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Hello, I'm new to this forum, but I had a question that I thought you could answer.

My little brother is 13 years old and has recently started composing piano pieces. They are really, surprizingly good! He has played for about4 years, but it has always been a struggle to get him to practice. Until recently, that is. He realized that he loves to compose and has a special skill for it, so lately we can't get him off the piano. He has perfect pitch with partially explains his amazing aptitude for music. He also plays the cello and aspires to compose for movies.

My question is: Where should he start? What does he need to do to get his songs published? How can he improve at composing or whatever he needs to do to be successful? I just want to help him take advantage of this great talent he has.

Thanks for your input.

There may not be a need right now to rush for publication. Let him practice composing, and let his style formulate itself, and then when he is older it might be good for him to think about publication.

Thank you. I think that is good advice, but he has been composing for about 6 months and has written 13 songs. His recent ones are really good. Although publication may not be appropriate right now, I have no idea what steps to even take when it is that time.

He really is a prodigy. His music involves all sort of interesting theory that he hasn't even learned yet. I'll say to him, "nice modulation." and he'll respond, "what is that?" He is interesting in learning though.

What advice do you have for him?

Well, show off some of his music. Post sheet music so you might get some unbiased opinions about this gift of his you state he has. It's really tough to give advice to someone when their work remains elusive. I'd wager if he's a prodigy with the quill everything will take care of itself in time and he will likely be noticed, but there's just too much to be determined based on your two posts so far. Here's my first rule of thumb for anyone starting out in composition: If you want someone to take notice of your music, a great starting point is to share it with them.

I can tell you right now that most people take prodigy claims with a grain of salt. It's not a challenge to write pretty melodies spanning several bars and pages of music. It's giving them depth, substance and life that separate the "fairly good" composers from the masters. You make it sound like you know a bit about music and I'm surprised you don't draw some parallel comparisons to back up your claims. As for the output - thirteen songs in six months doesn't mean much, not to mention that it's easily attainable. Quantity means absolutely nothing. Haydn wrote a lot of symphonies, and Beethoven wrote only nine. Arguably, Beethoven was the more accomplished symphonist by far.

Hi madmusic,

I'm glad you think highly of your brother's efforts, I'm sure your support is important to him. We would of course be interested in seeing or hearing some of his music.

I decided to Google produgy composer and found a number of them. The links below will take you to some interesting article about two composer prodigies. One has been profiled on 60 Minutes, Jay Greenberg. The first two take you to articles on Jay, a student at Julliard (he was 12 at the time). The last is perhaps more interesting because the prodigy is now in his 20s

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/24/60minutes/main657713.shtml
http://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/11/jay_greenberg.html
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/proms2003/story/0,,1031172,00.html

ok, I'll admit, I may be a little biased since we are talking about my little brother, but there is no doubt that he has amazing talent. I would say there is a range of "prodigyness." He is no Mozart. My brother is 13 and just discovered he has perfect pitch. His skill lies in writing beautiful melodic themes and interesting chord progressions. It is true that he needs to make the pieces more full, but actually one of his last pieces is quite full and varied.

As you've noticed, I do know a little about music. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have been playing since I was six and have taught for a couple of years, although I haven't pursuid a career in music, so I haven't been playing as much. I am now a science teacher.

So the teacher in me wants to cultivate his talent.

Is it safe to post unpublished music or do people steal (not you of course) ideas? Can I post music on here?

I think you are full of ur brother. First i dont think there is any brother second you are such a weeny that you cannot post your own music and want this attention and call yourself a prodigy. I mean if there is really a brother and he is prodigious why not let him develop like others have said in this forum. Believe me when I say this, when there is real talent and when some one really is so prodigious the world will notice eventually, it may not come in 5 days but real talent overflows and spreads like a fragrance from a flower. You cannot hide it or stop it. So quit being such a loser and post your songs. Lets us hear what its all about.
BTW perfect pitch has nothing to do with composing great songs. While it may aid or it might hinder is up to how one uses it.

