How to Write a Symphony

Instructions

• 1

  THE BEGINNING;
  
  Inspiration
  
  Most musicians who composed symphonies tell you of the stories that led them to compose some kind of music, if one listens to some of the songs composed, the emotions are heard through the music.
  
  To be able to compose a symphony first ask yourself why you want to compose a symphony and what is the story you would want to tell and how do you want people to feel when they leave the event after hearing your piece. Is it for a cause? Do you want to show you could do something to improve or shock the music world? There should be something to inspire you to compose your first piece.
• 2

  Learn
  
  It is one thing to be inspired, it is another to know what you want to do and are getting into. Music differs in various forms and ways, and symphonies are  no different, If not more technical than the general format of other music.
  
  It requires understanding of the notes, how to write music language, how to read a sheet music, how to combine different instruments to help one develop a symphony. Without this crucial area, one would not be able to easily compose and perform their song. It is important to take basic classes and learn and practice reading, writing and then composing of  music.
• 3

  Experience
  
  Have an experience. An experience would give you an idea of how a symphony should sound like, the way that particular music moment made you feel would enable you have a clearer picture of what you have in mind. Like a quote from  Gustave Mahler: “only when I experience something do I compose and only when composing do I experience anything”. This simply shows how in depth one is to delve themselves when in to something or anything especially in this area, music. It is through experience of whatever events you’ve been through that will lead you to composing great music. Everything has to do with your experience in life, with that, then  channel all you have been through into your music, and voila, you have a story to tell through your music.
• 4

  WORK;
  
  Know your song
  
  This is very important in composing your musical sheets. There is a difference between singing a song and writing it in musical language. Everything has to flow and connect, it is important to sing as you write and if you are good with an instrument (the piano perhaps) it could guide you to hit the right notes so you can write accurately. Accuracy is everything. It is your song, you want it to be played right, every drag or sharpness or crispiness should be heard, pronounced, felt, when it’s being played by the rest of the team, but by then you would have perfected all the loopholes. This is why it is important to know music, learn it and practice.
• 5

  Get creative
  
  Music is creativity. It is like painting to a plain canvas. You choose what colors you want to implement and you flow with your emotion, connecting to the story you want your audience to get. You can play with the octaves or the back skips, allowing the rise of highs and lows in the music. Create a mystery, unexpected turns. Your music should carry the audience, like on a  sea journey, where the water is high and shaky, then smooth sailing and peaceful. It’s your song, you can twist the tunes how you want as long as all the tunes are finely connected and in tuned together to produce a beautiful harmony.
  
  There are generally guidelines to help you when composing your symphony in this area of music writing and singing, but you can break the rules if you feel and know it will bring a new feel to the symphony world and it would sound great. Doing the same thing as the others won’t make you stand out, and your creativity is for you to stand out. So do something different, break the rules.
• 6

  Emotion
  
  Every music has a certain emotion that is evoked when listened to. To create an exceptional symphony the first time, you need to have a story, it could be a happy one or a sad one or in between. For example, if the symphony one wants to compose is about life, knowing that life is full of highs and lows, your work is to project the joys and sadness of your life story into that symphony, let the rise and the fall of each note resound in their soul. Your aim here is to capture them, if it’s about sadness, it should evoke sadness within them as well as opposite emotions.
  
  This part of the symphony is very technical, as the way you feel will affect the sound of the song. This where you personalize every training you’ve ever learnt, every emotion you’ve ever felt, your tunes, your story. The audience should remember you because of how you made them feel.
• 7

  Duration
  
  Most symphonies are very long, but that is because those people have practiced and have scored above average in their music career, compared to the newbie who just started. It is important to note that since it is your first piece, one shouldn’t make it long especially for a newcomer, people won’t want to waste time listening to a long symphony by one who is just entering the field, perhaps 5-8 minutes long, maximum. Your aim here is to leave the people wanting for more in those short few minutes and before long people would want to hear more from you, causing you to write more. But first it has to be good.
• 8

  CENTER STAGE;
  
  Feedbacks and fingers crossed
  
  After you are done composing, with the help of your mentor, you both have perfected the song but you want it to be heard by other people so they can tell you what you think and where you need to improve and how the song makes them feel. You basically want to hear people’s opinion about everything. It is important you take it to the right people first, before the huge crowd. An example would be a local group in the area who would help you by listening, playing and giving you feed backs and tips to correct certain areas of your music sheet. In which you go back and repeat all they said, act on it, edit some unwanted areas, polish it and then perfect it.
• 9

  Music Publisher
  
  When you are certain that you are ready to showcase your first piece to the world, then you take it to a music publisher who would then guide you on your next step to center stage.
• 10

  CONCLUSION
  
  Some people take a long period to compose a symphony, others a shorter period. It is important to take your time and learn the basics to enable you get a good first impression the first time. Practice with your mentor, take your time, learn all you need to learn (you won’t learn it all one day or 2 or 3 months, but you will be learning) Take note of every correction and better yourself. And when you believe you’re ready, step into the limelight.