Hello! From my own experiences in composing and playing music, I've always wondered if anyone has learned and/or improved in composing through playing an instrument, such as the violin, piano, or trumpet. Don't get me wrong: you don't need to learn an instrument to learn how to compose. I've created my own melodies in my head long before being introduced to my first musical instrument. So my question: Has playing an instrument ever influenced your ability to compose music?
For me, I say it has. Playing the violin lets me know what it is capable of, so I know that it can play only certain chords and use bowing techniques like spiccato. On the other hand, playing the piano taught me a lot about music theory, so I wouldn't have known the works behind the music that allowed me to compose as well if I never played it. What's your answer?