Advice from the composer, Caleb Parker
| It was late October of 2020 that I contacted composer, Caleb Parker. I contacted him because I appreciated his YouTube video on how to do a specific task on Finale. I was pleasantly surprised and humbled to have received his kind and helpful reply. His advice to me as a growing composer was so helpful that I wanted to share it with you. I believe that God wants me to write music. I’ve known this since the ninth grade when I heard a short, orchestral musical line in my head. But I had no idea how it would happen. Now I believe that technology, like DAWs and music software programs like Finale/Sibelius, are tools. DAWs are equalizers to level the playing field for all musicians. All of that to say…I have kept Caleb’s advice to heart. I printed it out and put it in my “To Do” notebook. Here are Caleb’s words, which I believe will help you too in your musical journey! |
Being a composer is not an easy career path and I am still very early on in my journey to where I want to be. I have learned so much from other composers by reaching out and asking questions, finding mentors, watching films and analyzing the music, and simply writing music ad nauseam.
Do you produce/compose music in a DAW? (Digital Audio Workstation: Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase, etc.) If not I would recommend choosing one and diving in to really learn how to take full advantage of all the features. Spitfire Labs has an incredible free selection of professional level samples you can download and use in your DAW- everything from ambient pads/fx, to synths, and acoustic instruments like strings, pianos, etc. I would also recommend following the “Perspective” composer page on Facebook. It’s the largest composer group on the network and sometimes even huge names like Hans Zimmer and John Powell post and respond to people.
I know you didn’t ask for advice but these following points are ones that I wish I would have been told:
1. Just Write– a lot. all the time. Only 6 measures? That’s fine! Super cheesy? Great!! don’t get hung up on writing the perfect piece of music. Perfection comes from the strange dichotomy that we should shoot for quantity over quality, BUT that quality eventually comes with quantity.
2. Activity begets activity– Be involved online in various capacities with filmmaker groups, composer, groups, indie film pages, etc. Show your work, check out other people’s works, etc. Be constantly working at something and when people see that you’re busy and productive, you’ll only become busier.
3. Find your own voice– yes, it is important to be able to write in all styles and genres. BUT, you should constantly be listening to your inner composer and discerning where your strengths lie. More often than not, composers are sought out because of their particular styles of writing. So, for instance, in my very small network of young filmmakers, I am known as a minimalist art music composer, and/or a synthesizer music guy. You’ll need to discover what your voice naturally has to say musically and capitalize on that.
4. Don’t “keep up with the Jones”- being a composer can be an expensive thing and will be eventually. It doesn’t need to be immediately, however. Don’t worry about getting the latest and greatest hardware, software, tools, etc. Purchase a modest “rig” and completely master everything about it. It is better to focus on writing incredible music with little equipment than to write subpar music with state-of-the art equipment you haven’t fully mastered yet.
As a composer, I want to encourage you to follow Caleb’s words of wisdom. They are practical and achievable goals that you can implement into your creative processes. Do already do these things? If so, then which ones are the most helpful to you in your music business?
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