Getting into Music Writing

[VideoTechMan]

How does one get into music writing? Mainly for like soundtracks and such like that. I have some idea of music (since i used to play trumpet in band back in grade school), but not enough to say write a masterpiece of my own. Im personally am so sick of copyright issues and having to deal with stuff others wrote, trying to obtain permission to use their works which is virtually impossible....if I knew how to write my own music (thinking more of instrumental type) to use in my own video projects, I would be in good shape.

What does it take to write your own music, instruments and things like that? Anyone here ever wrote their own music? If so how was the process and did it turn out as what you hoped?

VTM

[Conquest10]

If you used to play an instrument then I assume you know how to read music. That is a must. You could take a couple of classes in music theory. You know, learn more about the technical aspects of music. Join a band or, even better, an orchestra. You can learn lots from other musicians (real ones, not most garage bands that only know two chords).

But with computers nowadays, people just through stuff together that sounds good. It still works, but...

[Rookie64]

You can hire anyone to write or record their own music for you - and you'd be the legal owner of the music.

To use other artists' recorded music, you only need permission from the copyright holder/ publisher/ record company.
How much you need to pay depends on what you're using the music for.



An inexpensive way to license music, is to use a PML.
They own all rights to their music, have a broad selection and specialize in music for video and film productions.

This is just one - http://www.parrymusic.com/

You can google search for many more.

[sacajaweeda]

VTM:

Here's a bit of an intriguing oddity I stumbled across browsing the net one night a couple of years ago. I had completely forgotten about it until I saw your post. Just checked and it's still there. Check it out. May be of some use to you. Interesting lass if nothing else.

http://www.stefcam.com

[housepig]

What does it take to write your own music, instruments and things like that? Anyone here ever wrote their own music? If so how was the process and did it turn out as what you hoped?

imaginition and willingness to put up with a learning curve. that's what it takes.

go to your nearest newsstand and look for a copy of the UK magazine Computer Music - it will have a disc on the cover that has a complete freeware suite of music production tools (sequencer, sampler, drum machine, synths, etc.) and usually a boatload of free samples as well.

they pretty frequently run how-to articles on songwriting & arranging, which go through the process step-by-step - a good way to get acquainted with the software, and with arrangement in general.

[yoda313]

Hello,

go to your nearest newsstand and look for a copy of the UK magazine Computer

Um... VideoTechMan's location shown is Michigan. Probably a little tough for him. Maybe you could give him a website for it???

Kevin

[Conquest10]

I buy UK mags all the time here. Expensive as hell though.

[housepig]

Um... VideoTechMan's location shown is Michigan. Probably a little tough for him. Maybe you could give him a website for it???

wow, you're right... they probably don't have Barnes & Noble, or Borders, or CompUSA, or Micro Center in Michigan... it's the ends of the earth, after all.



well then, I guess he can't make music, unless he moves from Michigan. or at least flys to the UK.

[yoda313]

Um... VideoTechMan's location shown is Michigan. Probably a little tough for him. Maybe you could give him a website for it???

wow, you're right... they probably don't have Barnes & Noble, or Borders, or CompUSA, or Micro Center in Michigan... it's the ends of the earth, after all.



well then, I guess he can't make music, unless he moves from Michigan. or at least flys to the UK.

Hello,

:P :P :P :P

I don't buy foreign newspapers so I wouldn't know!

Kevin

--Besides, the internet would be easier! --

[hech54]

A friend of mine is a singer/songwriter....as a matter of fact you've probably heard one of his songs on the radio at least once this week in your car. Anyway....he ALWAYS has paper and pencil with him at all times to write down ideas....even if they are only a phrase, sentence or even a thought.
He used to use his answering machine at home to call in his ideas while he was on the road....he had a VERY expensive phone bill while he was touring Australia...

[smearbrick1]

First, figure out what kind of music you want to write. If you want write rootsy guitar-based music, trumpet experience is not really going to help. It will help as far as reading music/understanding melody/keys IE: the theory of it. However, it will not assist you in making the best guitar music. If you want to write guitar-based music... learn guitar. Even if it is for chord changes... in fact, learn chord changes on a piano... get together with some people who can play the instruments you want in your music and go to town. At least you will have some basic chord knowledge to build upon. They is nothing worse than someone who knows nothing about chord changes writing music, then trying to express these ideas to someone who knows music. Humming and whistling can only get you so far.

[VideoTechMan]

Um... VideoTechMan's location shown is Michigan. Probably a little tough for him. Maybe you could give him a website for it???

wow, you're right... they probably don't have Barnes & Noble, or Borders, or CompUSA, or Micro Center in Michigan... it's the ends of the earth, after all.



well then, I guess he can't make music, unless he moves from Michigan. or at least flys to the UK.

I may not live in the UK, but they do have Barnes and Nobles here in MI (in fact one is about 10 miles from where i live)....they're all over the place in the US. I will look into the mag you suggessted housepig.

I appreciate the input everyone offered....yes I know a trumpet wont help much but at least I know a little on reading music and keeping a melody. Im thinking learning piano would be a great way to get started, alot of great music comes from pianos.

[JohnnyCNote]

You might want to get a midi enabled keyboard and learn that. It would provide a lot more versatility and should be easily transferable to video projects.....

[housepig]

--Besides, the internet would be easier! --

very true - but it's easier for me to say "drop $12 on this magazine that's got all this stuff arranged for you, and features tutorials" than it is for me to list the myriad freeware apps and sample sites that I'd recommend otherwise.

:P

vtech - it can be done, if you're into doing it. just like video work, it's got a learning curve, but it's not insurmountable.

if you'd like a quick-fix playing around, check out Acid Planet and drill down for the free version of Acid, Acid Xpress. IIRC, they have sample packs with different drum and instrument samples for download as well - sometimes it's easier to start with arranging pre-made blocks, before starting to craft your own.