you for your postings. Too many people think that music is something that God has given some select few individuals - whether it is performing or more often composing. Either performing or composing, people don't realize how many hours are spent "practicing". I went to a clinic with Dee Barton many years ago and he recommended everyone write a song every day whether it was AABA, Verse and Chorus, or and A, B, C march. Whether or not any of these become "hits" or the basis of a "magnum opus", the practice serves anyone who is willing to do the exercise. All this applies whether you "don't have any ideas" or "other people are geniuses and I'm not". Keep up the good work.

[@ErikValdemarSkoldComposer]

This is great advice, thank you so much! I bet many composers out there will be happy with all of these tips!

[@pasikeranen]

Thank you so much... very good pointers and especially the number 8 really resonated and gave food for some thought on how to proceed with my own music writing and producing path.

[@AndreaMoonMusic]

This was really inspiring. A lot to think about. What you said at the end about handling myself - very important to think about. Thank you!

[@StephenBennettVocalTracks]

Very helpful and thoughtful David. Thanks heaps. I need to go through this a few times and take notes! You've addressed all the problems I'm currently experiencing.

[@chuckmoore7771]

Just watched this. Nicely done. Thanks for putting in the time and effort, as it addressed many of my thoughts.

[@wanderfra42]

The editing is insane! And thanks for yet another insightful and useful video.

[@Max-jf5vu]

This video is SO rich in content and insight, thank you! I feel like most of these apply to me and I'll try to take them into account.

[@musicalintentions]

Your points about self-care are spot on. Thanks for all the insights!

[@Lynkevmusic]

great advice David, really appreciated 😌

[@babawawayoyo]

Wow, so many amazing tips packed in here!! Thank you!!

[@veronicapagelaflin]

That was really nice to put together thank you

[@rodterrell304]

Great information , I really needed to hear this.

[@giulioburratti4538]

you're always prophetic to me bruce, thx

[@philkonestos2837]

That's the kind of Content I've been looking for for a while. Thank you

[@StudioOrchestrations]

Pure gold, David! Thanks, as ever! :)

[@edgenovese]

Very smart and useful for all the insecurities us fragile composers own. The relaxed sharing of the different conditions puts all of us at ease. Great! Thank you. Got to get to your patreon channel and send you something. You should be supported . God bless~

[@mosheknoll1603]

Thank you for posting this priceless video!

[@michaelneedham3151]

I really appreciate this video. Thank you so much.

[@EvilDuck37]

These are truely great advices, thank you so much :)

[@ThePlanetzyz]

Just want to say that every video I watch of yours hits the nail firmly on the head for me like no other you-tuber. And this one does that particularly well. Very appreciative of the time you take out from composing to make these vids.

[@simonpaulaustin]

Fantastic video. Answers so many of the things that I continually experience.

[@yvmpianist]

Thank you very much David! Even though I am a pianist rather than a composer, I can really apply most of your tips to better deal with the inner critic both in the practice and performing settings! Very useful and helpful!

[@kalynnscompositions]

I've been waiting for a video like this! All great advice. I know I've struggled with the last two in particular. Your point on the cultural implications of each instrument and it's history is a cool way of thinking of things.

[@BenjaminStaern]

Would like to add another advice on the road: if you feel like procastinating just you feel that your idea is just simple and relying only on your talent getting it done in the last minute, don't do it. The only weapon is to finish it before the holy deadline and thus keeping out your evil demons and never giving up delivering probably the most beautiful piece you've done.

[@parsa.mostaghim]

timing of this video is great, recently finished my first piece. thanks david

[@MatClasenSax]

Hey David, thank you very much for your insights! Your talking about your experience not only on the subject of composing but also on the subject of developing your personality as a composer, is very inspiring.

[@MoeThermodynamics]

The last line of the video hit me so hard. Thank you!

[@tomothy527]

Your tips have helped me so much!

[@yehudalichtenstein574]

You've got my like after just the first minute :) This intro was brilliantly done, and reminded me of the various things I should keep in mind as a composer.

[@christianmaltais]

These are great. great tips. Very helpful and insightful. Thanks!

[@bengt-erikfroberg9191]

I think this is one of wisest thing I've heard in my entire life, and I would have needed to hear it like 40 years ago. Repeated and literally bashed into my head. Thank you so much!!

[@Hulloder]

Thank you for putting out content that's actually educational unlike a certain KZbinr who's name rhymes with Stick Piano

[@ilanmetoudi]

Thank you, for the great advice!😀

[@GeoffLiMusic]

The points about making movement a part of the nature of the piece (as opposed to only in the transitions), and specifically pinpointing the "parts you're slightly embarrassed about" in your writing as the things that make your writing unique, were what I needed to hear today 🙏

[@philipclifford2314]

This is fantastic. I watched this. Then some time passed and I watched it again. It is good. Very useful. I'm excited to write something new. Thanks again, David!

[@DRSwain1988]

Fantastic video, David. A very honest account of some very familiar struggles. I think creative individuals need to be reminded of the fact that everyone else faces the same challenges from time to time, regardless of ability or experience. Oh and the "Three Blind Mice"/Amadeus mashup almost caused coffee to shoot out my nose. Keep up with the fantastic content!

