How do you go about composing? (not that I don't know how, Its a discussion lol)

[Britt]

Do you have a theme or texture in mind already or do you just let it flow?
I find that sometimes, i can just write on a blank score in class like copying it for sheet music in my head or something, and it sounds great when i put it in finale.
But I most of the time just let it flow at the computer, and experiement with what sounds good.

[Jay Norem]

I've got lines playing in my head at all times (I write jazz), so when I sit at the piano I try to pull those lines out into a playable format, so to speak. Now a line could be only a few notes, you know, so I play around with variations until I've got a nice little section together. Then I totally screw that section up by writing a harmony line and assigning chords to the resulting noise.
Somehow it always ends up sounding like Monk!

[Chris Alpiar]

Like Jay I always have music going through my head but choosing what is good is the hard part. I try to be as open and non-ego-fied as possible in how music comes to me. Sometimes it (the choosing of the good music from the cacophony of stuff in my skull) flows like a waterfall, other times its as dry and barren as a desert. So I try and work from both creativity and craft levels. Sometimes I have melody in mind or something I have been humming with a general understanding of how harmony should support it. Sometimes its more of an orchestrational thing like "wouldnt it be cool if the trombones did blaaaadit dit dee-ooo wakadit!" or whatever. Sometimes its a rythm or a concept, sometimes, more rarely, it comes from a series of chord changes and I write melody "to" the changes. Sometimes when stuck, trying tricks they taught us in school is a great way to get started on the inspiration train, things like taking a wayne shorter tune and analyzing some aspect of it and creating something similar. Maybe taking a rythm and rebuilding the melodic intervals.

Mostly tho I write with pencil and score paper and keyboard on a piano sound and flesh out my ideas and then when i have a page or 2 of 5-10 symbiotic ideas I will either refine it on paper or just start sequencing. With modern samples I find it often is better to sequence from scetches and not a finished work as you can let the sample performances drive a little bit your composition. (for instance you have a great pfp swell that is exactly 4 seconds well you might modify your composition to fit that swell or whatever. That is the main difference with writing for live and writing for samples

[Britt]

Well specifically what software are you using?
I use finale primarily, but I also have FL studio that I use some.
Im not that gifted of a pianist, but I am mediocre. I do not own a piano, however.
I can't stand the keyboard I have (keys push down too easy) and have absolutely no cash.
What should I do?
I mean what I'm doing now is working fine, so I guess just stick with it?
Or is it more appropriate, exspecially for classical composing, to use a piano?

[Chris Alpiar]

I dont know a lot about "classical" but I do follow some traditions. But for software I use mostly Digital Performer to sequence. While I have finale 2008 I never use finale to "play" the music, only to create parts if I am working with live players. Finale as a performance always sounds weak and mechanical to me. So I would say getting used to your keyboard or getting a good keyboard that you are comfortable with is important. If you plan on having compositions that are digitally performed you must find a means of entering the notes in real time, whether its a keyboard, midi guitar, EWI, whatever. But you must find someway that you can make a convincing performance of your music in real time. If not then you must work with live musicians (which is ultimately preferable to me anyhow, but it always involves big $$) Other than that Intimate knowledge of your sample libraries and understanding enough about mixing, creating room space, combined with a traditional understanding of harmony, counterpoint, etc are what will define yourself as a composer.

[Britt]

Well as far as finale sounding weak, if you have the full version it comes with Garritan Personal Instruments library which sounds incredible. Other than that there are other free VST's and soundfonts you can use.
I will put up some stuff in a bit.

[Chris Alpiar]

yea i have the full version and GPO is decent, and using finale with EWQLSO is also pretty cool, but in the end they are mediocre compared to a fully worked and oiled piece with VSL in DP. You need to understand each instrument as you input and "play" that instrument along the way that instrument will, pushing and pulling the beat when necessary, articulating. And then hours of working each and every note with velocity and expression controller. You cant just put notes on a score and have it played really authentically in my experience

[Britt]

Well in theory Human Playback is supposed to do that.
But It just does certian things for certian note patterns.
It only rarely takes into account the instrument and phrasing (one exception of this is for percussion)
If you want your piece played that realistically, why not record it yourself? (assuming you do not have the time/funds to hire out preformers)
Then again, I would do that too if I had access to all the instruments at my house...
Well anyways, off topic. Could you do me the honor of listening to a smooth jazz piece I just put up?
I need some one with a jazz background to give me some critiqing, thx!

[Patrik Ohlsson]

Great topic. I usually start with an idea of what I would like to compose, like a suite or a concerto or something like that to create some kind of ground to begin from. Then I start reflecting over feelings and experiences and try to mimic the mood in music. When I have a solid theme I work from it and new ideas just seem to pop up as I go along. There are ofcourse pros and cons with this method, like I can't write music when I'm in a bad mood, by bad I mean bad mood for what I'm currently composing, but instead I can always feel spiritly attached to my work and always be able to break down the harmonies to bits and pieces of who I am. Sometimes I just "play" and try out samples, occasionally it leads to new pieces, sometimes not.

[William Edwards]

It does not happen to me very often, but it does. A melody just fly's into my head, and from there I start composing music. While composing, this idea just keeps on coming, as If i'm pulling an endless spaghetti from the plate. I just love it, when it happens to me. I'm not sure though how that works. lol... I like most of the time, just sitting beside the Orchestral Strings, and playing them, just for fun, for myself.. But i'm not the type of person, who is trying to get something out of his head, where there are no ideas. Dislike that big time. If I have an idea, i'll write it, otherwise I'll go do something else. Like photoshop, and let my mind rest. Most of the times it takes many days and even months for an idea to come to me. Though, i'd say when it does, it's an amazing one, and truly great song will be as a finale.