Let’s talk about that feeling of “I’m not good enough.” Or of “My music is too ____ or not enough ____ to be successful.” Or, most of all, of “I don’t deserve my successes. When others find me out, they’ll mock and shun me.” As you know, these feelings are often called “Imposter Syndrome.” You […]
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When Bach Can Be a Dangerous Model for Young Composers
Recently, in the New Year Composition Jumpstart and on Facebook, I made the assertion that “J.S. Bach is a supreme composer but a *terrible* model for other (esp. young) composers.” Specifically, I called him “the worst model for developing ideas.” The comments have still been pouring in, though my favorite was the one that began […]
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My #1 Book Recommendation for 2022
Looking for a book the start the new year? Look no further. Read Child Composers in Old Conservatories by Robert Gjerdingen. The tl;dr summary: Classical composers were able to write the intricate music at the speed they did because they were not trained the same way musicians are in modern universities. Rather than teaching them […]
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