A Composer's Journey - Learn the Art of Composing

The Making Of An Epic Orchestral Adventure - Time Machine Feb 20, 2023

I walk you through a short, epic orchestral adventure, taking you through some mixing decisions, and scoring decisions that can lead to exciting orchestral textures with natural orchestral forces.

This audio was taken from a YouTube video - if you want to watch my screen as I talk through this, you can do so here: https://youtu.be/HLQ5zNDwsuI

Check out my composing course here:
https://www.insidethescore.com/composer

The "Big One" to Focus On (Beginner or Advanced) Apr 25, 2022

This episode talks about the one big question you should ask yourself if you're trying to develop and grow as a composer. From years of teaching, I've learned that beginners and more advanced composers can get so much out of studying the same piece of music - but they'll take completely different lessons from it. So, if you're interested in growing as a composer, whatever level you're at, have a listen!

Join the Free Composing Workshop! It's happening this week, from the 29th April to 6th May. I'm only doing this once this year! You can join the workshop here.

How To Actually Develop A Musical Style Apr 20, 2022

This episode talks about developing a musical style, and specifically: What exactly is musical style, and how can we develop our own unique voice?

In the last part of the episode, I mention my upcoming free Composer Workshop, which is happening live online from 29th April - 6th May. If you want to register for this event, you can visit https://www.insidethescore.com/workshop

Help me to Design a Composer Workshop Apr 12, 2022

I'm excited to announce a Composing Workshop, which will happen live from April 29th to May 6th! It's completely free, and while I've drafted the lesson plans, I need your help putting the finishing touches in! Listen to this podcast to learn how you can help me to create the perfect Composer Workshop.

To join the list and send me your ideas, you can visit THIS LINK

How Memorizing Music Will Transform Your Composing Mar 28, 2022

After last week's illuminating conversation with David Conte (check out the podcast episode), I decided to try out memorizing a few short pieces of music, to see what the experience teaches me. Spoiler alert - I'll definitely be doing more of it in future. In this episode I talk about what memorizing music has taught me, so far... and it's only been two weeks!

For a lot of free bonus content on composing, which is coming up over the next few months, go to https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

How to Actually *Learn* Composing - Composition Pedagogy with David Conte Mar 21, 2022

This is one of the most illuminating conversations on music I have had in living memory. Our guest today is David Conte, who is Chair of Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory, student of Nadia Boulanger, and apprentice of Aaron Copland. He's a successful composer with over a hundred published works, many of which are becoming staples of the modern repertoire.

In this interview, he talks about:

The key points he learnt from Nadia Boulanger
The skills he finds most valuable for a composer to learn
His thoughts on the "chief job of a composer"
What originality in composing really means, and where it comes from
The utility of learning traditional harmony and counterpoint
Why Nadia Boulanger's music is receiving newfound attention

And much more. I'm not exaggerating when I say I was fascinated by David's thoughts, which stem from his decades of experience teaching and learning composition at the highest level.

I really think you'll enjoy this conversation, and you'll learn a lot too.

If you want to join the email list, to receive a once weekly piece of bonus composing content, you can do so for free, by visiting this link!

How John Williams Writes for Percussion (Not What You'd Expect) Feb 28, 2022

This episode explores Williams' writing for non-tuned percussion, particularly in his cue "The Quidditch Match" from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. We look at how John Williams uses percussion in ways you might not expect, and which adds a lot more dynamism and interest to his more bombastic cues.

To join the list for bonus composing content, you can visit this link: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

The Five Phases of Composing Feb 11, 2022

This episode talks about the five essential phases of composing that experienced composers generally go through, and why it might be a great idea to adopt them. It also shares details of my upcoming training on composing.

If you want to join my list, and be the first to hear about the launch of this course, then you can visit http://insidethescore.com/composers

John Williams' Orchestration in Harry Potter, 'Leaving Hogwarts' Jan 31, 2022

This episode explains how valuable it is to "learn from the masters". I spent last night transcribing a track from one of my favourite film scores; in the latter half of this episode, I show you what John Williams' music sounds like with and without some subtle, but crucial elements of orchestration.

Make sure to join the list if you want a say in our upcoming composing course: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

Stuck in a 4-Chord Loop? Here's Why Your Beginning Matters Jan 25, 2022

In this episode, I explain how to avoid problems like the '4-chord loop' that plagues a lot of music, and why the beginning of your piece is crucially important when handling this kind of problem.

To join my list and be the first to hear about my upcoming composer course, CLICK HERE: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

My Composing Process: The Creative Phase Jan 18, 2022

This episode talks about the power of the 'Creative Phase' - a period of sheer creativity at the start of each project. I talk about how to implement a creative phase, and what it can do for your writing process.

If you want to join the list for weekly composing tips, you can do so here: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

My Composing Process and Tools Jan 11, 2022

This episode looks at my composing process and tools, referring to a track I wrote and mocked up in the first week of January. We talk about all the gear, software, and processes you'll need to go through to produce your own fully mocked up piece of music!

Remember to join the list, if you want to be part of the coming courses: http://insidethescore.com/composers

Why You Should Compose Every Day Jan 04, 2022

This episode looks at numerous examples of folks who have composed daily, or taken up other creative habits on a daily basis. The aim is to convince you of the necessity of composing daily, in order to truly have 'skin in the game'.

To join the list, for future updates on my upcoming Composing Course, CLICK HERE.

Book mentioned: James Clear - Atomic Habits

The Making of Spielberg's West Side Story - with Matt Sullivan Dec 30, 2021

In this episode we talk with legendary music supervisor and executive music producer, Matt Sullivan, about the making of Spielberg's 'West Side Story'. Matt has worked on over a dozen movie musicals, including Aladdin (2019), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and Chicago (2002). In this conversation, we talk about what it was like to work with Steven Spielberg on his first musical, and all details musical, including working with the players, singers, orchestrators dancers, director, and dubbing stage.

