Before You Read...
π© Join My Free Weekly Newsletter
Join overΒ 4,000 composersΒ readingΒ myΒ πΒ Compose & ConquerΒ Newsletter, and everyΒ Tuesday I'll send you free resources and strategies to help you master your composing craft and get paid to do it.
A few weeks ago, I saw a post on the TEAMMATES forum that caught my eye.
Here’s what the OP wrote:
I see this kind of question often. Composers want to spend money...
2 months ago, I had dug myself into a hole.
In my eagerness to take on as much composing work as possible, I found myself:
- Working 40+ hours a week
- Accepting low pay, high revision work
- Accepting uncredited jobs just to be part of high-profile projects
I’ll be honest… I felt lost.
“Isn’t this what I wanted? Don’t I want to compose...
When it comes to adding roominess to your mockups, it's not just about reverb--it's about depth.
Depth can be simulated by sending instruments to shorter convolution reverbs, but the best method is to use the mic positions within your VST.
These instruments were recorded with real players in real rooms. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best
In this (slightly...
As educational resources have grown on YouTube, I've seen a lot of emphasis on how to write music quickly.
On one hand, I totally get it. I'm a full-time composer, so efficiency and timely writing are essential for me to do my job and still get a good night's sleep.
But on the other hand, composers just getting started seem to be feeling immense pressure to keep up with...
I'm currently enrolled in one of the coolest courses ever.
It's called "How to Work Less", designed by Richard Webster, a designer and entrepreneur with a mission: to teach creatives how to spend less time, make more profit, and earn more freedom.
One of my favorite things I've learned so far (and implemented) is the "Not To Do List".
Here's how it works:
- Pick 5 things...
Whether you're just getting started trying to compose for a living, or you've been doing it for decades, this book is invaluable.
| |
I've had the privilege of speaking with Steven, and he's the real deal.
He's accomplished what many professional composers have not--maintaining a life outside of his career.
Early on, most composers jump at the chance to work any amount of...
A few months ago on Instagram, I wrote this post:
| |
The post outlined four essential principles for good orchestration. I realize that not everyone has Instagram (or knew I had an account), so here's those tips in written format!
(And if you are on Instagram, I've got lots more tips like this there )
Tip 1: Exploit contrast
Use a variety of colors, densities,...
This piece moved me to tears when I first heard it. It reignited a flame in me to pursue orchestral music production.
But it wasn’t because of the composition—it was because of the realism.
Daniel Beijbom was the winner of a 2019 mock-up competition held by the Virtual Orchestration forum on Facebook. His piece, “The Fields Above the Sky”, is an ...
Let’s face it:
If you’re a composer, you deal with self-doubt.
We often feel like imposters. Our work isn’t good enough to share. Our beliefs aren’t backed by enough experience. And once people learn the truth about us, we’re done for.
But there’s a reason we feel this way.
And it’s called the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Here’s how it...
If you’re just getting started as a media composer, you’ve probably been doing it alone so far.
Maybe you’ve scored some movie clips with the music stripped out. Maybe you haven’t written music to picture at all.
And you may not have ever received feedback from a client.
Revisions and feedback can be daunting. But survival as a media composer is based on...