Tortured Composer Digest #3

Author

Luke Sipka
July 25, 2024

Hello fellow tortured composer,

Here’s a few more resources to help you feel a little less tortured when writing music.

If you’ve been sitting by the fire throwing countless scores in and watching them burn…

If you’re ripping your hair out because you just can’t get that section to flow right…

Or if you’ve contracted some unknown disease and seem to be going mad…

Buckle up. Because these could hopefully help you go from “tortured” to “thriving.”

The most “tortured-est” composer

Who was the most tortured composer of all time? There’s one that immediately comes to mind.

His life ended when he was accidentally shot by an American soldier during WWII…

The Nazis banned his music, labeling it “degenerate art”...

He lost his mind briefly for a few years. One psychiatrist attributed this to his perfectionism…

His only son Peter was killed in an attack on a train in February 1945, just months before the end of the war…

And yet through it all, he continued to write music. And would become a significant composer that had a massive impact on modern music. 

It is fascinating to see what man can endure and yet continue to soldier on. He couldn’t quit composing, and I’m guessing if you’re reading this, you probably can’t either. 

Whenever you’re feeling “tortured,” think of Anton Von Webern, and things might not feel so bad

This video gives a good breakdown of his life, his music, and why and how you might go about listening to it.  

Great way to make creative decisions

It can be difficult to figure out what goal to pursue when writing music. 

Is it best to be innovative? 

Do we write something for a particular audience? 

Is it better to make something “marketable,” or stick to being authentic? What does being authentic even mean?

External goals that depend on other people can make it super difficult to move forward.

We can’t read minds.

I found this one approach a little easier.

In a short video with Rick Rubin, you’ll see how he approaches making music, and why his approach can take a little bit of the complexity out of the whole process.

Another good quote from CS Lewis on the matter:

“No man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it”

Pay Yourself First

Do you procrastinate? Do you struggle to sit down to compose? 

In this short video, one music teacher offers an approach that helped his students spend more time practicing. And enjoy their practice more. 

Super simple, super easy. And with every musician I’ve coached, this simple “mindset shift” works wonders. 

“Small hinges swing big doors.” 

This advice is one of those small hinges that can fill your practice with way more joy.

Interesting strategy to build your “composing reel”

I found this video super useful. It gives a strategy that can help get your feet wet with networking and outreach.

It can also help you build a composing reel if scoring is something you’re interested in. 

I used this exact strategy to some success.

I got a scoring gig and the score ended up winning an award at some film festival in India. Super weird, but this does work! 

Light up your pipe, take out a notebook, and take these in. 

I hope they let you feel a little less tortured…

That’s the mission here at the Tortured Composer Society. 

To help people like you that “have to make music.” 

Anton Von Webern could not quit, and I’m guessing you can’t either. 

Next week we’ll be taking a field trip to Mozart’s grave at 3 am wearing hooded robes and carrying torches. Don’t miss out!

The world waits for your music…

Luke

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