Just Get Started!! You've got to DO Something...
Too often people don’t actually do anything. I have people come to me week after week for lessons, but don’t practice so don’t get really improve from month to month! Your mission is to NOT be one of those people.
So get started, and remember that nobody is expecting you be getting number one hits in the next few weeks, so build slowly, and learn, and practice as we go along.
If you don’t like what you’re writing at first, this is totally normal. We all experience self doubt from time to time, so push through it, and the good stuff will come, I promise. Just get used to using the techniques, practicing hard, and working on your composition skills.
A big mistake a lot of aspiring composers make is not being organised. The most ANNOYING thing in the world is coming up with a cracking idea, and thinking, “I’ll remember that”. . . . You probably won’t! The number of times I’ve written something I really like, and then forgotten it within seventeen seconds is amazing, but I learned from that and now I ALWAYS record, or write down any good ideas. So BE PREPARED. If a cub scout can do it, I’m sure you can.
What will you need? A pen, some manuscript paper or tab if you can’t read music, and preferably something to record on. It doesn’t have to be the top of the range digital editing equipment, just an old tape recorder will do. I sometimes even use the voice recorder on my mobile phone if there’s nothing around. The sound quality isn’t the best though I must admit.
As for manuscript paper, at the time of writing this, you can download FREE manuscript to print at www.antonjazz.com and www.blanksheetmusic.net so you have no excuses as to why you can’t write it down (Actually, not having a printer would be a good excuse)! If that IS the case, do what I used to do, and use a pen and ruler to make your own manuscript paper. You can also download FREE notation software at www.finalemusic.com and this piece of equipment is awesome for a freebie so I recommend you get that too! It allows you to create professional quality manuscripts, print them out, and it even has a play along feature so you can hear what your music sounds like before you save and print it.
So are you prepared?
Are you ready to go?
Do you have your paper and pen?
Recording equipment?
Oh yeah, have you got your instrument out and TUNED?
Let’s go then! |
