You Don’t Have to Be Born a Composer
There are a lot of misconceptions about composing.
Many musicians quietly believe that composition is something you’re either born with or you’re not. That unless your first piece sounds like a lost masterpiece by Bach or Chopin, you probably “don’t have what it takes.”
Those beliefs stop countless musicians from ever even trying.
And that’s tragic — because composing can be one of the most rewarding, meaningful, and creatively satisfying things you can do with an instrument. It deepens your musical understanding, strengthens your ear, sharpens your technique, and connects you more deeply to the music you love.
Creativity isn’t a talent reserved for the few. It’s a skill that grows through practice, curiosity, and courage.
My Own Long Pause from Composing
I know how powerful these beliefs can be — because they shaped my own journey for a long time.
When I first started playing guitar, I was eager to compose. I even wrote a piece early on that I genuinely loved playing. But somewhere along the way, doubt crept in. Expectations became unrealistic. Comparison took over.
And then… I stopped composing.
Not for a few months — for almost twenty years.
It wasn’t until four or five years ago that I finally returned to composing seriously. In the video below, I share that story in more detail — how those internal narratives formed, why they lingered so long, and what eventually helped me move past them.
Looking back, it’s sobering to realize how much creative time I unintentionally surrendered to fear and false assumptions.
What Great Composers Actually Said
One of the most encouraging discoveries for me came from reading what composers themselves have said about their work.
The reality is far removed from the myth of effortless genius.
Many great composers spoke openly about:
Writing large quantities of imperfect music
Struggling through drafts and revisions
Learning through experimentation and failure
Developing their voice slowly over time
Treating composition as disciplined craft, not magic
The quotes shared in the video reveal a far more human, approachable picture of creativity than we often imagine.
Great music is rarely the result of instant inspiration alone. It’s built through persistence, listening, learning, and refinement.
Composing as a Path to Musical Growth
Composing doesn’t require you to become a “professional composer.” You don’t need to publish, perform internationally, or compare yourself to historical giants.
Composing can simply be:
A way to deepen musical understanding
A tool for exploring harmony and form
A personal creative outlet
A way to strengthen listening and imagination
A source of joy and ownership in your musicianship
It teaches you how music actually works — from the inside out.
Even small creative experiments build confidence and fluency over time.
Breaking the Mental Barriers
The biggest obstacle to composing is rarely technical skill. It’s mindset.
When we release the pressure to be brilliant immediately, creativity becomes playful again. Curiosity replaces judgment. Process becomes more important than outcome.
Every composer you admire started somewhere — usually with simple ideas, awkward experiments, and imperfect results.
The only way forward is to begin.
Watch the Video
In the video below, I share more of my personal story and highlight inspiring quotes from great composers that dismantle the myth of “born genius.”
If you’ve ever felt drawn toward composing but held back by doubt or unrealistic expectations, this conversation is for you.