8 TIPS for Composers (with issues)

[@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....

[@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!

[@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?

[@NahreSol]

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

[@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

[@rozzgrey801]

@Mike Yes. 90125.

[@rozzgrey801]

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

[@asa.pankeiki]

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

[@ClarkPotter]

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

[@felicienne38]

Yes, definitely

[@milesrout]

Sycophant

[@jamaicanpianistcomposer]

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 :)

[@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!

[@anomymouse5043]

Tempo: I was singing Durufle's requiem at one point. Durufle had written specific tempo markings on many sections. I was surprised how strong effect the change in tempo had on music. Dynamics: I think this is the key element across all music. You *should* have contrasts inside compositions and/or between compositions.

[@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.

[@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.

[@lunyxappocalypse7071]

True, I have been meaning to list my microtonal playlists into seperate temperments. I would say xenharmony as a genre does have interesting things to explore, its just we are looking at it far too broadly, and with little comunuication. Indian music is based around often sutble changes in structure.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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 ❤️

[@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!

[@anomymouse5043]

@@imlxh7126 Damn, you beat me to that comment. I am currently hearing mixture of traditional classical music and robotic voice...

[@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.

[@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.

[@anomymouse5043]

This reminds me about Stephen King's comments on writing. You could summarize one of his main themes as: Do the work. Start sweating and keep doing.

[@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

[@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.

[@Shunarjuna]

This was so helpful. Many of these tips I had already discovered myself but the others I, like everyone else, really struggle with. Thanks heaps!

[@simonpaulaustin]

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

[@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.

[@nitinmistry6280]

When I compose I just use my DAW as a canvas and start composing bits and pieces. It's never linear. Then I find that some of the fragments come together. and some don't. Sometimes my comps take months to complete. Great info... 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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@willgiam3231]

Thank you, this means a lot

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

[@nigelhaywood9753]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@oscarjohnzen9808]

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

[@Sannahmusic]

Thank you for this video. I appreciate very much your useful advice. A great problem I continuously experience, but which was much more severe at the very beginning, that is that I compare myself to higher professionals, or that I have something in mind that I am not yet ready for with my knowledge. That causes a lot of frustration. Then I said to myself that life will not end after this composition and I will always be able to write another one, a better one, and with each composition I am learning a bit more and I am getting practice which is one of the most important components of my skills. If it sounds strange when I compose for 4 voices, why not start with 3, or even 2. When I feel helpless about an organ, why not write for melody instruments first. I startet with poems, melodies and guitar chords, and I had a basic musical theory and voicing training. At the moment, I am writing chamber music to enhance my experience. I want to write for orchestra one day, too, but there is still a long road to go.

[@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!

[@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.

[@MoeThermodynamics]

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

[@parsa.mostaghim]

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

[@keithquiney8396]

Thanks!

[@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!

[@louisvonbeethoven]

Very well thought out. Thank you.

[@wanderfra42]

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

[@musicalintentions]

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

[@philkonestos2837]

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

[@giulioburratti4538]

you're always prophetic to me bruce, thx

[@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!

[@janhugosaabye3800]

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

[@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. :)

[@neilwalsh3977]

It's good to see a channel dedicated to composition - we need these

[@neilwalsh3977]

And more the simple fact of the difficulties/challenges of living as a composer. Bringing composers and performers closer together is my ideal.

[@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!

[@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!!

[@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".

[@therealjohngalaxy]

Great video! Thank you! ♥️❤️♥️❤️

[@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.

[@oranharkin8855]

Just what I've been needing. Thanks David!

[@ChaplainAcosta]

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

[@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

[@victor29rc]

Thanks so much for the video, David!

[@victor29rc]

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

[@Quadr44t]

4:10 woo. That is exactly how I work. Work with a DAW, and I have this project which is just a collection of transcriptions or native ideas of a few bars. If I like it. Feel like it works as a hook, and I can find a few ideas that sorta work together, I just stitch em together. Pretty happy with the results. Seems like an efficient way of writing.

[@LaymensLament]

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

[@MikolaiStroinski]

Great video, David. The subject of transitions deserves a separate one I think. Thank you.