[@LysSylva]

thank you for this most apprechiated vid. Exactly the right thing I needed to hear❣

[@michaeltroke7239]

David, your videos are wonderful: useful, profound, honest and original, totally lacking pretension (the sign of a genuine artist/intellectual). Thanks for your generosity in sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@kallehed6330]

Such a great informative video, I really thank you for the great advice. Through my composition journey, I think I've started to realize all these things subconsciously, but this video really put them all into words, and hearing the intuitive explanations really was enlightening. Let this video inspire the composers of the future!

[@ArthurRosch]

David, you are an incredible articulator of musical issues. I LOVE the history of classical music (I'm a jazz musician) and you speak like a writer. What a treasure. I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@davidhepworthmusic]

Thank you for sharing your experience. A lot of this advice addresses problems I've been fighting since I first started writing music years ago. The bit about not trying to write a piece chronologically and instead just write and piece things together later is especially helpful. I've often told myself "I'll write more music once I know how the next section goes." As a result, I'm not very good at developing and changing an idea. I find your music uniquely original and enjoyable. The comedy in this vid is top notch as well

[@Mort7an]

Thank you for this wonderful video David. Most of this stuff is equally relevant to my field of the arts (not music). Your insight and clarity of thinking on the more confusing and frustrating aspects of the creative process mark you out as a first rate teacher. :)

[@grantveebeejay535]

Thank you David, my inner demons come frothing to the surface when you mentioned them towards the end of this episode. I need them to compose as I need my own strangeness and mental health issues. Among other things they led me to you and your increasing fluffyness. Thank you again for these great tips today. Always appreciated.

[@Krendor123]

I have a ninth problem: When thinking of a melody in my head I start with something and then continue the melody. But as I continue I nearly always end up in a melody from already existing music. It is extremely hard to not fall back to already exiting pieces.

[@Kwprules]

Brilliant video, thank you!

[@jonathanreeves18]

Some great advice and excellent tips as always. Also I came away feeling more positive about my compositions. I loved Mozarts ‘Three blind mice’!

[@bullish7352]

That intro was really good!

[@Krakenfall]

There a few KZbin channels that inspire and motivate me to push past my mental blockers and work on music. Your channel is one of them. Even if it's for 20 minutes, I usually open up Ableton after watching one of your videos. Thank you for sharing your work and perspective!

[@jtn191]

These are great advice, thanks 👍

[@louisvonbeethoven]

Very well thought out. Thank you.

[@Vininn126]

David this was a brilliant video :)

[@yuliastone9704]

I love your video editing 😄

[@Tylervrooman]

Yay a new DB video!! thanks for the great content! I have a composition debut on my channel today! A violin and Viola duet. Big fan of your videos! Thanks again!

[@MHMecklin]

What he said at the end is soooooooo so true. Self live and care as a composer is literally one the most different parts. Of all the stuff you know and learn, Nothing compares to this. It’s sooooo important. Everything else comes secondary.

[@ShaharHarshuv]

Some very good points, well done.

[@victor29rc]

Thanks so much for the video, David!

[@victor29rc]

please make this version of Amadeus a whole 1h long video

[@annemiekeknowles5945]

You wrote another brilliant video that I enjoyed immensely. I’m too embarrassed to call myself a “composer”. I just make stuff for background of images. I write carelessly, keep bits I should get rid of, and don’t rewrite often. Still, I enjoy myself and don’t have a bad conscience cuz I seldom listen to my final product. I used to paint and write poetry the same way. There, I’ve said it

[@andredelacerdasantos4439]

I think it's important to like what you create and to revisit it for recreation and leasure after it's finished. I listen to the half hour of music I've created so far every day.

[@shivani41]

Superb! Thank you very much. This really helps.

[@HectorMurrieta]

1:40 🤣 That was brilliant man, thx for the work you share & your channel.

[@mdue72]

Great concepts of learning, thank you 👍🙂

[@ChaplainAcosta]

I’m only through the first 2 and it’s brilliant. Really appreciate this.

[@danielrennie8444]

Thank you. You've helped a lot. I appreciate your advice.

[@leadingmusicians]

An excellent video, David.. Thank you!

[@manoletemora5267]

Excellent advice!

[@jasongarner9728]

I've never heard the quote from the Simpsons writer. That is really fantastic. Thanks for putting out such great material David!

[@THETYMEKK12]

Excellent video!! one of my favs :D

[@jayducharme]

Thank you, David. That was very well said (and very familiar). One other issue I've often run into is knowing when I've actually completed a piece. I've had instances where a piece comes nearly fully-formed and I've finished it in a matter of hours, and I'm happy with it. Then there are other pieces that I want to tweak to death. (One piece I kept revising for 14 years!) So I've trained myself to work on a piece for no more than a few months, and then call it done when it's pretty much matching my intent. And I use each piece as a stepping stone, setting out to learn something new for myself when I compose it. When I feel the piece is finished, I don't concern myself with whether it's a masterpiece; I just move on to the next piece. I've found that if I come back to a piece years later, my mindset has changed from when I originally wrote the piece and I begin revising it with the new mindset. That's a futile task that never ends. So I've just learned to say, "done".

[@sabrinaschantz]

thank you so much for this video!

[@LaymensLament]

that first tip is genious, i do this anyway in my writing but not nearly as consequent as i should!

[@wesleywolhuter2592]

I love your Work !!!

[@41Fingers]

so glad I found this channel