…Aspiring Composers Make

[@jigsound]

Delivering free masterclasses on the industry, one video after another. Golden! 🙌✨

[@awintory]

Gold, unsurprisingly. Boy do I resonate with #4 in particular. Young composers hide behind tech questions to avoid the hard work of creativity. I'm sure I did too in those days. Sooner it's escaped, the better

[@mosstet]

@@awintory an Austin in the wild!

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Absolutely! And I'm one who loves to talk tech and business stuff but at some point we gotta get to the creative instead of comparing 300 string libraries with one another. 🙂

[@tumpperi3891]

Good sample libraries are important from the tech point of view, it's directly affecting the sonic quality of the music. Certain DAW, reverb, EQ's and Compressors - not so much. Rest is matter of preference in my opinion.

[@NeuroPete]

I’m a music hobbyist with no desire to go professional, but I find it fascinating how some people find a way to make a living at it. Many years ago, I was a print graphics technician who saw many people trying to make it as graphic designers. Everyone of the 10 beginner mistakes in this video can be applied to that field as well. As with music technology now, there was an explosion of wonderful, powerful technology that made many people think that they could be graphic designers. Of course, this made the field very competitive, and success depended on much more than artistic talent and knowledge of the software.

[@ThreeDeeMusicStudios]

I think the volume of comments speaks to how on target this subject was. Thank you for the insight. The balance of "getting out there" vs. "developing the craft" is a constant battle. Making music for no one is a lesson in humility, love for the art and the long road to commercial participation. I have always struggled with the feedback, not because I'm offended, but scared to find out I can't back up in the creative process to make a right turn in the artistic design. Great work Ms. Dern!

[@Milan____]

As someone who both hired people, and also was young and unreliable at some point - neither in the music business, I can safely say that this advice is universal across nearly all industries. Well said.

[@BigMTBrain]

WHOA! Glad I'm receiving these platinum nuggets as I'm really just starting out. EXCELLENT!!! Thank you!

[@aklosabbaothofficial]

Yep! 7 months it's a while, oddly enough I was reviewing your Mediant tutorial yesterday and wondering when you'll come back...and voila! The KZbin gods graced us all. 🙌

[@braunhausmedia]

Being an introvert and not liking networking was a big part of the reason I never made much of a splash in the screenwriting world, and only found success as a novelist. Screenwriters, like composers, need to be able to get out there and learn how to be good in the room. It's part of the job.

[@mistersniffer6838]

Oh, I can teach her how to be good in a room!!

[@MrMikomi]

​@@mistersniffer6838 Name checks out.

[@MichaelSmith-on1ig]

I really like, how no-nonsense and concise you are. Cheers, AK und beste Grüße aus Deutschland🍻

[@jarkkoriihimäkimusic]

I love the realism, thank you so much for the insight! A couple of these really hit me...like the template. I NEED to start doing mockups!

[@sonicairmusic]

Absolutely love your pure honesty Anne. It’s obviously very clear that you really are experienced in business as well as being a professional composer. I’ve only recently come across your channel, however it’s extremely interesting and no BS!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@soundtreks]

Nice to have you back! Great hearing all of the work you are getting. Won't lie. Glad I'm just writing concert works. The film/media world is a whole other level. Kudos to those brave enough to traverse those waters.

[@LucasRicciottiMusic]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It is very valuable!

[@j.lindback]

Thank you for sharing this! Many of these issues may not be obvious at first, so this is really an opportunity to avoid beginner's mistakes.

[@kaeleb1968]

Glad to see you back… you’ve been missed!

[@jonremimuziq]

Absolutely love this!! I've heard you mention the writing speed a few years back which got me on my dedicated schedule of writing at least 1.5min of music a day (depending on the style of course)... but some of these on your list, I'm definitely gonna have to work on. Such as the Networking and Tech Obsession. Thanks for getting on me with this video message! All the best, JON Remi

[@christianvladimir6703]

Never got the opportunity to pursue a proper music education so I’m thankful for your videos! Glad to have you back in the youtube space!

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Happy to help! 🙂

[@stepkabayan]

Hi, Anne-Kathrin! Thank you very much for your valuable advice! It is felt that all the information is the fruit of great experience in the industry. Last year, the first course of media composition started in Moscow at the Music Academy. I am a student of this faculty and I follow your achievements with great interest. I wish you new successes!🎉

[@acevaptsarov8410]

Your videos are gold for this community! I've certainly enjoyed them and found many helpful tips and insights in so much of your content. Thanks for what you do, and keep up the great work!

