Fri Sep 10 2010

Music Composer

Composers create musical works that can be performed by orchestra, voices, groups of musicians and soloists. These compositions can be in any style, including classical, rock, soul, rhythm and blues, pop, jazz, funk, blues, swing, big band, country and folk.

Some composers use electronic resources such as computers and synthesisers in their writing. Composers of any style of music have usually had instrumental training and many are performers.

They work long and irregular hours, writing, practising, rehearsing and performing. They may have to travel to publishers or to visit artists who are to perform their work. All composers have to travel to rehearsals and to hear performances of their work.

Composers are almost all self-employed and are paid a fee for the commissions they take on. The Musicians' Union and the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) suggest the sort of rates composers and musicians could be paid. These range from £300 per minute of composed music for choral work to up to £1,000 per minute for orchestral commissions.

A composer needs:

outstanding musical talent
to be totally dedicated to what is a very demanding profession
good organisational skills
to be flexible and prepared to work in a variety of contexts
a love of music and performance.

It may take some time to become established as a composer. Composers at the start of their careers may benefit from bursary schemes, or may be appointed in association with an orchestra or a community music centre. It is important to have networking skills to build contacts and find out about job opportunities.

Composers of classical music need extensive formal musical education and training, often to postgraduate level. Most have learnt to play one or more instruments from an early age.

Useful qualifications include GCSEs and A levels in music, BTEC National Diplomas and degrees in music. These can be studied at universities, music conservatoires or colleges of further education.

Composers need to make a name for themselves by entering competitions, applying for bursaries and awards, and writing new works for amateur music societies. This may take many years and it can be difficult to maintain a successful career.

Some composers achieve great success and receive regular commissions. However, most go on to work in other areas of the industry, such as writing music for the media.

What is the work like?

Music composers create musical works, usually using musical notation so that it can then be interpreted and performed by orchestras, voices, groups of musicians and soloists. The term 'composer' is often used specifically to mean a writer of classical music. In popular music, the composer is typically called a songwriter who often works in collaboration with other musicians and performers in a band.

Compositions can be in any style, including classical, rock, soul, rhythm and blues, pop, jazz, funk, blues, swing, big band, country and folk.

Composers of any style of music have usually had instrumental training and many are performers. They use this experience as their introduction to composing, as becoming an established composer takes time. Being a composer or songwriter is rarely a full-time occupation. Many musicians adopt the role at some stage in their careers, often whilst working in other jobs.

Composers apply musical knowledge of rhythm, melody, tone and texture in a variety of ways. They have to be aware of the possibilities and limitations of each instrument, including the human voice. Some composers do not begin working on a composition until they have planned the outline, either on paper or in their head. Others like to make a series of short sketches before they put the whole work together.

Some composers use electronic tools, such as computers and synthesisers in their writing. Developments in music technology have created new opportunities for composers, making it easier to write, record and distribute music. Writing music for television, adverts and computer games is a growing but competitive field.

Hours and environment

Composers work long and irregular hours, writing, practising, rehearsing and performing. Evening and weekend work is common. They may write in any environment - at home, in schools and colleges, in offices, recording studios, music venues or even on the move. They do not necessarily require access to an instrument when composing.

They may have to travel to publishers or to visit artists who are to perform their work. All composers have to travel to rehearsals and to hear performances of their work.

Composers employed in other regular work, such as teaching or publishing, have to write music in their spare time.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

For choral work, composers may earn around £300 per minute of composed music.
For title music, composers may earn around £350 per minute of composed music.
For orchestral commissions, composers may earn between £500 and £1,000 per minute of composed music.

The Musicians' Union and the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) suggest rates that composers and musicians could be paid.

Very few composers earn a fixed salary. Earnings vary greatly and depend on ability, reputation and mobility. Composers are most likely to be self-employed and to earn an income from a variety of sources, including commissions, recording contracts and sales of recordings and sheet music.

They will also earn royalty payments for performances and broadcasts of their compositions.

