Recycle vs. Repurpose

I am not a big fan of revising your music. Once you've got things set, and once the music has been performed, it's time to let it go and move on to your next piece. The way I look at it is this: That piece of music is a snapshot of who you were at the time you composed it.

If there are obvious errors or oversights in your score, yes, by all means correct them.

But to the question at hand: what about using your own material in fresh, different ways? More and more I learn this is a tried and true technique, and you should definitely consider it.

For instance, my Three Songs of Carl Sandburg was recently performed again, and a request came up to rescore it for soprano and marimba. Well, why not? I've come to learn that many very big names in composition reorganize their music to fit the bill, whatever that might be. Something you wrote as a movie theme might become the basis for a symphony, etc.

This is especially useful during any time you feel "stuck" and don't know what to write. Repurpose your older music for a new venue, and continue to keep writing every day. This will help you keep your discipline and may even lead to some fresh, new inspiration.