[@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic]

had a great time watching your post here. Glad I am doing a diversified portfolio and also do MPSE work and Dolby ATMOS mixing and producing now later in my career.. Way less of a hassle. I was in LA back in the 70's 80s writing and playing as a session trumpet player.

[@ArnoldVeeman]

Hi, one of the many composers out there listening to you with a big smile on his face. You're so right. As recognizable as confronting 😅. Great content Anne-Kathrin! Thank you for your effort to make this in your busy schedule. Greetings from the Netherlands!

[@EdwinDPZ]

Some of these comments are truly something else. Anywho welcome back to KZbin Anne!

[@yuggothproductions]

Really great advice! Wish I had seen this 20 years ago before I started in the industry, better late than never! 😂 Great to have you back. The thing on etiquette is really important. So important to filter your thoughts. But also filtering yourself with opinions regarding the music and its place. It’s always important to remember that you’re serving the director/producers and not your own.

[@matthewbucktrout3291]

Great video, thank you. Sometimes (often) it's difficult to know where to start, or what things to work on first, how much time to give to setting things up before really getting stuck into using them, when to stop trying to use something which needs a period back on the setting up drawingboard because it's not efficient enough. I guess there are just lots of things to learn in parallel. Some tech stuff, learning software, learning libraries, theory etc is required at the beginning, then just get started creating something and in doing so find out what extra learning and re-organising of the set-up is required. Learn, set up, do, evaluate result, tweak, learn some more and repeat ad infinitum (hopefully with some work contracts and successfully executed projects in the cycle) And it's reassuring that you described yourself as an introverted type of person who doesn't naturally like being around lots of people. I think one of the things which has been holding me back from really going for it is the notion that to make it work I would need to be "out there" with lots of extroverted people in social situations which I'm not great at. Perhaps you've already done lots of videos about what the work life is actually like for a professional composer, I should have a look (like you say, look up the answer before asking the question!). A video with lots of straight talking, real insights and advice from your own experience of working with noobs. Thank you, good food for throught as well as a friendly kick up the backside to get on with it!

[@nickbulavin]

Good to have you back!!! I think we should just stop calling them mockups if they’re the final product on most projects ))

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Some composers have actually stopped calling them mockups at this point since they end up in the final product so much. So you're not wrong!

[@nickbulavin]

@@AnneKathrinDernComposer well, I’m rarely in a position to have live players, so it feels degrading calling my final product a mockup haha

[@Mitch_dsm]

Great to enjoy new content from you ! I'm also happy for you when you desepear, cuz I kinda know you're busy with projects, but I kinda know you'll be back. Great timing by the way. I just finished a 300min TV show, ~150cues, small budjet small time window, insanely high expectations (obviously :D) Thanks for the points you keep making about how to (properly) to this job. I also apply a filter on myself when working. Sometimes it's Pro-Q3, sometimes it's rather Volcano... Cheers

[@MatthewWaltherAscensionProps]

Can confirm with the diversifying portion. I also am most proficient in full symphonic/orchestral music, which almost became an issue when I was hired to score a short where they wanted traditional, Middle Eastern instruments. Thankfully they trusted me enough to create what they wanted, but it was a real eye opener learning about the often extreme differences between the two. Bit of a wake-up call!

[@volbers]

Hey, great to see a new video! I think I needed to hear a couple of these. 😄I'm super guilty of the tech obsession, and I've always been, even before I was taking music seriously. The next PC, the next piece of software has always been some kind of coping mechanism for me, to the point that about ten years ago, I was buying games on Steam or PC hardware just because I was feeling bad. Luckily I've overcome the worst aspects of this kind of behaviour, only occasionally dipping into the "buy something just to feel better" behaviour. I've begun to get rid of software and hardware I don't use, and started to be more mindful with my purchases. In addition, it's kind of like if you want to learn an instrument. You can buy all the guitars in the world and watch a thousand videos about technique, at one point you have to sit down and practice.

[@jacobharvey47]

I so appreciate this video and hearing you say ALL of these is seriously motivating. 🙏🙏🙏 thank you!!

[@rookproductions6031]

Good to see you back. Your thoughts and observations are always appreciated.

[@WilusDeMar]

Great to see you back Anne! Thanks for the content. Congrats on “not posting”. 😉

[@DarqIce]

Good to hear you're busy. No worries, the more worthy of us have no problem waiting ;) Prost!