Competitions and awards can also provide sources of income.

They may need to supplement their incomes with other work, such as teaching or playing.

There may also be fees for orchestration, arranging and electronic realisation, for attendance at rehearsals or recording and for creating professional demo tapes prior to a commission.

Skills and personal qualities

A composer should:

have outstanding musical talent
be self-disciplined and determined
have total dedication to what is a very demanding profession
have the ability to produce work to a consistently high standard
possess good organisational skills
be resourcefulness and good networking skills
be flexible and prepared to work in a variety of contexts.

Interests

It is important to:

have a love of music
be interested in performance.

Getting in

Most composers are self-employed. A small number work for music publishers, mainly as arrangers or orchestrators. Some are retained by theatrical companies, festivals, universities, cathedrals and choirs.

Entry routes

Composers of classical music need extensive formal musical education and training, often to postgraduate level. Most have learnt to play one or more instruments from an early age. They usually start at school by taking a series of graded examinations, including theory of music.

Once an interest and some ability have been established in composing, further study can be directed towards composition through courses at universities, music conservatoires or colleges of further education. Summer schools, music competitions and festivals can supplement study.

Useful qualifications include:

GCSEs and A levels in music
BTEC National Diplomas in music practice or popular music. Entry is usually with at least four GCSEs (A*-C), or the equivalent.

There are two main types of higher education courses:

specialist degree courses offered by music colleges (conservatoires)
music degree courses offered by universities or other higher education institutions.

University degree courses may concentrate more on the academic side of music, as opposed to the practical playing or composing side. Courses run by conservatories are traditionally aimed at performers. However, virtually all conservatories now offer composition as a principal study. Entry to music degree courses may be relaxed for applicants with relevant experience who do well in an audition.

The minimum academic requirement for entry on to a degree course is usually two A levels, including music, plus five GCSEs (A*-C) or the equivalent. In addition, people often need at least a grade eight in an instrument from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Auditions and interviews form part of the selection process.

Demand for these courses is very high and competition can be fierce.

A wide variety of postgraduate and Masters degree courses are also available.

Training

To develop as a composer, experience is more relevant for progression than formal training routes. Composers need to make a name for themselves by:

entering competitions
applying for bursaries and awards
participating in special schemes for young artists
joining amateur groups
providing new music repertoires for performance in schools
writing new works for amateur music societies.

This may take many years, and even after establishing a reputation, it can be difficult to maintain a successful career.

Getting on

A career as a composer is challenging and requires a combination of resilience, training and talent.

Some composers achieve great success and receive regular commissions. However, most go on to work in other areas of the industry, eg writing music for the media, including television, film, advertising and video games.

Further information

The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, 26 Berners Street, London W1T 3LR. 020 7636 2929. Website: http://www.britishacademy.com/

British Recorded Music Industry (BPI), Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JA. 020 7803 1300. Website: http://www.bpi.co.uk/

Conservatoires UK Admissions Service (CUKAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ. 0871 468 0470. Website: http://www.cukas.ac.uk/

Creative & Cultural Skills, Lafone House, The Leathermarket, Weston Street, London SE1 3HN. 020 7015 1800. Website: http://www.ccskills.org.uk/ and www.creative-choices.co.uk/music

Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), 10 Stratford Place, London W1C 1AA. 020 7629 4413. Website: http://www.ism.org/

Musicians' Union, 60-62 Clapham Road, London SW9 OJJ. 020 7582 5566. Website: http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/

PRS for Music, Copyright House, 29-33 Berners Street, London W1T 3AB. 020 7580 5544. Website: http://www.prsformusic.com/

Sound and Music, Somerset House, Third Floor, South Wing, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. 020 7759 1800. Website: http://www.soundandmusic.org/

Magazines/journals

BBC Music Magazine

Classical Music

Gramophone

Music Week

Sound on Sound

The Stage

Handsworth Wood Girls´

Visual and Performing Arts Specialist College and Sixth Form Centre