Do You Believe that Any Musician Can Compose?

“Do you believe that any musician can compose?” is the topic of my most recent LinkedIn poll. It generated enthusiastic responses from professional musicians. Most votes came from two professional musicians’ platforms outside my network. The percentages of responses were similar between these two groups - 44% voted “yes,” 51/50% voted “no,” and some provided comments. Interestingly, only three composers voted in the composers' group: one “yes,” one “no,” and one “other.” On my network page, 57% voted “yes,” 33% voted “no,” and one friend commented.

Based on the results above, more voters in my network believe that any musician can compose. In contrast, half of the professional musicians outside my network do not think that any musician can compose. Six percent of all the votes are for “other” with comments. These comments offer valuable insights into this controversial topic.

This one is right on target among all the comments: “Artistically, yes. Professionally, no.”

Some other comments offer further insights into the artistic value of composition and the musician’s ability to compose:

“Art is one of the beautiful things in life that can be created for no other purpose than the act of its creation.”

“I find it sad if a musician doesn’t have the desire to compose. It’s one of the best ways of confirming that music has imprinted on your soul. Remember, music is a subjective activity. Whether it’s good, bad, or anywhere in between is determined by the ears and mind of the listener. Right and wrong answers are immaterial when the matter of taste is concerned.”

“Any musician, whether professional or amateur, can compose. Like any skill, it comes down to knowledge and the ability to internalize it. There’s also the question of conforming to standards of “beauty” in music. Focusing too much on trends may lead to derivative ideas, while trying too hard to be unique can result in personal music, with the hope that others will connect to its emotion. Regardless, anything that leans toward original composition—even minimal adaptations of existing musical ideas—can be considered composition, as the creative process is what defines it.”

“It depends on what you say as a musician; you must know music theory and classical singers like me can. I have been dedicated to lyrical singing for 20 years; if we talk about studies, yes.”

“Anybody can learn composition if you already know how your instrument works.”

On the other hand, some comments reflect musicians' perceptions of the musical world they experience, where not all musicians can compose:

“I went to music school where I first saw this is untrue!”

“I have played with plenty of musicians; I would have to say I don't think so. To compose, you must understand melody, chord structure, meter, key signature, range of the instruments or voice, and tempo.”

“Hope I am the one who can compose, though I still want that skill.”

The diverse opinions above bring out some complicated issues that relate to voters' interpretations of the terms “musician” and “compose”:

A “musician” can be anyone who plays a musical instrument or sings a song (which could be amateur) or someone who has substantial musical training and experience and makes a living on music (professional.)

A “composer” can be anyone who creates a simple tune (which could be amateur) or someone who has substantial musical training and experience and makes a living composing or teaching music in college (professional.)

A " composition" can be a simple tune or a musical work with a solid formal structure displaying sophisticated techniques (e.g., variations on a theme.)

Here is a new set of questions with specific focus:

“Can an amateur musician compose a simple tune?” Maybe.

“Can an amateur musician compose a large-scale work with sophisticated techniques?” Probably not.

“Can a professional musician compose a simple tune?” Maybe. It's more likely than an amateur musician can.

“Can a professional musician compose a large-scale work with sophisticated techniques?” Maybe, if the musician has received professional training in music composition.

“Can a professional composer compose a large-scale work with sophisticated techniques?” Yes, it is expected.

Voters who vote “no” generally consider “composing” a professional skill that requires long-term professional training, which amateur musicians lack. On the other hand, voters who vote “yes” generally consider “composing” a process of artistic expression. Therefore, any musician who can play an instrument can compose. The quality of the composition is less important than the creative process.

In sum, composing is an artistic expression. To compose, one must first learn how to play an instrument or to sing, which involves a basic understanding of musical structure. Whether to be a composer is a personal choice for a musician. Anyone interested in composing should be allowed to learn the skills that enable them to express their ideas in music. Becoming a professional composer, on the other hand, requires long-term training, practice, and much dedication. Not all musicians want to be professional composers. If you have fun just writing a simple tune, that is fine. If you want to turn the melody into a set of variations, you must learn some skills. You need years of professional training to receive a degree in Music Composition. After graduation, you must explore and continue learning independently to find your voice and develop your style and language. It is a lifelong journey. The pursuit of artistic expression has no limit.

Composition can be learned if you already know how to play music. You can decide how much you wish to achieve on this musical journey. You don’t need to be another Beethoven. You don’t need to compare yourself with others. It would be best if you were yourself. Tell your story through the music that represents you. That is one of the greatest joys in life!