[@JonathanReevesGuitarist]

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

[@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!

[@Vininn126]

David this was a brilliant video :)

[@LysSylva]

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

[@jasongarner9728]

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

[@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 🙏

[@rohrichoak9740]

Composing from a fixed reference such as sunset, an abandoned house, a ghost town etc. can help tons to keep the music consistent. Actually, it's storytelling all about.

[@dleov4645]

Love this, thanks for making this video!

[@chuck_moore]

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

[@babawawayoyo]

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

[@CarlosLalonde]

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

[@christianmaltais]

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

[@jtn191]

These are great advice, thanks 👍

[@amriteshmaitra6877]

A pretty good primer for people associated with Creative pursuits. Thanks for the lessons!

[@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!

[@shivani41]

Superb! Thank you very much. This really helps.

[@Krendor123]

These are very good tipps. Especially the last one. With my 34 years I heard it a lot, that you shouldn't compare yourself, that your goal shouldn't be to be a master right from the start. And it is true! And although knowing that, from time to time I start comparing and thinking: Am I good enough to do ? Instead I should ask myself: Am I happy with the result I made? Was I happy making the thing? - If one answer is yes, you should continue it.

[@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.

[@gerhardprasent3358]

Excellent advice on most issues! I would add: 1) pay attention to the bass-line ... does it have a certain melodic quality? or are there always the same 3 or 4 notes - which is boring. Think about using chord inversions! The melody and the bass-line played together must be a perfect match (counterpoint-wise) ... 2) Are there any modulations ... different keys? Always using the same key is not interesting, especially in a middle section. (and I don't mean to simply shift the key a second or third upwards at the end - which I hate! The Beatles never used this primitive method ... and they were great!

[@rodterrell304]

Great information , I really needed to hear this.

[@Richard_Nickerson]

I took Hans Zimmer is master class, and he had very similar advice as in part to where you like your idea but don't know what to do with it. He said to keep a music journal or diary, adding to it every day but not necessarily doing anything with it every day.

[@mosheknoll1603]

Thank you for posting this priceless video!

[@Lynkevmusic]

great advice David, really appreciated 😌

[@skipuru]

I really needed this video right now. Felt like I hit a brick wall with my writing and ive got a deadline thats closer than id like to admit.

[@Kwprules]

Brilliant video, thank you!

[@sergejnekrasov7688]

About tip 2: The first and only piece I ever stayed happy with after composing it has come together exactly like that. Over a period of two years I wrote down little fragments of music and one evening I suddenly discovered that they all fit together quite nicely.

[@gaopinghu7332]

Nice

[@maxinegabrielah]

Another thing about the last tip that I just figured out watching the video: listen to a specific set of artists you like the most - from the same genre, for example - and compare the different composing styles; you will notice that your piece may not sound "as good" (subjectively) as the pieces of one composer that really inspires you, but may sound really close to the work of another composer that you like too. Here's a personal example. Two of my favorite pianists are Nahre Sol (missing her on this channel BTW!) and William Cas; listening to Nahre's last album, with all that odd time signatures and really interesting textures, made me think I'm just too far away from >that< point in my journey as a composer. Then, on the other day, I listened to some pieces by William - which have this melancholic feel, this spacious soundscape and this easy-listening vibe; really really beautiful stuff - and thought “hey, my piece kinda sounds like this!”. Instead of trying to not compare my work with someone else's, I actually compared it to a different body of work from where I was looking to and then started seeing validation on my own piece. The entire point is: there's a lot of good music out there and your idea may sound like one of those ;)

[@DuckyMusique]

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

[@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.

[@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~

[@michaelneedham3151]

I really appreciate this video. Thank you so much.

[@neu-ter]

That was really nice to put together thank you

[@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.

[@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.

[@mrmaison4924]

Great tips! Like when I do painting, I always leave room for the universe to add magic in unexpected ways like those strokes that were not intended but add the most magic to the piece. I often look at my paintings and listen to my music and feel like some parts was not my doing. In other words, I may have the main idea and vibe but try not to be such a control freak over what actually happens in the details.

[@mdue72]

Great concepts of learning, thank you 👍🙂