Part of going to school for a degree in composition is to
learn the craft of composing and to build your musical “toolbox” (i.e. control
of musical parameters; mastery of various musical languages; solid skills in
notation, instrumentation, orchestration, counterpoint, etc.) as well as to
discover your own unique musical “voice.”
But an equally important part is to figure out how to build a successful
composing career. When you graduate,
your toolbox will be brimming with finely honed skills and your brain will be bursting
with exciting ideas for new pieces, but what do you do now? How do you let people know that you are a
composer, and how do you get your music out there?
Tough questions indeed!
This is why I advocate for preparing yourself to be a Well-Rounded
Composer while in school. A Well-Rounded
Composer is not only ready for any opportunities that should come his/her way,
but also is a go-getter and creates opportunities for oneself. This is someone who will build and maintain a
website, go to concerts, build relationships with musicians and performing
ensembles (both in school and out in the community), collaborate with people in
other fields, and perhaps even start a musical organization. These skills and strategies can – and should
– be tested out by a student while in school: build your website, create a
musical organization with your fellow students, learn how to market your
organization, and so on. If you do this
while you’re a student, then you’ve already gotten a head start on having a
professional career by the time you graduate.
A Well-Rounded Composer also takes a good look at his/her
skill sets and figures out how these skills can translate to other fields of
work while constructing a musical career.
Let’s face it – no composer will have a full-time professional composing
gig at the moment of graduation. For
almost everyone in this field, our careers will take time to build (very few
composers ever experience overnight success).
So it is good to create a strategy in which you can earn money that will
keep you financially afloat while you keep composing and engaging in musical
activities. Perhaps you have a knack for
turning out beautifully notated music scores - you could become a copyist, or
work for a major publishing house. Or if
you’ve got awesome orchestration skills, you can orchestrate for a film
composer. There are plenty of examples
of very successful composers who worked assorted jobs until their careers took
off, even jobs outside of music. Just
look at Philip Glass, who drove cabs, moved furniture, and worked as a plumber
before becoming a full-time composer.
Ultimately, a Well-Rounded Composer is someone who has four
elements: a sturdy “toolbox,” a unique musical voice, a passion to chase down
and create musical opportunities, and a realistic view about finding a means to
support oneself while building towards full-time composer status. With some hard work and careful planning, you
can create a path for yourself that will lead to a very fulfilling life as a
composer.
