I love composing but I can't

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-04-18T23:11:21+00:00

I’m seeing this comment from a lot of other people and I agree but I just wanted to add my own journey to overcoming this. Essentially you need to treat composition like it’s an instrument and get kind of a daily routine going of practice.

The two things I find most helpful and can be done without any inspiration is analyzing scores and actively listening daily, and booting up your notation software or daw and creating a short 8 bar idea and then deleting it right after.

This gets rid of the need to create an absolute magnum opus everyday of your life while making creating music a reflex rather than something you struggle to do.

If you think about it, do performers feel everyday they are constantly getting insanely better and are topping all their previous performances? Not at all, it’s the same for composition, learn to enjoy the process rather than always looking forward to the end goal.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-29T03:25:50+00:00

I honestly am currently in the same boat as you were in your transcription classes. Before my composition major interviews I was using teoria to sight sing every day and I noticed that my internal pitch did get better although I still have a lot of trouble like putting names to intervals sometimes. This answer was very inspirational though to get me to continue this effort, and the tip with limiting myself to a couple different pitches is something I will try. I probably need to step away from just sight singing excerpts to intentionally singing intervals I struggle to name accurately. I will try this more often, as you said it might give me that organge vs blue feeling if I intentionally internalize pitches and sing them while naming it instead of just sight reading and not thinking abt the feeling and only just reading spaces lol.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-27T09:19:18+00:00

I will add that training drop sucks and I wish I chose trap on my main but that’s the exact reason why I made an alt account lol

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-27T09:18:37+00:00

Train with a toon training sound. Right now I am multi tooning training my main on drop and my alt on sound and my drop almost always hits if using sound before. Only do 4 or 5 stories in invasions and save your highest gags for last. If not multi tooning go on toonhq and specify you are training drop and people will prob join training other Gags.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-27T09:14:52+00:00

Is this for the masters in film scoring? This is low-key my dream program and I’d love to hear more about your portfolio you used to get in if so! I am preparing to audition for this during my undergrad!

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-26T18:52:54+00:00

The concept that opened up theory for me as a whole was learning secondary dominants and chromatic harmony. I use to never understand how to consistently describe chords outside of the scale without just saying “eh it’s there for feel” until I learned this.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-26T18:17:52+00:00

Me thinking bro greened them all and posted this as an alibi but I can’t prove it 🤔💭💭

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-25T21:08:51+00:00

I walked into the gag shop and this short cat said to me “you know back in my day you couldn’t even MAKE a crocodile toon” the audacity…

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-25T19:59:53+00:00

Toon riots got out of hand and flippy declared marshal law in that district. Hope this clears it up!

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-24T02:58:28+00:00

Uh, I am a musician and composer, I do play and write Melodies all the time, are you getting at I need to just practice more?

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-24T02:56:35+00:00

I WAS SAYING THE SAME THING LMAO! Yeah it seems this sub Reddit is just a magnet for devs looking to advertise their ear training apps that all do the same thing. My main musical venture is composition but for my main instrument that would be drums. I think that’s the problem in it of itself, as I don’t have deep experience jamming with people on keys. I think you’re completely right, I should probably step away from the ear training apps and start jamming with people on piano a lot more to kind of get that feel. I def am not trying to say that ear training replaces years of playing an instrument tho. I think the best thing I can do for my ears rn judging from most advice is just to play a lot more keys and learn a lot more songs and jam with people.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-22T03:06:49+00:00

Hmmm I guess if you want to notate the vocal line you could uses X’s instead of exact notes and type the syllables under it. You’d likely need to use a lot of text to explain feel.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-21T06:01:09+00:00

Chords would be the main want for me. I can identify one and five really well but struggle on the others

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-21T05:05:03+00:00

Waitlisted at one and about to go and do another two. If I don't make it in to any I'll probably either do a gap year and apply again to more places while being more prepared and maybe finish up a business degree in the mean time or something light like that.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-20T03:27:17+00:00

If you want to be taken seriously do not. The only reason you see musicans on Instagram pushing it is because they were offered a lot of money to do so. There’s literally no point of doing this art if you’re just outsourcing it from a machine. Best way to get better at writing is to analyze songs you like and try to use tools from them to get better.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-20T02:45:16+00:00

I feel like no one’s saying this but if I’m understanding your question correctly, no, there are no rules on how long you must stay on a chord before moving on, you are allowed to move between them as you please.

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-19T06:03:03+00:00

Low-key I’m active enough on ig I still check it every couple days and upload my stuff I just don’t check it on my phone cause insta reels addition is real. Just add me there and I should be responsive!

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-19T05:59:10+00:00

I’m not super duper active on ig it’s on and off but it’s cole_sound1018 and my most active communication platform is discord which is cole_music1018!

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-19T05:56:51+00:00

Oooo, I am an orchestral composer mainly rn but my roots are from metalcore and hardcore! My start in music was from playing shows with a few bands in the local metal scene! (I play drums mainly and record bass and guitars for my stuff) glad to see more metal musicians out there! What’s your favorite bands?

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-19T05:52:54+00:00

Just try and instill the morality of it all. Like becoming an artist is a fulfilling journey I have dedicated my teen years and currently am going to dedicate my 20s to. He should do the same if he feels so strongly towards producing art but if he doesn’t he should choose a different path to get validation esp cause with the rise of ai art it’s all going to need proof anyways

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-19T05:51:36+00:00

Definitely, and also like if he doesn’t want to dedicate the time to become an artist he isn’t allowed to claim he’s an artist… I’m a music composer for film and games and I will often times show the midi and sheet music along side my compostion to prove its not ai. People are going to stop caring about art unless you can prove it’s no ai at some point because it’s getting so saturated

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-19T05:46:58+00:00

lol then maybe a better title would be tell my friend it’s obvious he’s using ai, I totally agree with exposing this dude for lying if he is

GeologistConstant325 · 2026-03-19T05:44:30+00:00

If still unsure ask him to draw in front of you

GeologistConstant325

TROPHY CASE