Hitting a high note: The art of composing music
Though publishing sheet music can be difficult, Dean Madsen, recently retired USU music professor, said it’s not impossible, and the reward of simply writing good music is “to bring to life the music that already is deep inside you.”
Students hoping to someday have their music published can learn a thing or two from Madsen as well as Professor Mike Christiansen and his son, Professor Corey Christiansen.
Mike, director of USU’s guitar program, said his experience in writing and publishing includes 42 music books, 30 DVDs and 30 CDs, including instructional media for guitar.
As a realist, Mike said he doesn’t teach his students how to publish sheet music “because the chances of it happening are null,” he said.
However, there are things a student can do to better their chances. Mike said just sending sheet music to a big publisher, such as Hal Leonard, is not the best method. He recommends sending it to individual artists to see if they will record it. This puts a recognized name behind the music and if a big publisher hears it, it has a much better probability of being published.
Mike said the profit-driven music industry wants to publish music by someone who is well known or music method books that are new and unique. Solos are unlikely to be published.
“Be prepared to be disappointed,” Mike said.
Madsen suggests a three-step process for students looking to publish.
“First,” he said, “develop a thorough understanding of all the musical tools. Second, let your motivation be not fame, not money, but the desire to give a meaningful, positive gift to others. Third, humbly apply your whole heart, mind and soul to the task of preparing a potentially powerful gift.”
What musical tools are there for a student to understand? Mike said to become familiar with computer programs as well as the copyrighting process. Copyright forms are available online and it is cheap to do, he said.
“You should always copyright your work even if you don’t publish it,” he said.
Corey, visiting assistant professor at USU, is a guitarist like his father. He has more than 70 projects published. He said he uses a software called Finale for all of his music engraving.
Madsen and Corey both said students should take advantage of studying with their music professors as well as writing tutors. Doing this can save students time in the writing and publishing process.
Madsen also suggests studying the composer they most want to “emulate.” This will allow the student to learn the “purpose and message of a work,” Madsen said.
Style is another important factor in whether music is published or not. Mike said jazz, as well as pop, are not likely styles to be published. Country fares a little better. Classical is very difficult, he said.
So what’s a student to do? Mike said to look for a “corner on the market,” or, in other words, to fill a void, as he did with a book on how to harmonize chords for guitar.
Corey said he got his ideas for writing music from the needs of his students.
“Many of my projects were written with my students’ needs in mind. A couple of my projects were the result of my own musical progress and practice needs,” he said.
Both Christiansens said the time each piece requires would vary from piece to piece. In addition, Mike said the writing process would vary.
“Mad, thrilled, disappointed, joy. I have felt all of the different emotions when writing music at one time or another,” he said.
After the writing process comes another essential part of music composing – editing.
Mike said to have someone else play the music before submitting it. This allows the writer to listen and see if it is played how the writer meant it to be, he said.
For Madsen, editing and composing are the same methodical process.
“The making sure that every pitch, every rhythm, every dynamic marking, every tempo, every style and articulation marking, every indication of phrasing perfectly contributes to the musical message of the musical moment and the entire piece is the essence of musical creation,” Madsen said. “In proofing, the publishers draft prior to publication. Editing involves the same detailed checking of your intent, and its realization, as does the composing of the piece itself.”
Madsen said anyone could be published. What really matters is the quality of the music, even if a person is well trained and popular, or “an average soul with little training,” he said.
Mike said he agrees with Madsen on who can write and publish.
“Natural talent doesn’t hurt, but people who work hard can become successful because of motivation,” he said.
But overall, Madsen said a piece should not be composed to be seen in print.
“It is the power and love that is embodied in a piece of music which makes it important, not whether or not it gets published,” said Madsen.
–storee.powell@aggiemail.usu.edu