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When I first began composing over 20 years ago, my most difficult task was to
avoid falling into the trap of finishing each musical phrase with notes from a
familiar commercial or song on the radio. I still believe that the most
difficult task for a composer is to come up with musical elements that do not
feel like a copy of someone else’s work.
To accomplish this, I used to isolate myself from music as much as possible
for up to several weeks before I began composing. Over the years I have become
much better at excluding outside influences from my creative thought process,
but I still use the isolation technique because it helps to enhance this effect.
(This has made me unpopular with my wife during composing projects, but I have
learned to leave the room and close the door when she wants to put on a CD.)
This isolation also makes it hard to keep up with current fads in popular music.
But unlike many composers, my goal is not imitate other music that is currently
in vogue but to create music that is entirely a product of my own creative
skills. I am not saying you should try to be radically different. Just follow
your own creative urges. Because you understand them, all of the rest of your
work will reflect that understanding and will be more cohesive.
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