There's no punchline—but there is a story about a car crash, a major commission, and what it all taught me about composing.

Have you noticed how some pieces of music just seem to grab everyone? Works like Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto or Holst’s The Planets connect with both classically-trained musicians and average music lovers. But why? What makes them so universally appealing?

The Wizarding School for Composers is pleased to announce its partnership with the professional choir Brevitas to record student compositions in its fall 2023 session, sponsored by Dorico. Running August 28-December 13, the course is designed for composers who want to hone their artistic voice, improve their creative process, and grow their careers.

Sure, you could ask ChatGPT, “What do composers do during pre-composition?” It will give you a decent answer.

But today I want to show how ChatGPT is itself like the pre-composition phase of writing music, which I calling “Consulting” and “Connecting” workstations.

Most composers have heard of “pre-composition,” and many incorporate it as part of their creative process. How can you make the most of this creative practice? Here are 25 ways to think about it…

Composers often say, “I always feel like a beginner whenever I start a new piece.” I’ve certainly felt this way before. But I’ve come to see in myself and my students that these insecurities are avoidable and arise from two compounding errors. Two behavioral science models show how to overcome these creative process problems.

Why I no longer believe that I cannot compose without “inspiration” — and how it can make composing easier for YOU.

Does music “speak nothing but sound” and “express (only) itself”? Such statements don’t hold up to scrutiny for a very simple reason: No music exists without a cultural context.

Here are two reasons why Hanslick and Stravinsky are wrong — and what it means for you as a composer.

Composers often worry about the wrong choices when they start composing. But there is ONE choice that not only ensures their music will be more vivid and unique but also makes composing faster and easier.

BOSTON, August 26, 2022 — Composer and Wizarding School founder Dr. Joseph Sowa today announced the winners of the The Wizarding School for Composers’s 1st Annual Composers Competition, which awards promising composers scholarships and lessons to further their artistic and career growth.