To become a part of the Composer's Journey community, you can visit this link: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

How Beethoven Develops a Theme - What We Can Learn From His First Piano Sonata Dec 13, 2021

This episode explores what we can learn from Beethoven - specifically, how he develops the main theme from the first movement of his Piano Sonata no. 1 in F minor, Op. 2 no. 1. We explore the multiple things we can learn, to become better listeners or composers, from one 200 year old piece!

Don't forget to join the list: http://insidethescore.com/composers

Music Editing in Hollywood Films - with Sebastian Zuleta Dec 06, 2021

In this episode we talk about one of the most important processes in the music side of filmmaking: Music Editing. In an interview with one of Hollywood's top Music Editors, Sebastian Zuleta, we talk about:

- How he works with the director to find the tone of the film.
- How he chooses temp music (temporary music to help the cut, before the composer has written any music)
- How he helps composers to navigate temp music
- How he manages his huge library of music
- How he works alongside composers in spotting sessions, and afterwards
- How some composers can actually *help* the music editor, well before the post-production process starts
- How his experience as a composer integrates with his skill as a music editor
- How the music editor works on TV Series, using music from earlier episodes to help score later episodes (this saves everyone a LOT of time)
- Advice for people looking to get into Music Editing as a career
To find out more about Sebastian, you can visit his website here: https://www.sebastianzuleta.com/

Don't forget to join the list, for exclusive, once-per-week advice on composing and music: insidethescore.com/composers

How Fast Do You Need to Write Music? Nov 29, 2021

Here we look at how quickly you need to be able to write music as a professional in film and TV - we also look at some tricks pro composers use to keep on top of tight deadlines.

If you want access to exclusive composers' content, you can join the list here: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

Your Worst Addiction - Why You Have No Time to Write Nov 22, 2021

In this episode I go into detail with a problem that plagues me and millions of other people around the planet, both young and old. I realised that it's the single biggest time sucker in my life, and ridding myself of it would buy back huge amounts of creative time, and decompression time.

If you want access to exclusive composers' content, you can join here: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

How to Analyse a Score - Don Davis' The Matrix Nov 15, 2021

In this episode, I explain my process for analysing a score so I can learn from it as a compose. We actually look through a cue in depth - Cue 6m3, 'The Cure', from Don Davis' score to The Matrix. As we listen, I talk through my process of analysis, and how I dissect the score in order to learn from it.

If you want to join the list for exclusive content, you can do so here: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

What Instruments Should I Write For, As A Beginner? Nov 11, 2021

This episode answers two questions: What instruments should I learn, and what instruments should I write for, as a beginner in composing? This is a common question with people looking for a place to start, and I hope this episode will give you some guidance and direction for the path forwards. Have fun!

Don't forget to join the list, for exclusive bonuses and a chance to ask me questions directly: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

Is It Ever OK to Copy Other People's Music? Nov 08, 2021

Here we look at the ethics of using, copying, or 'stealing' someone else's work - it's more complicated than you'd think! Modelling someone else's music can be extremely instructive, and I want to talk about the thin line between modelling, and flat-out stealing someone's music.

Make sure to join the list to be a full part of the community: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

The Most Insane Composing Challenge of the 19th Century: The Prix de Rome Nov 04, 2021

This episode talks about the history of the Prix de Rome, and the kind of challenges composers would have to go through to win. More than that, I want to focus on what we can learn from this competition, and how it might affect our attitudes towards learning composing today.

If you want to learn more, or ask me questions for this podcast, you can CLICK HERE to join the list!

How to Write Music for Voice - Getting the Best Results Nov 01, 2021

This episode looks at the unique aspects of writing music for voice - it can be a very temperamental (and human!) instrument, so there's a bunch of fascinating things to take into consideration when writing for human voice.

If you have any questions you'd like me to answer in a podcast, make sure to join my list by CLICKING HERE.

A Comparison of Harry Potter Soundtracks - John Williams and Alexandre Desplat Oct 25, 2021

This is a DEEP DIVE into the soundtracks of the Harry Potter films, and particularly The Philosopher's Stone, and The Deathly Hallows. I want to explore why these films sound so different from each other, what stylistic elements each composer favours, and the impact that these stylistic differences has on the atmosphere of the films.

To see my movie music playlist, including videos on The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars, go here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZjrBvSPdGwRgbhUfodrc1r25K9JNh9h9

The 'Potter Scoring Project', where two composers are attempting to rescore the Harry Potter films from Goblet of Fire onwards, in the style of John Williams: https://sites.google.com/view/ravendor/about/about-us?authuser=0

Sign up for exclusive content, and my best advice of the week at: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

How to Orchestrate an Epic Hollywood Climax - In Depth Oct 24, 2021

This episode explores how to create a massive, Hollywood-style orchestral climax with a natural post-Romantic orchestra. We look in depth at what each instrument is doing, and I explain every decision along the way, and what each instrument adds to the mix.

Consider this as a primer in orchestration - how to create a very large orchestral sound, which will sound huge with a real life orchestra, or with a great sample library.

See the original orchestration video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOIEKyf4TFc

Sign up for exclusive content, and my best advice of the week at: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

Welcome to 'A Composer's Journey' - What Is This Show? Oct 21, 2021

An introduction to this podcast series - what 'A Composer's Journey' is all about, who it's for, and why I decided that podcasting was the perfect format for this series.

Sign up for exclusive content, and my best advice of the week at: https://www.insidethescore.com/composers

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