I'm sure it's safe to post some of your brother's music here (with his permission, of course!)

Many of us post our music here, and the idea is just to get the music out there so others can listen to it. I don't think any of us are trying to sell the music that we put up here; it's just to share with others and get others' opinions and advice.

He might be a prodigy, which would be really great, or he might not be, but what's important is that prodigy or not he composes and he continues to do what he loves to do. It will be interesting I think for you and he to see where he goes with his music and how he develops as a musician.

If you'd like, and if your brother agrees, post some of his music; we'd love to hear it!

First of all, I would like to respond to Tonic. I don't know who you are and if you are actually this rude to everyone, but my brother, Cameron is, in fact, real. My name is Ashley and I am 21 years old and am a middle school science teacher. I don't compose, although I love music and have a lot of musical training. I wrote hoping to get advice for my brother who is too young and immature to get his talent out there. I am not in the music world and don't know how these things are done, hence my first post.

Also, his perfect pitch is a huge help when writing music. I know a lot more theory and have a lot more experience, but when I play around writing a simple melody sometimes I can feel where I want it to go, but can't actually make my fingers do it (I don't know if that is normal, but I suspect it is relatively). Cameron on the other hand can tell me as I'm playing "play a Gm next" and there it is, the next chord I wanted in my progression. You're right, though, I don't think his perfect pitch makes him a good composer, but I do think it helps.

But then again, I'm just a weeny and loser, so what do I know. (I'm not too offended, but really? Who do you think you are?)

I didn't realize that composers post their music. Can I do this on pianoworld.com? I think I will do this to get more input.

I think some of you took my label of prodigy too seriously. I think he has amazing talent. I think he has a great future. I just want to help direct him. Thanks for the good advice (those of you with actual advice, not critcism.)

Hey madmusic,

I think it's great that you're taking such an interest in your brother.

Probably a good place to start is finding a good music teacher. One that can expose him to a lot of different music and help him refine his compositions.

Also have him do a lot of listening to many different styles of music. Take him to recitals, concerts, musicals, etc.

Without knowing how far he is developed in his composing it would be difficult to address the subject of publishing. If he can make quality recordings of his music he could submit the tracks to film music libraries.

If his music is notated on manuscript he could submit those to companies like Alfred Publishing, Hal Leonard, Carl Fischer, etc. Do a Google search for “piano music publishers”; you’ll find plenty of them to submit his music to. Many of these publishers will give valuable feedback. Either way you’ll find out quickly if his music is ready for the publishing stage or needs more polish.

Probably the best thing you can do for him, which you’re already doing, is giving him encouragement.

If he truly loves composing, nothing will stop him. He’ll find a way to be heard in the music world.

Good luck.

Best, John

madmusic, here are some tips for your brother.

Study theory

Study scores

Learn (via theory) how to analyze music both aurally and visually

Discover what makes a piece great or genius (never assume)

Read, watch films, study art, interact and soak in life

read philosophy

learn to communicate via music only

learn to write a good essay...how does an essay relate to a piece of music.

Question everything

Find an inner voice

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if your brother likes film scores and aspires to be a hollywood composer....


what is the difference between a film score and a concert piece.

read interviews with film composers

watch movies and listen closely to the music...how does the music function? what is it's role? what works and what doesn't?

seek out job opportunities.

listen to film scores outside the movie and ask what's the difference.

----------------------------


Being a composer is a lot like a writer or a philosopher. You are always asking, always seeking and always absorbing information. Pretty melodies and harmonies are fine but just about anyone with good musical skills can do it. What makes a composer great and successful is the meaning and purpose to the work. How well does the piece make it's point. Did it do it's job? For a film score the music is all about illuminating the visual components on the screen. It is a collaborative process, a narrative pupose. For concert music the piece must stand enitrely on it's own and frankly requires much more out of the composer himself.

If your brother is at all serious then it will be innate behavior to do these things (learn, question, struggle.) If your not exhausted by it, if it isn't a struggle, then the talent/he will never develop and grow.

