How can I get better at composing music? Composing music is a never-ending learning process. Nevertheless, it is a skill that can be learned. With each composition and every minute spent composing music, you get better. Here are the best books on music composition that you can use to improve your music-writing skills.
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Can music composition be learned? So you want to improve and get better at composing music, or maybe you just started learning music composition. There is nothing that can replace hard work and the actual hours spent writing music. But by doing proper research and reading good composition books, you can speed up the process significantly.
Why read books on music composition? Well, that’s an easy-to-answer question. These books give you a detailed look into the process of composing music. So let me ask you a question: why search for all the answers yourself if somebody else has already done the hard work for you? That’s right, these books give you an insight into all the tools you need for writing music.
The second reason is that you learn to apply music theory in a fun and organized way. The books that are lined up in this article are perfect for music students learning composition with a teacher or individual studies. They have great explanations and there are many exercises that you can do to apply the newly learned composition techniques. For keeping your work organised I would advise getting a composition notebook/journal.
Here are the best books on music composition lined up:
When you think about music writing and composition this is the book that has it all if you ask me. I find it to be the most complete book on music theory and composing music so far. And the best thing is that it has a workbook integrated so you don’t have to spend money buying a textbook and a workbook. There are so many things that this book does right. At the beginning of each chapter, you have the learning objectives laid out. At the end, you have a summary and a terminology list. Followed by composition exercises that have clear objectives and additional useful information.
What I also like is that, unlike many other books, the importance of melody is not neglected. This theory book also takes on different styles of music. So if you are also interested in for example pop music, then this one is right for you. In short, you can’t go wrong with this book.
I love this composition book. As a professional composer or as a student you need to practice your skills every day. Even if it is just for a minute. ‘Composing with constraints’ is one of the best composition books out there. With these practical and challenging exercises, you can practice your craft. You can also use it to explore new techniques and boundaries in your music composition.
This book can be used for private use, in individual classes, or in a group with a music composition teacher. In any case, I cannot recommend this book enough! The composing exercises are challenging, fun and educational.
This is my favourite music composition book. Hands down. I love the fact that it is to the point and has many interesting exercises. This book will be a good fit for people who are just learning to compose music as well as more advanced composition students looking for a refresher. William Russo did an outstanding job making this book and it is highly recommended. I go back to it every once in a while just to look for new inspiration. Learning and applying the composing techniques from this book will improve your creativity and skillset.
Alan Belkin is well-known in the online composition, orchestration, and music theory community. He is an excellent teacher and creates high-class and information-rich videos on any music topic you like. I have been following his content on YouTube for many years now. It is a valuable resource for music composition.
What makes his book unique is that it is not baked into a certain style or genre. You could say that it is relatively style-neutral. Why is this important? When examples are in a certain style then the techniques might not work in a different style of music.
Arnold Schoenberg does not need an introduction I assume. His music and his writings on music composition and music theory are a staple of Western music history. His book the fundamentals of musical composition is a very interesting read and there is much to learn about music composition. I definitely recommend that you have this one on your bookshelf. Although the content might be somewhat outdated and less suitable for modern composers, nevertheless it is an invaluable resource.
This book is not about writing music as in music composition techniques, but it should be on any composer’s desk nevertheless. Why? Well because without proper music notation, your music might not be performed properly. But not only that. It can look amateur if your notation is incorrect or messy. The book Behind Bars by Elaine Gould is a masterpiece. It is the best book on music notation. You will never have any questions about how to write music down since this notation book is so elaborate.
Songwriting Tips and Music Theory For Composing Music
If you want to learn more creative composition and songwriting techniques and also hear them in action, then check out my video tutorial playlist called: Songwriting Tips & Music Theory for Composing Music.
Harmony Books
As a composer, the topic of harmony is one that you probably have a strong interest in. And rightfully so. Harmony is an indispensable music theory topic that each composer should be able to master. Here are my main harmony books for music composers.
The mother of all harmony books if you ask me. I used this book extensively during my years at the faculty. And I still reference it frequently today. All the examples are laid out clearly and the chapters are organized logically. This book takes you from beginner to advanced level in such a way that it is fun to learn. Each chapter is like a summary of the Western common practice period.
Just keep in mind that the book “Harmony and Voice Leading” is more for classical music-oriented people but don’t let that discourage you. It’s interesting to apply these harmony techniques to different styles of music. This is a book that will last you a lifetime.
I think this is a relatively unknown book since I don’t see it on any lists online. But it is an amazing resource. Not only does this cover the topic of advanced harmony thoroughly, but it also touches the ground on music composition techniques. There are countless examples from musical scores to go along with each harmonic technique. Of course, keep in mind that this book is from the early 1900’s so the word modern seems a little outdated. Nevertheless, it is an inspirational read! You will be able to take some nuggets of wisdom out of it.
If you want to learn more about modal harmony and modal melodies then check out my article about Musical Modes: Melodies & Chord Progressions. I guarantee that these videos will leave you with some new music composition ideas that you can try out while writing music.
