Understanding The Job Description Of A Music Composer

By Kendra Ware


At its most basic, the musicals composers write and create music. They may be working from home, in a practice space or a music studio. Although there are several places a composer NYC can work in, the location may matter for the advancement of his professional career. Areas with a much higher entertainment presence naturally foster better opportunities for starting musicians. This is where they can reach a wider audience, meet other composers and interact with potential clients.

Composers mostly start out as musicians. They may have played various instruments and performed numerous songs. Some purposefully stepped up in their career while the others were discovered after they stood out from other performers. Since they have been performers before becoming composers, they understand the music industry better than anyone else.

According to the date of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most of the composers today earned related degrees. They completed a formal training on different music theory and composition. This helps them get a better understanding on the structures, melodies and methods in developing one's music skills and compose a quality production.

Similar with any other fields, the net income of composers may vary widely. Among the affecting factors are the composer's skills, the prestige and classifications of his clients, the number of supporters and the popularity of his works. The yearly average net income of a musician may reach up to forty one thousand dollars.

One's earnings may be commensurate to his work, fame and popularity. Successful musicians, bands or artists understandably earn more, as well as the composers of popular films, commercials or television shows. Generally, a song that sells more brings in more earnings for the composer. Significant radio airtime and the inclusion in a film or television show can also boost the musician's success.

The opportunities of a musician may not be constricted on performing alone, though. Aside from writing and recording, there is a different filed one can venture in. He may land on a teaching job where he gets the chance to share his learning to musical aspirants. He may teach about basic guidelines, theories and methodologies. A more flexible composer has higher potentials to earn more.

There are various types of composers as well. Some of them may focus on producing music for films and television programs, while the others write songs for use in a musical, theater or even a computer game. When composing, one has to remember the purpose for adding the music in the first place. This will greatly affect the overall production.

Soft and tender music are often used to help bring out the emotions in a love scene. Meanwhile, heavy rock is used to intensify thrilling scenes, such as murder, kidnapping, police chase and several other scenes. Jingles may also be produced for commercials on radio, television and the Internet. These are short songs with catchy tunes that highlight the company's name and qualities.

All in all, the field of musical composition is quite competitive. In order to succeed as a composer NYC, a mix of luck and talent is needed. It is important that you learn how to write, notate, perform and record your work properly as some of your clients might not be able to read a music sheet. Learn about different styles as well instead of focusing on just one. It is best to learn about pop, country, rap and rock among other genres.




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