Expert: David Froom - 7/27/2005

Question
Hi David,
I have always wanted to write and play songs that are  in my head, but have no musical training whatsoever.
I remember a song Billy Preston played on the synthesizer back in the 70s or 80s and would love to eventually compose something similar or possibly compose an instrumental someday. I'm just a mediocre singer.
What would be the easiest way for me to begin to learn how to read, write, and compose music? What instrument would be the easiest to learn on?

Thank you very much.

Mike Eidson  

Answer
Hi Mike,

Many folks write music without actually learning how to read it.  They make recordings, singing into a tape recorder -- or they get inexpensive multi-track recorders (you can get your computer to do this).  There are programs like GarageBand (free for Mac computers) that give you lots of tools with which to fool around.  These are the more-or-less easier ways to get yourself closer to writing music.

If you want to go the old-fashioned route, it will take a LONG time.  You need to find a teacher or perhaps a college rudiments class, and proceed a few steps at a time.  Piano would probably be your instrument, as that is the most flexible.  Maybe guitar.  There are no easy instruments if you want to play them well.

I may not be the person to answer this.  I teach college, and have studied music seriously for more than 40 years.  I don't know any short cuts.  All I know is that the longer I work on this, the more I realize how much I don't know and can't do.  Even a genius like Mozart, who was writing OK music at the age of 5, took 10-15 years of composing, practicing, working at music before he started really writing wonderful stuff.

But if you love music, you should just do it.  If you don't like what you've done, do something else.  If you get frustrated, find a teacher.

Good luck.

David Froom