Don't try to force your brother to do anything too much, rather stimulate a desire to want to find out more. It is through curiousity that we gain the most out of a new experience. It is through curioiusity that we develop an open mind. It is through curiousity that we discover and it is through discovery that we gain a personality, which is essential to any composer.

Wow!
These posts are filled with great advice. I have been trying to get him to listen to more types of music. Right now he is mostly inspired by movie soundtracks, phantom of the opera, and new age (which I'm not particularly excited about).

One of the things that I struggle with the most is not trying to encourage his compositions, but encouraging technic. I try to get him to play scales or Hannon, but he just wants to work on his music. I also try to get him to learn different styles of piano pieces, but he just plays his own stuff. He has been getting better, but I think it would be more efficient if he worked more on his technic and expression.

He does aspire to be a film composer...and his songs sound like great soundtracks, like they have a story with moments of grandeur or suspense. Does anyone on this forum do that? write film scores? What advice do you have for that?

Nothing wrong with composing TV and film music. Film music consists of every genre of music. Maybe someday his music will be immortalized in a great movie. What greater accomplishment is there?

If he has a CD of some of his work, copyright it and send it out to film music libraries.

I don't blame him for not working on Hanon exercises. They use to bore me to death.

Best, John

I highly recommend formalized piano classes along with theory. Otherwise, he's wasting his time developing skills that are going to stop him from getting acceptance into serious music schools. Without the necessary tools, he won't gain access to continuing qualified education.

I see many, many, many hackers come into the store thinking they are "prodigies" even saying so; but then not even be able to play scales, arppegios, chords or keep a cadence to tempo. Let along perform anything requiring thought out fingering.

But they all play and compose around a 1-4-5 sequence and people think they're great. Really, the better ones write everything in 1-6-4-5 progressions, making everything similar not only in sound , but in structure and thought.

The key is discipline and it appears as if there is a descending interest in anything requiring discipline, practice, structure, goals setting and gaining results. Without this simple management of applied time correctly used, your little brother is wasting his time. Get him the skills and the recognition that there is no such thing as a naturally talented prodigy that can plow through life amazing everyone without ever acquiring the necessary skills. Otherwise, he'll just be hack.

His perfect pitch won't work either. Perfect pitch relative to what? If I play a note can he describe it in the number of string vibrations per second, exactly according to the laws of physics? That would be perfect pitch relative to the human musical staff and generally includes "ALL" frequencies from 27.5 vibrations per second to over 3520 vibrations per second. So, can he do this? Can he open his mouth and reproduce the tone and call out the note, without hitting a key on the piano?

I am trying to explain why others may be perceived as being rude to you in their posts; we've all heard about prodigies never to be heard from again.

Some really harsh comments here.

Madmusic - I'd find a good music teacher to assess what your brother needs to develop.

If your brother understands why certain skills are important, and how they relate to his main goal, he'll probably take it from there.

The key is discipline and it appears as if there is a descending interest in anything requiring discipline, practice, structure, goals setting and gaining results.
I would certainly hope so...art, in its general and basic form, was never meant to be a profession and, since I consider music to be art, neither was music intended for such a sorry fate.

Who said art wasn't meant to be a profession?
And why is it a sorry fate?

There's nothing wrong with making money at something one enjoys.

John

madmusic, have you just said you are trying to make him practice techic excersises? Dont do that, you are going to make him hate it. Let him do whatever he wants, composition is all about the freedom of expressing oneself.BTW, he doesnt have to go to music school to be a musician.

If he wants to be a musician someday playing a world class concert grand in the concert hall, he should get ready playing in front of ppl.

After reading these posts, I am really longing to listen to your bro's songs especially those in New Age style.

Yeah Kam, I'd be interested in hearing a few of his tracks too.

Madmusic,
If you don't want to post them you can send me an MP3 in my profile email. I'd be glad to give you my feedback.

Best, John

in my opinion the best thing you can do for your brother is to get him a good teacher. not just any teacher. there are a lot of teachers that dont know much, but still teach. make sure you get a teacher whose knowledge of music is vast and deep.