This was a great discussion...thanks for sharing this Chris!!! The biggest takeaway seems to be to have patience and be flexible in your expectations...dont strive to be a Mozart overnight=strive to be yourself over the course of a lifetime. Less is more if you are honest and know how to present or frame your ideas right. One other point I might add, is that you definitely need to just get busy composing...I have been guilty of over studying; there is SO much information out there, you simply cant learn it all before you begin, see it as
"Keeping things simple" and "not forgetting why you started making music in the first place" (paraphrasing there) stood out the most for me. I think those two resonate with me more so because I frequently lose sight of the reason I started making music. To have fun and to feel something and in turn make others feel something as well. I listen to a lot of music as well and often get influenced by it intentionally and unintentionally. What happens then is I struggle to write something I feel matches that quality. I end up comparing a lot and forgetting that what I do should be unique to me. It feels scary, to be honest, and so then I over analyse it and try to complicate it out of fear that it is too simple and not musically 'mature' enough. In that process, I tend to lose the joy that I have when listening to music. I often ask the question "What is correct" instead of asking myself "What am I feeling". To me, those two points can't be stressed enough and should be kept in mind at all times.
Paul's "put what you're studying into practice." I love learning new things about music by reading and watching video content but I don't always practice what I'm learning which would help a lot more to remember it and ingrain it further. Lots of great tips in here, thanks Chris and CCC members.
Number 6 resonates with me. Some peer opinions on my use of music theory being untraditional have led me to hyper-focus on technical perfection and rules over feel. As result I have begun to lack inspiration and motivation, because my pieces no longer conveyed their full intent. I hope to use this newfound advice, and appreciate the others expressed here.
The first one resonates with me, but with a slight twist. Sometimes, I don't think something is good enough, so I put it away, unfinished. Then a new project comes along and that "not good enough" composition somehow works, sometimes as is! So, save everything, even unfinished works. You just never know...
Very good video, Chris! Especially the point that you should not compare yourself with others. Learning from others is important. But always with the goal of making your music.
Great video. All tips are well worth to be followed. Although everything is easier said than done. Even as a hobbyist I can't fully follow the advice "Don't put too much pressure onto yourself" and "don't compare to others". Advice: "Keep it simple". Me: "Yeah, I like that". Also me, looking at John Williams' scores: 😭
This was a great discussion...thanks for sharing this Chris!!! The biggest takeaway seems to be to have patience and be flexible in your expectations...dont strive to be a Mozart overnight=strive to be yourself over the course of a lifetime. Less is more if you are honest and know how to present or frame your ideas right. One other point I might add, is that you definitely need to just get busy composing...I have been guilty of over studying; there is SO much information out there, you simply cant learn it all before you begin, see it as
Love this, and so true!
"Keeping things simple" and "not forgetting why you started making music in the first place" (paraphrasing there) stood out the most for me. I think those two resonate with me more so because I frequently lose sight of the reason I started making music. To have fun and to feel something and in turn make others feel something as well. I listen to a lot of music as well and often get influenced by it intentionally and unintentionally.
What happens then is I struggle to write something I feel matches that quality. I end up comparing a lot and forgetting that what I do should be unique to me. It feels scary, to be honest, and so then I over analyse it and try to complicate it out of fear that it is too simple and not musically 'mature' enough. In that process, I tend to lose the joy that I have when listening to music. I often ask the question "What is correct" instead of asking myself "What am I feeling". To me, those two points can't be stressed enough and should be kept in mind at all times.
Love this. Thanks for sharing Heino!
"I'd rather people have a negative reaction to my music, than none at all." That right there, I fully agree!
Great video.! These are all usable, quick, and practical tips.
Glad it was helpful Brandon!
Paul's "put what you're studying into practice." I love learning new things about music by reading and watching video content but I don't always practice what I'm learning which would help a lot more to remember it and ingrain it further. Lots of great tips in here, thanks Chris and CCC members.
Appreciate you sharing Amy!
Number 6 resonates with me. Some peer opinions on my use of music theory being untraditional have led me to hyper-focus on technical perfection and rules over feel.
As result I have begun to lack inspiration and motivation, because my pieces no longer conveyed their full intent. I hope to use this newfound advice, and appreciate the others expressed here.
So glad you found this useful Mei! Thanks for sharing.
The first one resonates with me, but with a slight twist. Sometimes, I don't think something is good enough, so I put it away, unfinished. Then a new project comes along and that "not good enough" composition somehow works, sometimes as is! So, save everything, even unfinished works. You just never know...
Fair enough!!
Very good video, Chris! Especially the point that you should not compare yourself with others. Learning from others is important. But always with the goal of making your music.
Thanks Manfred! Absolutely.
Great video. All tips are well worth to be followed. Although everything is easier said than done. Even as a hobbyist I can't fully follow the advice "Don't put too much pressure onto yourself" and "don't compare to others".
Advice: "Keep it simple". Me: "Yeah, I like that". Also me, looking at John Williams' scores: 😭
Thanks for sharing Jens! Yes, one step at a time :)
Confidence is key
A work in progress...even Beethoven was studying Bach and Handel up to his dying day...and he was BEETHOVEN