[@santiagovalenciamusic]

It’s awesome to have you back on KZbin. Thanks so much for these tips! They are so valuable. Cheers! 🍻

[@DojoOfCool]

Excellent advice, understanding the social aspect of the biz is even more important skill than even having the tech/artistic skills. I learned to early as a recording engineer when someone I worked with and knew his tech skills weren't that strong, but he was getting gigs I wasn't. So I started asking friends why and was told Mr X is cool to be around and he always has the best weed. His lessor tech skills eventually caught up with him, so you can't use being cool as your main skill forever..

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

True! The soft skills are important and can get you in the door but as you say, a lack of hard skills will eventually catch up with people. Fake it till you make it has an expiration date for sure. 🙂

[@coosoorlog]

Thanks. I'll try to avoid all those mistakes one day when I become an aspiring composer. ❤

[@danymalsound]

Soooo good to see you again! You've been sorely missed! Cheers

[@feralfoods]

welcome back, great to see you. thank you for all your advice! -you're amazing.

[@SC-ew2fc]

The tech obsession needs to be said over and over again. People are obsessed with tech and acquiring gear and in my opinion is just a form of expensive procrastination.

[@davetrombetti4240]

Earlier this week I was going through your old… OK, seven month old videos wondering if you’ll ever return. Then a couple days later, boom, here you are. Good things come to those who wait.

[@Cefshah]

Welcome back!! 🙂 (I'm not a beginner, been amateur-ing at this for 40+ years ... and I absolutely learn things from your videos!!) 🙂💙

[@jondellar]

Aww we've all missed you 😊 (And... yep, the "c" word is about the worst thing you can say in the UK too!)

[@ParadiseProjectsGroup]

You are so very thorough, professional, and laid back . . . good work.

[@IroNickNem]

so much wisdom.... Welcome back online. Sometimes, some things are hard to hear, but must be told. (appropriate) kiss from France

[@charlesyateschalfant]

Nice to see you back my dear. Thanks as always for what you do, hope your projects are going well. 😃

[@MichaelBaugh]

It's a good day when an AKD video drops. Another brilliant video! Welcome back to KZbin land!

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Happy to be back!

[@borregof]

Very glad you're back! Love your content.

[@Setteegang]

got to writing speed section, paused it, then wrote a needed b-section. Ass kicked, thx :) Good to see you back on KZbin. Awesome that your writing for some cool games too!

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Hahaha, happy to help! 😆

[@Cinematsic]

Great interesting video! Lots of good information here as usual. Thank you for taking the time to help us out! ❤

[@lorenzoemanuel2343]

Guilty as charged of SO many of these mistakes, ESPECIALLY the Tech Obsession! WOW. It hit way too close to home!!. One more top notch opinion piece!

[@salemwitch17]

Thank you so much for this! If you haven’t already, could you share insight on how to get to a productive writing speed, maybe some tips you’ve learned to improve?

[@philcolman-33]

I’m not interested in a career in music but this video was soooo interesting to better understand how things work under the hood. Lots of similarities with other industries. Fascinating stuff, thanks for sharing.

[@AndriesdeHaan]

Honestly great advice. I have made some of these mistakes myself. I do think my own biggest mistake was not really thinking it through how much crap I was willing to take from those who hired me, after I made it very clear what I could and couldn't do right from the start. A couple years ago I honestly snapped halfway a project when the guy who hired me kept pushing me and acted like he owned me. I let it go way too far because I didnt want to be rude. I honestly refused all requests till this very day to score to picture and it was years ago when this happened. I honestly disliked writing new music for a long time. I have always considered myself to be a parttime hobby composer, but I think it applies to fulltime composers aswell. Now I just write music when I have some free time and upload it to KZbin. Don't care if it's perfect or not, as long as I enjoy doing it😊

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Some clients really can take the joy out of it and it's hard to set boundaries at the beginning of one's career. I've just now started after 12 years to draw the line at a certain point and step away from projects if a client keeps crossing it.

[@joegrint6280]

Wow - what a coincidence. I was just thinking yesterday that you hadn't been around here for a while! Sounds like you have had a very busy & productive time. Welcome back! Looking forward to watching this later today as the sun is coming out here in York (the original one 😉) at the moment

[@3vrgalois]

"i'm not even sure I like people." Glad you're back AKD!

[@davidcamarda8723]

I work right by a window. All my neighbors heard that laugh.

[@wendazonnefeld5692]

Thank you, Anne - Kathrin! This was all great information. Some of it was like YES! It was spoken out loud!!!!! lol. It could be good to mention that some extreme situations where someone might not produce a finished track in two years - that it can be a direct effect of a heart wrenching story. Outside of that I’ve witnessed some extreme procrastination situations where it might have been helpful for the composer/producer to seek out a counselor. I really enjoy your candor and your filters 😂 Wouldn’t it be great if people had a slot or two in their heads where a virtual filter could be installed?

