Any tips when it comes to composing?

Question: Any tips when it comes to composing!?

For my music GCSE I have to compose a piece of music for a special event!. I'm doing a funeral march in A minor using ternary form!. I need to compose the first 8 bars of section A and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on composing that would be useful to help me get started!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

It is sometimes difficult to come up with strong musical ideas!. I have several things I try to get the musical wheels turning:

1!. I work on coming up with an interesting sequence of chords--often a melodic idea will suggest itself!.

2!. I take a walk--this gets my mind working much better than sitting at the piano!.

3!. I imagine, or work up, the feeling I want to convey with the music!. For instance, I'll think of some very sad moment in my own life, and often musical ideas will pour out to express that sad feeling!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think what you're looking for is improvisation rather than composition!. Play the whole song a couple times through, noticing the main themes and their chords (like a minor, since the song is in a minor)!. Then something will just flow!. keep the left hand the same and just improvise on the top!. Anything goes; but when you've got what you're looking for, you'll feel it!. That's what I do; and I improv all the time in the music that I write!. Hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com