Composing Music - Songwriting

COMPOSER/SONGWRITER

FOR FILM AND TELEVISION

COMPOSER · LYRICIST · SONGWRITER · WRITER

(FILM AND TELEVISION)

JOB OVERVIEW

Composers/songwriters for film and television compose music, write lyrics, or

both, and often produce the music recording.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Many composers are adept at playing piano, sequencer, synthesizer, or a combina-

tion of the three, and most have the ability to produce the music they write. Success

requires the ability to compose memorable melodies and lyrics.

"Writing a score is a different skill than songwriting, where you come up with a

melody and you either write a lyric yourself, or you collaborate with another person,

and you write a song," says Steve Dorff. "Writing a score for a film is an integral part

"There are a lot of people that have a gift, but that don't have the innate

common sense and the innate tenacity that it takes to be successful over a

long period of time. Anybody can have a hit, but to succeed over and over

and over again, over a 20- to 25-year period, requires that intangible

thing that allows you to pick yourself up and dust yourself off when you

have bitter disappointments."

"Stay grounded when you're having a tremendous cycle of success.

Always have a couple of balls in the air at the same time. It's hard when

you've only got one thing that you're doing, you finish it, and you have to

get something else going. It's easier to always try and have something in

the wings waiting to segue to."

"I've spent a lot of time learning all facets of the business side of music.

Take the time to read contracts and learn about what publishing and

subpublishing is. You should know what you're getting into. Become a

well-rounded, intelligent person about the business side of any field

you're entering into."

CAREER

TIPS

Composing Music - Songwriting - Page 7