[@noelleggett5368]

Great advice. Realistic. Honest and direct. Useful. Encouraging. Thank you!

[@austinsmithcomposer]

Thanks for those tips! Glad you're back 🎉

[@yophosy5419]

Not what I was expecting but excellent and necessary as a lifetime of working with detail/structured types who lack interpersonal skills has taught me. Most of them should never be in customer facing roles and will not take any notice of your advice because being right is so important to them and you are pointing out one of their major weaknesses.

[@DavideChiarello]

Great to have you back! Always great advices and useful insights on your videos!

[@pedro.camacho]

Loved this video! 🙂

[@waltertill1388]

Oh so cool, that you have been at Synchronstage! - i was there in the beginning of the setup of the studio and a very close friend is technical director - it would have been a pleasure to meet you there (as i am living quite close ;) ) - i hope you had a good time there and a good impression :D would be nice to read a line, if you liked it! - thanks for your video!

[@DinkoKulenoviccomposer]

Good to see you back! Erdinger! 👍👍👍 😃

[@kenvives]

So very nice to see you back. We missed you!❤

[@RicoDerks]

Awesome video. Valuable truth spoken here. Realise I've lots to learn... and want an Erdinger now 😊

[@ProducingWithChris]

I love this channel, you got the beer and just throwing gems out here 😂

[@jamisondonald384]

I'm so glad you're back making these!

[@craigwilliamdayton]

Who are you? 😂😂😂 Great to see you back, Anne-Kathrin!!!

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Haha, glad to be back! 🙂

[@DavidKudellMusic]

Not gonna lie, that was a nervous watch to see if any of those mistakes were mine. 😅

Hey David :) I love your modesty and yet very optimistic state of mind. All the best to you from Brittany ;)

[@samanthavandersluis]

Haha, had the same thoughts! 😅

[@mmc5003]

Don't worry, I have all of them, even many you wouldn't believe

[@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic]

I doubt that you did David. HAH!

[@GxCgEg1]

I’m only at #4 and I have stopped to purchase your “Composition 108 - Modality”. Thank you in advance for your generosity and genuine approach. Appreciate you! U R The Real Deal No Nonsense.

[@misi1979]

Nice to have You back again! Good luck and succes in business and composing!:)

[@Osoch]

Always great to see you back!

[@Noctarilfate]

So great to see her back!

[@classixdrummer]

She never turned around once, not one time.

[@Kitarraman]

"In business, depending on how well you know the people in the meeting, apply a filter". I learned that the hard way. This is probably the most underrated word advice one could get out of this video. I was fired from a project because I had some level of confidentiality with the Technical Director (we weren't friends, but close acquaintances) and that led me to... being too friendly. She gave me all the compliments in the world for the music I was delivering, and I was feeling pretty confident about what I was bringing to the project. Then, the game's director came in swinging with an "I hear too many notes", to which I replied, "If history teaches anything, is that last time that exact sentence was pronounced, the composer was knocking it out of the park (kinda)". After that, I got an ultimatum for being too brazen, was given a deadline (a week and a half to finish a track; I made it in 2 days), and still got the boot. So remember, always apply a filter and assume that the people you're working for (be wary: for, not with) are your clients, and you have to keep yourself on their good side if you want to keep working.

[@Dave1507]

So you were fired over a quote from a movie? That's hella impressive. That you confused the movie with history is ...even more impressive, I guess

[@pjdahmen]

Danke ,fuer das hilfreiche Tutorial!Gut gemacht und weiter so!👍

[@michafryc2845]

Lovely to see you again 😁

[@stevescooking]

Always good to open a beer before getting down to business 👍🏻

[@marklar9156]

She has good taste, Erdinger is great. I'm reportedly "weird" and prefer 'Dunkel'.

[@LouieTaylorMusic]

Some amazing tips right here, great video. Honest to a fault and clearly an expert. Thank you

[@cyriledon6810]

Waaaah sounds pretty inspiring and pretty interesting

[@AlexKurilovMusic]

A lot of harsh truths in the video. Needed to hear that. Thank you. Music production is just another work environment, which gets forgotten behind the veil of romanticism of wanting to be the next John Williams. Personally, for now I've settled on working a day job and just doing my own thing in spare time and working with other indie people at my own pace, without any active career aspirations. I'm just doing what I love doing. I've realised that the "breaking into the industry" part of it is probably not for me. If it comes my way, sure, but I'm not gonna chase it.

