Brandon Nelson

IMAGO DEI

Category: The Biz

  • More composition studio updates!

    I look forward to showing you around and letting you into my process.

  • Those wacky, pragmatic composers!

  • “Help! My music has been attacked on social media!”

    One recent morning, a good friend and colleague of mine woke up to find a nasty comment from a composer posted to a significant piece of his on YouTube.  It was really vicious and even got personal.  My friend went through various stages:  he was shocked, then saddened, then angry, then made plans for “revenge,”…

  • Filling the Gap: Teaching Young Composers How to Earn a Living

    First, the good news.  University composition programs do a lot of admirable things for their students.  Upon completion, one certainly has a command of the craft itself, the history behind it and current trends, as well as the essential musicianship skills that graduates of any music program would have.  A good, solid, artistic foundation. What…

  • Commissioning Contract for Composers (Free Template Download)

    When you’re a young composer and your work is starting to make the rounds, you’ll likely have performers or ensembles become interested in commissioning work from you. This can be a great (and profitable) experience–if you know how to navigate the territory of the patron-composer relationship. The number one principle (and the focus of this…

  • “How Do You Decide What Piece to Write Next?”

    Many people still harbor romantic notions of composers. I often get the impression that they think we drift from project to project on the wings of  some mysterious force called “inspiration,” perhaps while hunched over a piece of manuscript parchment, ink quill in hand and scowling at a stingy muse. In reality, the question of…

  • What is a Composition Career?

    From a practical standpoint, the field of composition is not well-defined.  There is no formal path laid out for the practitioner.  Seniority isn’t necessarily rewarded, and neither, for that matter, merit. (Indeed, who would define “merit” and how would they do it?)  There is no predetermined ladder for one to climb once one graduates from…

  • The Three Ps of Effective Self-Marketing for Composers

    Let’s face it:  as musicians, we are walking small businesses.  Our success hinges largely on our ability to get our names out and to turn positive attention into sales. Unfortunately, most of us lack any formal training in this area and are forced to flounder around, hoping to “get lucky” someday (I have long held…

  • Why Haven’t I Sold Anything Yet?!

    So you’re a bright young composer, your portfolio is brimming with intriguing new music, your brain is bursting with the knowledge and spirit  to rock the music world… …and very few people know you.  And you’ve had very few, if any, sales or commissions. How’d THAT happen?  More importantly, what can prevent (or fix) that…