Ten Steps to Better Composing

I just have to link to this blog entry by Brian Clark, the author of copyblogger.com.

He's concerned about writing language, but his advice says it all for composers, too!

Something for Hitchcock Fans

Music is such an abstract, can't-put-your-hands-on-it art form. I'm always finding it useful to compare music to visual arts. I recently came across this website which is a humorous attempt to explain how to be a better film director via the techniques of Alfred Hitchcock.

Or is it humorous? Many of the techniques can apply to any good art, and that means music, too. Keep the audience in mind, frame for emotion, break cliches, remember to use humor, two things at once, surprise and twist -- all are valid considerations when you sit down to compose a piece of music.

Thanks to Jeff Bays for writing this neat little web page!

Prince Shows the Way?

I've been a fan of Prince since back in 1982, when his album 1999 came out. It's no secret that pop music has suffered commercially in the last few years in the age of the digital download. But here, with Prince, we have a musician who has somehow managed to stay ahead of the curve commercially. In the July 22, 2007 New York Times there is an article by Jon Pareles called "The Once and Future Prince" which does a good job of explaining how Prince has adapted over the years to the changing realities of getting music to his audience. For instance,

Prince gravitated early to the Internet. Even in the days of dial-up, he sought to make his music available online, first as a way of ordering albums and then through digital distribution.

and

Prince's priorities are obvious. The main one is getting his music to an audience.

Whatever kind of musician you are, classical, pop, jazz, the internet has completely revolutionized your career -- whether you do something about it or not. Prince's example serves as a great object lesson, and the article is worth reading here.