Found some old tips I wrote years ago

[Tarekith]

http://tarekith.com/timeless-tips/

[ski]

Great link, well-suited for people starting out. A few comments, if you don't mind...

 

• Curious to know why writing in multiple genres is "blasphemy"?

 

• A big "+1" on learning music theory. But why say "you may never use it"? Once you learn it I can't imagine not using it. Music theory encompasses many things, including scales, chord qualities, modes, rhythm, notation, and so on. And anyone who aims to be a professional at doing music had better be able to discuss music intelligently.

 

• Next... forcing one's self to write is a great exercise. Professional musicians have to do this all the time. If someone wants to get a feel for what life is like in the world of musical deadlines, all they have to do is force themselves to write one tune, one cue, whatever. Even a "failure" (no result) can be a great learning process, but only if you have the mindset for being willing to reflect on what you've done.

 

Several years ago I got a gig to write 12 short pieces of music (ring tones) in 3 hours, all completely different styles. Now yes, I've been doing music for a looooooong time but prior to that gig I had never been under that much pressure to get so much done in so short a time. It turned out to be a great experience. I learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses.

 

• Finally... what you wrote about it taking years and years to get a polished sound, and that this sound doesn't come from magic or plugins is spot on.

[Tarekith]

Curious to know why writing in multiple genres is "blasphemy"?

 

Just that a lot of producers I know seem to really focus on one specific style of music. Some people seem afraid to try a completely different genre.

 

A big "+1" on learning music theory. But why say "you may never use it"? Once you learn it I can't imagine not using it. Music theory encompasses many things, including scales, chord qualities, modes, rhythm, notation, and so on. And anyone who aims to be a professional at doing music had better be able to discuss music intelligently.

 

I mean just because you take 4 years of theory, or study classical composition, doesn't mean you'll neccesarily use it all the time while writing music. Even knowing the theory, some people just don't think like that when composing. But even so I think it's worth knowing, it really opens up who you can communicate with in the music field, and how well you understand each other.

 

• Finally... what you wrote about it taking years and years to get a polished sound, and that this sound doesn't come from magic or plugins is spot on.

 

Thanks. I always tell people it's like learning the guitar. You wouldn't pick up the guitar and expect to be Hendrix in a few months or even a couple of years. Takes lots of practice. Doesn't matter who you are, the more you do ANYTHING, the better you get at it.

[GStepper]

Thanks Tarekith for the link.

[ski]

Thanks for your replies Tarekith.

 

Even knowing the theory, some people just don't think like that when composing.

 

Indeed not. Assuming one pays attention in class ( ) once learned, a study of theory kinda can't be forgotten. The idea is that one's understanding of things like note names, chord qualities, scales, rhythmic values, become ingrained. Sometimes I think the word "theory" is misleading, if not scary to some people. If we were to replace "theory" with "fundamentals" or "basics" we'd have an immediately better description of what theory actually encompasses.

[Rev. Juda Sleaze]

• A big "+1" on learning music theory. But why say "you may never use it"? Once you learn it I can't imagine not using it.

 

+1 You can't "unlearn" it for the sake of a tune, it will always be there, even if you're trying to break the rules.

 

Even a "failure" (no result) can be a great learning process, but only if you have the mindset for being willing to reflect on what you've done.

 

A null result is still a result: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_result

[Scott Jackson]

Even a "failure" (no result) can be a great learning process, but only if you have the mindset for being willing to reflect on what you've done.

 

"You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."