Grad school is cutting into my free time. Not that I was using my free time for anything productive, but I miss it now that it’s less there. This, of course, led me to think about most of the composers I know, and the multiple hats that they all wear. Most composers I know are students, so there is the combined problem of having time to study and having time to write. The composers that I know that aren’t students and don’t teach are usually freelancing, and spend quite a bit of time promoting their own works, which is not a quick task. And of course composition professors usually end up teaching theory, or running sound, or any number of other extra tasks. In my experience, being a composer means being able to juggle several things that you may or may not be qualified to do AND find the time to write music. And that is my big problem this semester.
I know that my best chance for finding a time to actually write music is to just sit down with my schedule, figure out when I’m free, and reserve a chunk of time specifically for composing. At least, that’s what I’m thinking I have to do for this semester.
Advice? Thoughts? Let me know!
Kyle
Maggie
romannum700
koemxe
Sadly, I fear that you should not sleep. In fact, not sleeping has been the key to many successful composers. You said it, “…being a composer means being able to juggle several things that you may or may not be qualified to do AND find the time to write music.” Well I have some bad news though, that doesn’t end after grad school
But really, no sleep, while it might kill you, is helpful for composition.
I was afraid you’d say that.
For me, the best time to compose comes either after listening to a live performance or after having just performed myself. I think it has something to do with already having open ears, but I usually have more ideas then than if I’ve just set down to write something. The best time to schedule time might be after rehearsals. Then again that might depend on what you’re rehearsing…
The other option would be to limit the non-composing things you do. Yes, you may have to wear many hats, but when that interferes with what you really need to be doing it might be time to reassess. I think in every life part of being successful is knowing what things you aren’t willing to waste your time doing and focusing on everything else.