My kids would have starved
June 19, 2012 | 11:30 pm

So that proves I would never be able to compose for a living

We all compose in our own way. Some on sheet music (before DAWs, anyhow), some sitting at the piano or with the guitar, some for two hours more or less every day for a month, some over three nights and the two days in between before collapsing utterly. Some even compose on stage, where it's called improvisation, which is awesome.

I'm 45 years old and, having lived with myself the entire time, know myself pretty well. This is how I compose:

There were three months back there where I hardly stepped away from the keyboard. And every day I was away I thought about what I was going to do when I got back. And every four days or so another incredible song opportunity zapped into my head. I couldn't keep up, honestly. But it was fun trying.

Then, like a switch it turned off. For the past three months or so each minute at the keyboard became a chore, an obligation. My lovely muse, full of flattery and inspiration, turned into a bad tempered mule who bit and passed gas and ate out of our garden. This was the opposite of fun. I took a break.

I'm here to report: The muse isn't back but the mule's gone. Good riddance.

Mark

soulima Artist	Glad that your mojo has returned - even somewhat. I've been there. Taking a break often works for me. Sometimes we try too hard, methinks. I also think with the advent of the Internet, one sites such as these, there's a something unknown composers in the past never had - an audience. Although it's pretty amazing to have people comment and listen, even have a 'following', it can get in the way, at least for me. When I am in the midst of writing music, I'm in 'my happy place'. I not thinking about the listener, I'm just doing it for me. Selfish? Maybe, but in my experience, it works best when my compositional purpose is not cluttered with other things; it's just about the music, and my personal connection to it. Keep writing! Glad that your mojo has returned - even somewhat. I've been there. Taking a break often works for me. Sometimes we try too hard, methinks. I also think with the advent of the Internet, one sites such as these, there's a something unknown composers in the past never had - an audience. Although it's pretty amazing to have people comment and listen, even have a 'following', it can get in the way, at least for me. When I am in the midst of writing music, I'm in 'my happy place'. I not thinking about the listener, I'm just doing it for me. Selfish? Maybe, but in my experience, it works best when my compositional purpose is not cluttered with other things; it's just about the music, and my personal connection to it. Keep writing!
	Last edited 11 months ago.
	Latest Song: 'Suite for Children - In the Sandbox' June 20, 2012 | 5:35 am
KCsGROOVE Artist	The muse comes and goes, but it helps when you keep on noodling when she's gone, you'll still be in some kind of flow when she returns... I let it come naturally, but I don't wait for inspiration, inspiration comes when you're working... The muse comes and goes, but it helps when you keep on noodling when she's gone, you'll still be in some kind of flow when she returns... I let it come naturally, but I don't wait for inspiration, inspiration comes when you're working... :-)
	Latest Song: THE WORLD June 23, 2012 | 2:37 pm
pinkyrv Artist	Ah the muse is a fickle wench. Sometimes a tease, oft times very demanding and you will find her in the strangest places. Skydiving, traffic jams, even at work sometimes. She has abandoned me when I needed her most and haunted me when I didn't have to time to coddle her. I still love her dearly and she knows she has me on a string. Ah the muse is a fickle wench. Sometimes a tease, oft times very demanding and you will find her in the strangest places. Skydiving, traffic jams, even at work sometimes. She has abandoned me when I needed her most and haunted me when I didn't have to time to coddle her. I still love her dearly and she knows she has me on a string.
	Latest Song: Pickles June 23, 2012 | 5:49 pm