orchestral instruments, so it is traditionally the best choice. An electronic
keyboard hooked into the right computer program (see next section) can
provide a broad sound palette that can give the composer a rough idea of
what a composition might sound like later played on real instruments. Keep
in mind that a violin, for instance, played with a bow, can never really be
accurately portrayed by a violin sample coming out of a keyboard.Some skill at playing, plus the easy availability of an instrument, is almost
essential for a music composer. The first time Scott wrote music for orches-
tral instruments, he had only enough skill on the piano to play two or three
parts together at the same time, so he had to play the oboe part with the
French horn part, and then the French horn with the trumpet, and so on. He
never actually heard all the notes played together until he was in the record-
ing studio in front of the orchestra. Exhilarating? Yes. Scary? You bet!Composition Software ...................................................................................
It is impossible to overstate the important role of computers in music compo-
sition today. The following are some ways computers are involved in compos-
ing music today. ComputersProvide various sounds to work with.Print out your parts quickly and neatly.
Help you organize your ideas.Fit music to film easily.
Provide tools for piecing together entire compositions while enabling
you to test out ideas before committing to them.Can even produce and deliver a final recording of your work, if you use a
good composition program.As we mentioned, many great music composers out there do not use com-
puters at all in their work, whereas others would be completely lost without
computers.So where do computers fit into yourmusical world? Ask yourself a few
questions:Are you computer savvy?
Do you have access to a fairly late-model computer?Can you get around the operating system?Chapter 2: Tools of the Trade 17
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