In a Composer’s Garden

 In a Composer’s Garden

Composing music is a highly specialized creative process, very similar to growing a garden. It is a wonderful, challenging journey, with a beginning, a middle and an end. When we finish, there is a satisfying reward. Most people have some awareness of what is involved in growing a garden, so let us compare the gardener’s process to that of a songwriter.

Preparing the Soil –– An experienced gardener understands the importance of preparing the soil. We till and amend our soil to create optimal growing conditions for our plants. For a composer, a fertile, creative environment comes from developing one’s listening skills, knowing solfege and music theory, and playing scales and chords on one’s instrument.

Choosing the Seed –– The seed is the composer’s initial musical idea (motif) taking shape in the inner ear. Our music imagination quickens and sparks more creativity. We must discern when an idea is worth pursuing and developing.

Planting the Seed –– Once we have chosen to develop an idea (our seed), we plant it. Now we really focus on where it is going to go musically. We flesh out the first theme and see where it wants to go from there.

Watering the Seed –– Using our musical knowledge, good taste and persistence, we water our seed by developing our best ideas into a cohesive theme.

Fertilizing the Plant –– When our seed has begun to sprout, it requires fertilizer. We feed our seed (our song) with improvements in textures, harmonies, lyrics, and layers.

More Watering –– Our plant still needs to be watered and kept alive. We help it grow by developing the themes, using rhythm, structure and harmony.

Weeding the Garden –– Stepping back to gaze on our garden, we discern what else it needs. Should we prune it a bit? Did a few weeds sneak in that need to be pulled? How can we help the plant grow to its full potential? This is the stage of critiquing and editing. Writers call it “rewriting” and composers also fiddle with notes and chords to maximize results.

Harvesting –– The fruit is now ripe, and it is time to pick the harvest. We will know when it is time, and our composition is complete. It has reached its full potential and is ready to be enjoyed and shared.

Preparing the Harvest –– “If music be the food of love, play on.” So says Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. What we have planted and grown is now a real piece of music. We can write our notes on staff paper, or on notation software, making it ready to print or to publish. Now it is available and can be widely shared.

Enjoyment – Our new composition is ready for listening and performing, over and over, by us and by others, near and far. What a marvelous, rewarding journey it has been!