Composing a musical?

Question:I really want to write a musical, but if I write a musical, there have to be music in it. One problem: I can't compose music! Does someone have any tips or solutions for this problem? Or can I ask someone to compose the music for me and than pay him so he doesn't have any rights on the music, so I can say it is mine? Is that fair to do?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I really want to write a musical, but if I write a musical, there have to be music in it. One problem: I can't compose music! Does someone have any tips or solutions for this problem? Or can I ask someone to compose the music for me and than pay him so he doesn't have any rights on the music, so I can say it is mine? Is that fair to do?

get someone you know like a friend in music or someone to do it with you. you can write the book(script) and he/she can write the score(music) then you both will get credit for the musical. and if you payed them and called it your own it is still technically plagerism and they technically still have the rights to it, unless they agree to let you claim it. and i think partnering up on it and both taking credit is better.

I agree with defying.gravity101. You should get a friend to help you... BUT, to make the play more "yours" you can write the lyrics and have your friend just write the music. That way, you'll get credit for writing the book and the lyrics. Alexis.

What you want to write is the "book" of a musical. Musicals consist of both the book and music. The book is the script and song lyrics. If you don't compose the music then you need someone to collaborate with, a composer, obviously. There have been many lyricist/composer teams in musical theater. Maybe you've heard of some of them: Rogers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Weber and Rice... the list goes on.

So, you don't have to write the music yourself, but you do have to give the composer equal credit.