When To Start Composing?

A year or two ago, I had some pieces on this site. Then I realized how embarrassingly bad they were and asked a moderator to delete them, although I don't think he did. The reason they were embarrassingly bad was because I knew nothing about form or harmony. My question to you all is this: how much theory should I know before I start composing? I've just begun work on Francoli's "Harmony in Context." Should I finish the book first before composing? Or should I go further, and read a book on form beforehand, too?

I guess what I'm asking is, what are the basic tools needed for composing? Do I need to know all about ternary form and the niceties of harmonic function, or is writing part of the learning process? My eventual goal is to write big, barnstorming Romantic chamber music and lieder, but I think I should start small with minuets or something first. What does everyone recommend? I realize that you never stop learning, but when should I start writing?

Writing IS part of the learning process. Indeed, you can only learn composing by doing it. But the techniques and craftsmanship outside of the creative aspects need to be learned too. Sometimes this happens while doing a piece and sometimes not. More often than not, however, you will need external training from a book or six, and instruction from a teacher (if applicable). 

The biggest thing you MUST know is music theory. Know it backwards and forwards and sideways. Orchestration is also essential, right along with harmony and counterpoint etc. Basically anything to do with music short of playing the instruments yourself! Indeed, it is daunting, but that's the life of a composer. 

Alan Belkin's oft-quoted letter may be of interest to you: http://alanbelkinmusic.com/letter.html

Thanks, Tokkemon. I accept (in fact, understand implicitly) that it will be years before I can write really serious music, but the letter does give me an idea of how long to wait before I start composing little "exercise" pieces. Thank you again.

Who cares what people think of your music. No one is here to bash you, and surprisingly you'll find lots of help and suggestions as a reoccurring member. Theory is essential, but you don't have to read a ton of books before you start composing again. Write what you know, and learn a little everyday. Incorporate a few new elements that you find interesting in your next piece, and you'll be able to continue from there with future endeavors.  

 No one is here to bash you

Speak for yourself.

Well, no one ever said you have to love those first pieces…  You are learning.  Think of them as exercises if that makes you feel better about them.  This is a place to learn and much of what is shared here is written by people who are still learning.  Don't let it scare you.  Write a little every day, and put it out here.  Just working alone by yourself, you'll likely either get bored or frustrated.  This is a LONG journey, so you will want some company for the trip.  And we want your company too.  

Go ahead and keep writing.  Write as much as you can.  That's the best way to get the theory you are learning to stick in your head.  The rules aren't "the rules" because Zeus engraved them on a diamond encrusted sword blade and presented them to Mozart.  They are just the shorthand way of remembering what you learned in an hour-long struggle with the left hand of the piano part you were writing last Tuesday.  The struggle will help you remember the importance of the rule, and the rule will succinctly sum up the struggle.  It's not enough to know the rules, you need to be able to apply them.  Which means writing as much as possible.  

Just remember, however awful your first pieces are.  (And they will be awful.  Everyone's are awful.  Musical geniuses started early enough that their awful period happened when they were 4 years old.  They still had the awful period, though.  You just didn't hear about it.)  However awful your first pieces are, the next ones will be better.  And the next ones better than that.  And however awful the first pieces were, they were still a better use of your time than sitting on the couch watching Hoarders.  (:  

Though I m a newbie too but two other things I found helpful as a beginner are

1.Change the instrumentation and listen to your scores (though they are short or long doesn't matter),often changing instruments give the idea on how to continue with the piece.

2.While listening to your music listen it again and again and play something on your instrument or sequencer or whatever you have at hand,very often i get ideas by doing this.

A tip :

While listening your music again and again is necessary for getting more ideas ,don't overdo it take short breaks ,you can even take long breaks (a week or a month) , if you feel you have had too much of it and  listen to others work during this.This way (though some complain that sometimes they are distracted) i get more ideas

Frankly, there's far too much music out there already; there's probably been more composed in the last ten years than in the entire nineteenth century. The worldwide rate of music composition is unsustainable. I think you'd be better off spending more time destroying music, or at least compose responsibly by recycling and conserving material.

Hi guys

Frankly, there's far too much music out there already;

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