Interesting Books For Music Composers
Composing music is not only about learning music theory and doing exercises. It’s also about staying informed and inspired. Music history and the working process of other composers can be very inspiring and educational. Here is my list of inspirational and interesting books for composing music.
When I started reading this book I was overwhelmed, to say the least. This book has so much information in it. And it is written engagingly and entertainingly. This book never gets boring. From all the pieces mentioned in this book, you will have a music listening list that will last you for years.
The book ‘The Rest Is Noise’ is a detailed overview of modern music history. Alex Ross masterfully takes the listener by the hand to the different continents, musical styles and times. I cannot recommend this book enough. Educational and fun. That’s how I like it! And when you’re finished reading you can check out his other book which is called “Listen To This“.
Steve Reich needs no further introduction I assume. His music is/was groundbreaking and has been part of the foundation of today’s classical music and film music. Many pop artists, songwriters, and producers are inspired by his works. During my first year studying music composition at the music faculty, I read his book ‘Writings On Music‘. It was extremely educational and inspiring. He talks about how he composes music and gives all his ‘composing secrets’ away. I have not seen any composer sharing his techniques so generously with the public. It’s simply amazing.
If you are not into minimal music or the music of Steve Reich, then still this book is highly recommended. You can read and learn how to think as a composer and how to approach composing methodologically. He has a very clear and creative way of thinking. For me, this book was an eye-opener and inspiration.
Ton de Leeuw is a famous Dutch composer and pedagogue. He was a student of Olivier Messiaen and his music is a profound synthesis of Eastern and Western music. His book on music composition is a wealth of compositional techniques throughout modern music history. Even though this book is slightly dated it is highly recommended for any composer seeking more depth and advanced composition techniques.
I own the Dutch version of this book. But the English edition is just as good if not better.
There are many more elements to music composition but if I had to choose the 4 basics of music composition, they would be the following:
Melody: This is a group of notes that are organised and create a tune that you might recognize. Although the definition is far more broad than this. Usually, the melody is repeated throughout a composition or song. In general, the melody is what people often remember.
Harmony: When you play two or more notes at the same time, you can consider this as being harmony. With harmony, you can create different effects, such as tension, resolution, consonance, or dissonance. Also, you can use the underlying harmonies to either support a melody or give it extra colour, depth and richness.
Rhythm: Rhythm is the underlying pulse that drives a song forward. Rhythm can also create different patterns and accents that make the music more interesting and varied.
Form: This is the structure or shape of a song or composition. With musical form, we can organise the music into different parts or sections such as introduction, verse, chorus, bridge, etc. This helps the listener follow and understand the music better. You can also use it to make a piece of music more interesting.
You can teach yourself music composition in many different ways. But it will always be a mix of analysing and listening to music, reading books, working with musicians, following classes from an instructor or professor or attending courses and master classes. Just don’t forget that one of the most important things of all is to consistently write music. Maybe not every day, but every couple of days you need to write some music. I believe in the power of dedication and habit, not in divine inspiration.
Yes, it is! Never let anybody tell you that it is not possible to learn music composition. There are many different ways that you can learn to compose music.
By yourself: You read a lot about music, watch tutorials on YouTube and buy some courses online. Find musicians in your circle of friends and ask them to perform any music that you write. This will be very useful and will be a great learning experience. Also, ask them what they think and how you could improve it. You don’t have to take all their advice, but feedback is always better than having none at all.
With a private teacher: when you study with a private teacher you will focus on writing music and doing composition exercises your teacher gives you. It is very important to write small exercises because they help you understand larger and more difficult topics.
At a music school or faculty of music: Here you will have an official composition professor who guides you in your creative journey. Apart from having music composition as a subject, you will also have different classes such as music theory, orchestration and solfeggio. A list of famous music faculties see the list below.
If you want to get a degree in music then here are some of the more well-known universities that you could apply to:
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, USA. This university has a renowned music school that offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master of Music, and a Doctor of Music in Composition.
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. This university has one of the oldest and most prestigious music programs in the country. It offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition.
University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, USA. This university has a leading music school that offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition.
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. This university has a top-ranked music school that offers a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Composition.
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This university has a distinguished music school that offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Music in Composition.
Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, USA. This college has a prestigious conservatory of music that offers a Bachelor of Music in Composition.
The Juilliard School in New York City, New York, USA. This school is one of the most famous and selective music schools in the world. It offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition.
The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas, USA. This university has an excellent music school that offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition.
Yes and no. I firmly believe that anybody can create and write music. And I also believe that everybody is creative in their own way. So I definitely don’t like it when people talk about composing music as if you were born with this talent. Yes of course for some it comes more naturally than others, but without hard work and practice nothing will happen. So don’t ever think that it’s too late to start composing or studying music. Any time is the right time!
Hi my name is Xander and I am a Composer, Songwriter and Music Educator with a degree in music composition. I teach many students all over the world via private music classes and via my YouTube channel, Learning Music Skills.
As a composer, educator and content creator, my goal is to share all aspects of the process of making music. I want to give everyone the tools necessary to be able to understand, enjoy and create music. No matter the genre or skill level. If you have any questions or when you want to work together, please contact me.
