How often do you compose?

I'm not too sure if there is/was already a topic like this, and hopefully somebody will roar at me to shut the hell up if so, but, in the case that there isn't, I think the title says it all.

For me it is part related to the spare time I have. When busy with studying I can't spend too much time composing :( But when I have silenced my consciousness or do have some time (for a change) then I can compose. But I find it hard to say how much time I spend composing. Since part of it is an unconscious process, happens on the background.

EDIT: fixed a spelling issue

If not composing, I'm listening or practicing new licks on trombone or piano. So everyday, it's God, family and music!

I compose everyday.

As do I! Even if it's not writing it down, but just playing an idea on the piano or viola, that's still worth it. So yes, I compose every day if I can. Well, except for Saturdays, but I'm getting critique on my compositions then :P

Very good now, carry on!

Lately I've been composing everyday and I hope to keep it that way!

You're a poet and you don't even know it! :P

I try and compose at least once a week. My thing is, I try to make it productive. I've come to the realization that I am not going to write a masterpiece every time I sit down to compose. So at the very least, I want to say that I improved at least once aspect of my composing, just a little bit with each composition. Whether its my understanding of form, harmony, melody... whatever.

It was once told to me by one of my army instructor pilots, that there are terrible pilots with 1000's of hours. The reason they are terrible is because they went out everyday and flew "the same hour." They didn't actively try and improve, but they just stuck to what was comfortable and familiar. I try and "fly new hours," every time I compose.

I try and compose at least once a week. My thing is, I try to make it productive. I've come to the realization that I am not going to write a masterpiece every time I sit down to compose. So at the very least, I want to say that I improved at least once aspect of my composing, just a little bit with each composition. Whether its my understanding of form, harmony, melody... whatever.

Oh most definitely, you don't just sit down and compose perfectly from the start - it takes hours and hours of practice to master even 1 compositional technique. I think once a week though isn't enough time to learn or 'better' a particular technique/concept. Like any language, it takes a lot of devoted time to learn and master.

It was once told to me by one of my army instructor pilots, that there are terrible pilots with 1000's of hours. The reason they are terrible is because they went out everyday and flew "the same hour." They didn't actively try and improve, but they just stuck to what was comfortable and familiar. I try and "fly new hours," every time I compose.

I'm not sure the analogy of music composition to piloting an aircraft is really an equal one to use. There are lots of factors in flying an aircraft that just aren't there in music composition. The weather being one of them. Unlike a pilot, we can practice our craft indoors and avoid thunderstorms - and the turbulence they create in the air. Unlike a pilot, we can also manipulate the inner workings a lot more - a pilot doesn't have the ability to go in and change a gasket when he's way up in the air going fast. A composer does have the ability to tinker with a particular line while he's working. Also, the idea of 'flying new hours' doesn't really work when you're spending time copying out parts from your score - unless it's a glaring error you made in the 2nd Violin part that requires revision. Just wanted to make sure and clarify a few of the MANY differences between the two.

In all though, I think you have a fairly good idea here: one should make sure the time they spend composing counts. If you're writing a contrapuntal line for 3 instruments and you're not thinking of ALL the possibilities that you can do to bring that passage to life, then you're not making that time count. If you're writing an introduction to a piano piece and you're not thinking of how you can get little Chantelle Johnson's attention in the back row with the best impact possible, then you're not making that time count. Is that what you're getting at?

I'm not sure the analogy of music composition to piloting an aircraft is really an equal one to use. There are lots of factors in flying an aircraft that just aren't there in music composition. The weather being one of them. Unlike a pilot, we can practice our craft indoors and avoid thunderstorms - and the turbulence they create in the air. Unlike a pilot, we can also manipulate the inner workings a lot more - a pilot doesn't have the ability to go in and change a gasket when he's way up in the air going fast. A composer does have the ability to tinker with a particular line while he's working. Also, the idea of 'flying new hours' doesn't really work when you're spending time copying out parts from your score - unless it's a glaring error you made in the 2nd Violin part that requires revision. Just wanted to make sure and clarify a few of the MANY differences between the two.

In all though, I think you have a fairly good idea here: one should make sure the time they spend composing counts. If you're writing a contrapuntal line for 3 instruments and you're not thinking of ALL the possibilities that you can do to bring that passage to life, then you're not making that time count. If you're writing an introduction to a piano piece and you're not thinking of how you can get little Chantelle Johnson's attention in the back row with the best impact possible, then you're not making that time count. Is that what you're getting at?

Agreed. Mozart and Mendelssohn composed profusely and it was brilliant. Now one can say "We" are not them but it can always be a goal. By composing and examine one's work, one can see what worked and what didn't work. My hours of composing has gained me a plethora of recordings and performances. Isn't that what we want as composers?

The analogy isn't really that flying a helicopter and writing music are the same, its more about the process of continuously learning and growing. I like to approach a lot of my composing as practice. I am practicing certain aspects, so I can internalize them. That way, when I am struck with inspiration, if I have internalized more aspects, it takes less effort to get it down on paper.

So in a sense, I am not reaching for perfection or glory on many, if not most of my compositions. I am reaching for improvement.

I compose everyday for at least one hour. I only think I should finish composing for the day when I know I am satisfied with what have done.

At least once a day, if at all possible.

I try and do some every day, or if not composition, then arranging. It helps to have deadlines for things but nonetheless I like to feel I have made some progress on a piece, however small, before I sleep. Of course, a large part of working is thinking about how to solve problems and coming up with new ideas, so mental work is as good as getting notes down.

I depend heavily on my spare time - my main jobs have never been related at all to music. I've spent entire years 'silent' (i.e. not composing), but not inactive at all, but reading on musical subjects and studying scores. Besides, the melodies still flow into my head, so there comes a time when, as Holst put it, "it becomes a positive nuisance not to compose them". As of now, I compose virtually every night (heck, virtually all my pieces could be called 'Nocturnes' because of this)!