[@FLH3official]

Always a great pleasure to see you, Frau AKD!

[@munkduane]

Fantastic advice Anne-Kathrin! ESPECIALLY the Etiquette section :)

[@armandovillegas7937]

Good advice and good German beer. Missed you, welcome back 😎

[@umbertopisano]

"Google it first!" :) Loved it!!! Finally somebody alike :) Thank you for this awesome video!

[@MarikaSchanz]

Schön was neues von dir zu sehen!❤

[@noahscore]

Good ones ... Thanks Anne-Kathrin.

[@JohnCProductions]

A new video! This already made my day 🥰

[@terrisweets]

Thank you for the kick in the butt I needed to get wtitting. Very inspiring.❤

Hello and thank you very much for this excellent video. All your advices are great. Now I'll give an example of what not to do (because I did it and hope my mistake will help others) : Don't ask for creative collaboration to another creator unless you have a perfectly ready project to show / send / let one listen to. It may sound like an obvious thing to say but what happened to me is that I asked an artist whose work I admired if she would consider an artistic collaboration with me. She responded enthusiastically and asked if I had anything to send her. I had to finish a model that I was planning to propose to her, but a ton of work fell on me as well as a family event, which made it impossible for me to do anything for several months! I sent her a message to her to explain the situation, and she told me that she herself was very busy and that she understood, but when I got back in touch again, I didn't get a reply. I was convinced that I could finish my production, but I should have done it in the right order: - finish the pieces I wanted to share with him, - send him the pieces (after protecting them), - establish with her a schedule and specific expectations (open to artistic creation). With this approach, I was initially in the same frame of mind as when you set up a band, but I forgot one crucial detail: hope is not a strategy. And if you want to achieve a specific result, whatever the artistic adventures you're going to have within it, you have to be ready. You really have to be. I'm sorry for the long post, but I thought this misadventure, which I blame myself for, was a good example of what not to do.

[@AEM_Cinematic]

Very insightful, thank you 🙏

[@brianhanington470]

Anne-Kathrine, you are an absolute treasure.

[@brianhanington470]

Sorry, typo in your name.

[@grobinson9352]

Thank you so much for this.

[@danacme5806]

Très content de te revoir !

[@paulandamyw]

Fabulous advice :) Thank you! Cheers!

[@Kitarraman]

Welcome back, Anne! I have a request (or idea, if you will) for an upcoming video. At the end of the mockup section, you mentioned the difficulties of people who compose and orchestrate right away instead of sketching first and adding details later: could you show how you go from sketching to finishing up composition and orchestration?

[@martijnvanbeek4387]

I guess she means something like coming up with a well-wrought musical idea, work that out to e.g. 2-3 minutes. You can use a library like BBC So Discover (small footprint) as a sketch program. This sketch means your arrangement (e.g. violins, violas, cello, bass) is very well thought out which means that when you pursue the piece with other instruments, it is clear which instruments have the lead , the lead instruments (melody or harmony) still stand out in the final piece with let's say 100 tracks and they won't get snowed in. The direction of your piece is clear as well. I'm just guessing Kitarraman! I'd love to hear AKD's opinion on your question.

[@Fastvoice]

@@martijnvanbeek4387 I would start with only a piano and maybe two or three additional instruments. That way you keep focussed on the root idea. Later on when the whole song skeleton is finished you can always extract pieces of the piano part and copy them onto another instrument track. Sometimes you may end up with everything else *but* the initial piano track (which is muted at that point).

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

I believe I already have 2 videos doing that when I showed how I composed a scene from Fearless. Will definitely do more of that though. 🙂

[@Kitarraman]

@@AnneKathrinDernComposer thank you for the reply! I'll go watch the Ferless videos right away (I must've missed them)

[@davidesonzini]

Thank you

[@mysterybro100]

…missed you Anne…thank you for your no b.s. wisdom 🙏🤓

[@josephd2832]

Thank you for your advice… very much appreciated…

[@jamescalvey5273]

Amazingly helpful thank you so much!

[@complexicus]

Great to see new videos, congratulations with all your projects! This is such a funny video, even for a 40 year old amateur. I can definitely imagine some of the situations, hilarious, if your not there 😂 Keep the videos coming 🎉

[@synchrotones]

Great video. And yeeeah....there are a lot of reasons there as to why I remained a "hobby composer". :D That said, even though it's only a hobby, I'm always trying to get better. Thanks for all the great advice you're offering Anne-Kathrin.