[surendren]

What are the skills to be developed to be a composer and to arrange music?

[lebeux]

Nada. Zero. Zilch. Nothing.




How dare you suggest otherwise you elitist douchebag.

[Evelon]

12% hearing
10% talent/musicality
70% interest/perseverance/stubborness/curiosity
8% ADHD/ADD/Asberger/[insert letter combo here]

[Solarite]

Hard work, discipline, perseverance, inspiration, talent. In that order.

[Qwer-Ky]

Motivational Version:
Motivation.
Get that right, and everything else will come over time.

And in that respect, Patience.
You'll learn how to make music with practise and hard work, but it won't come unless you keep at it.


Musician Version:
You're probably going to want to develop your understanding of basic music theory.
ie: the basic types of scales (Major and the three Minors) and chord theory.

Actual music talent (in playing an instrument) isn't a requirement, although it doesn't hurt to know how a few instruments work.
Learning how to arrange something comes from experience, though. See motivational version above.

[YoMyEX]

First, we have to define what actually makes a composer/arranger of music. What must one know or do in order to "become" one? write a song? write music? compose a symphonic piece for an orchestra?
This is actually a question I have been thinking about for a while, and I associate this same thought with other professions as well (audio engineers, producers, and artists in general).

[Will.E.P.]

I don't give a fuck if it's on a computer or on staff paper. Theory (to an extent) and orchestration are important. Especially orchestration.

Both of those can go further than tradition classical orchestra. I studied composition in school, and I use it on a daily basis, even if it has to do with electronic music.

If you plan to produce as well, basic knowledge in physics is pretty important.

Other than that, knowing how to play keyboard is a plus.

The only thing that doesn't come as easy as the above is a good ear, but over time it will develop.

[AngryCrown]

Originally Posted by Evelon

12% hearing
10% talent/musicality
70% interest/perseverance/stubborness/curiosity
8% ADHD/ADD/Asberger/[insert letter combo here]

Ehhhhhhh, I'm going with his answer on this one.

[Fid]

I think it might take a little bit more musicality than that but yeah Evelon is pretty much right.

[Blingley]

You don't need any, except an attention span longer than 10 seconds. You might need some if you want to be succesful at it, however.

If we are talking about classical composers, you probably want to read up a few manuals about what the people can actually play. This isn't a synthesizer you're dealing with. Your french horn players need to breathe. Likewise, they want to play, so if you make a piece where the 1st. violin section stands idle for 25 minutes, don't expect huge success.

[Will.E.P.]

If you want to write for orchestral players you should by Samuel Adler's "Study of Orchestration." It is probably the best out there. Hindemith's "The Craft of Musical Composition" books are another good one. Whether you plan to do electronic or traditional.

Beyond that, you should learn to play a little bit of every instrument honestly. Especially if you plan to compose for real players. It will just piss them off if you sit them down to play something and they can't even play it.

[AngryCrown]

Huge balls. That's It.

[Jonah_Mann]

Creativity, senses, perception, musical understanding/experience.

[PouyaDH]

1.music analysis (which will give you the understanding of what each genre requires and what makes it what it is)
2.--------> PATIENCE, REPEAT-----> PATIENCE n I'm not joking
3. <---- MayB !!!

Good Luck
''V''

[essenthy]

play an instruments , have very good ears , thats it

[Alarinth]

Originally Posted by Evelon

12% hearing
10% talent/musicality
70% interest/perseverance/stubborness/curiosity
8% ADHD/ADD/Asberger/[insert letter combo here]

Musicality I'd concider moving into the biggest group. But as curiosity is there, I'll leave it as it is.

Originally Posted by Solarite

Hard work, discipline, perseverance, inspiration, talent. In that order.

I disagree in the order, but I agree perfectly with the included elements.

I find inspiration to be the number 1 requirement for composing music. Without it, everything becomes stale and a chore.
After that, I'd say perseverance comes. This is simply because you can't expect to live up to your inspirations instantly, but you'll be getting there by using the next part of the list: hard work.
Talent is important, but really depends on what genre you're going to be playing. Talent comes in many forms and variants, but inspiration and perseverance really trumps virtuosity/talent in my book.
Discipline is good to have, but imo the least important as music is more about expressing emotions - having fun, and loving it.

[aeoR]

Originally Posted by Evelon

12% hearing
10% talent/musicality
70% interest/perseverance/stubborness/curiosity
800% ADHD/ADD/Asberger/[insert letter combo here]

MOAR ADHD/ADD/Asberger BLerghhgeirugh5

[Dugg Funnie]

Uhhm wtf is up with these responses?


Just get like $10,000 saved up and you'll have a hit, I'm tellin you real straight up truth dog.

[Triton64]

persistence....

anything else can be acquired in time.

[Ni-Kulo]

no skills at all^^

just a good feeling for what sounds good and what doesnt^.


ofc it cant hurt to play an instrument, or to know some musical theory.


but generally there are no rules in art, ;D