This year, I am teaching composition lessons as part of my assistantship for the first time. In trying to come up with valuable and helpful suggestions for my students, I have decided to reflect on my own experience as a student composer, trying to identify those things that have helped me (and still do) with my own creative process. The following is a list of what I consider to be the most important ones:
1. Listen to music: Sounds simple right? And perhaps obvious for a musician. But, with so many different options out there it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. That’s where your teacher comes in. Not only because (hopefully) he/she has a better knowledge of the repertoire, but also because, as a teacher, he/she should be able to guide you based on your specific needs as a student. Being able to look at the score while listening is always a plus. And being able to hear live performances is even better, so, I guess a related suggestion would be: Go to concerts!
2. Ask the Masters: Fortunately for us, some of the most important composers have written books relating their own experiences. Listen to what they have said about the same types of challenges you are facing now.
3. Look around you: Sometimes it’s easier to find the answer to your compositional problems by looking at other artistic expressions. I personally like to draw ideas for form from literature and movies, just to mention an example. But I think answers can come basically from anywhere, so, as long as you keep your goal in mind, keeping your eyes (and ears) open will make a difference.
4. Forget all you have learned: Forget all the rules and theory you’ve learned at school and just be like a child playing with sounds. Use your imagination to go beyond limitations of any kind (notation, instrumental technique, timbre, etc).
5. Be a listener (and a performer): Conductors videotape themselves so they’re able to see what performers see when they’re on the podium. Performers listen to audio recordings of their own performances and often realize things they can’t hear when they’re busy playing their instruments. So, how can we step back from our own work and be listeners? I don’t think I have the answer, but I think it’s possible. Hasn’t it happened to you that, once in your lesson with your teacher there, as you hear the playback of your own music you realize things that you didn’t hear before? It happens to me and I think it’s because when you have someone else listening to your music, for some strange reason, you become a listener, too. It works for me and, as a plus, you might get useful suggestions from that other listener. Also, since you’re trying to play different roles now, try to imagine yourself playing that instrument you’re writing for. In other words, be an actor.
I know that this isn’t brand new, revolutionary advice in composition. I just wanted to post these suggestions in a brief and simple way hoping they help my students (and any other composition students) the same way they have helped me to find solutions to those problems that are common to all composers. Please feel free to add any other suggestions from your own experience and let’s make this list bigger.
