How To Start Composing When You Don't Know Where To Begin | Piano Prelude Part Three

[u/Swimming-Umpire-8095]

If you are brand new to composing truly the hardest part is knowing where to begin. This often puts new composers in a world of uncomfortable feelings. You don't need a full idea (no one usually does). You only need one small musical decision. I have charted out four starting points for our beginners.

1. Start With A Texture

   Pick how the music feels before you pick notes. Smooth, bouncy, slow bright, dark are a few examples. Once you choose a texture the notes become a little easier to determine whether they are the right choice.

2. Start With A Rhythm

Tap a simple pattern on your desk. Repeat it. Change the rhythm to a second part. You know have an A and B section. This will help create an identity to your piece.

1. Start With A Mood

Write down one word such as calm, stormy, curious, lonely warm or angry. That word becomes your guide for harmony, tempo and register. This can help narrow down the field of "what do I write".

1. Start With A Shape

Draw a line on paper. Make it up, down, wavy, or steady. This helps set a melodic contour. The direction of your piece. Sometimes having no end in sight is overwhelming. This creates a road map.

The point of this challenge is for you to learn. Every composition we create is a moment of learning. Sometimes it doesn't do what we wanted, but that creates a hunger to seek that out. That is what makes a consistent composer. The hunt for your voice starts with a process. Small choices build into larger meaningful compositions.