Where do composers find their inspiration?

Hello Dakota,

Great question, so where is the creative spark when you need it...I find that the more I am looking for it the more it eludes me. That is where "letting go" comes in. Go out for a walk or do something else physical to allow your mind to play with something different. It never helps to try to plough through. Engage in a different way and allow yourself to find a new spark in a place you have not looked yet.

Are you doing post score are are you having to produce something for them to cut to? Post score has always been easier because it should tell a story and give you a good feel for where you're going. It's also helpful to ask the producer/director to give you some music ideas, (Gladiator, Star Wars, or some chick flick) that they like to help give you a starting point. If you're still stuck, buy some film scores on Itunes from John Williams, Danny Elfman, James Horner, etc. That should give you plenty of ideas.

It's hard for a film producer to explain in musical terms. They don't know musical terms and really have no way of telling you what they want. Your job is to try to find out what they are actually trying to communicate and translate it into music.

Remember in the film Amadeus the king told Mozart that his composition had too many notes and to just take some out. He asked, "Sir, which ones would you have me remove?" That's just the way things go. The sooner you can learn to interpret what the director wants, the further along you will be.

Also, just because you think it's the most beautiful piece of music that you've ever written, it's not about you. It's about the production. I've learned to say to the director/producer "If you like it, I love it".

Good luck

I get inspiration by watching people, and talking to people. I write music based on what they say, do and feel.

Children are a source of lots of inspiration. There emotions are so easily seen and heard...especially laughter.

Visual art always inspires me: photographs, paintings, sculpture....I ask myself, "What would that sound like?" Dance is inspiring as well. Watch the dances, the movement, with the sound turned off of your computer. I then create my own music in my head to how they are moving. I have come up with several 8-12 measure themes by doing this.

I love world music, and listening to different types of music always gives me inspiration to create.

But recently, I have found a lot of inspiration by listening to nature! I hear the wind, and think,,,,"Hmmmm...how about a snare played with a brush?", or maybe heavy strings, when the wind is loud and strong! The birds get me going with flutes and clarinets, and occasionally the oboe. And for some reason, I always hear piano when I hear and see water. The ocean sometimes is in a minor key and other times, I will hear a major key.

My buddy Brent Baxter is the guy to talk to: http://manvsrow.com/ Follow along on his social media for free and learn more in a year than most coming out of any college.

Also, see: http://theclimbshow.com/ You must know the business behind music to make any of it matter. Once you get into it, you'll understand!

The principles you'll learn from both of these resources will give you the full picture on how to be a good working songwriter and artist.
Remember you must, must, must do it everyday and be entirely dedicated to the vision of the end product for any act or piece of music.

That said, music is back to being in the hands of the talented now, but you need to do a lot of leg work to get your brand built. Then don't mess it up by signing with a label, they just take half of your money and give you basically nothing of real value in return. I have many friends who've had music contracts and they've almost all totally left those contracts; some by natural expiration and others under heavy litigation. The point is you can hire a social media marketing company and booking company for way less than losing half to a label.

The industry as a whole is a wasteland though, so expect to come upon bandits frequently and only partner with those you've put to the test in hard times. Sad but true...yet there's still a glint of hope ; )