Composing
 

How many amateur composers do we have here? People who write 'classical' stiles on paper, or with Finale! or Sibelius or something like that.

I'm one, I'm going to school for music actually, specifically composing. I've been writing music since I was 10 or so. Anyone else?

That's too much effort :)

But good for you ;)

Only for my college assignments, and only because it's compulsary but i haven't started yet, and my poor understanding of a music stave i feel is going to let me down greatly when it comes to composing.

Another Composer
 

I compose in a 'post modern/minimalist' style at times. I use Cakewalk Scorewriter because the musical font is nice and large. You can hear some of my efforts on my website. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links yet, but if you are interested you can find the URL in my profile. Cheers!

I used to compose "classical" sounding music. But recently I haven't had much time.

I got my Bachelors in Composition. It's hard work! But very rewarding. I use Finale. I take inspiration from all different things...jazz, Latin, anything that sounds interesting to me and that I can incorporate into my music to make something that is personal and unique (hopefully).

Anybody familiar with Sibelius 7?

i "compose" only jazz, since most of it is improvisation, i wouldn't really call it "composing"

the base chords I do have to compose - or whether i'm using comps or vamps

what is on top is usually improvisation

i also compose "pop" songs - but that's kids' stuff

The difference between composing, and just writing a song for me is simple. Songwriting usually involves focusing on the particular melodies, and relationships to words. Composing looks at the entire song as a piece.

Songwriting you work on individual melodies, and it's crucial that you focus on those melodies, and the strength in them.

Composing, melodies are simply transitional points that bring you to the next piece. Often composers steal chord structures, and play homage by transposing other people's melodies, and folk melodies. Not because they are unoriginal, but because the song as a whole is what's important.

I've personally done a little of both. I've never written a note because I can't read, or write music at all. Yet, I have composed full electronic pieces that bare many resemblances to composing rather than songwriting:

http://www.archive.org/download/Nero.../11Chap3NC.mp3

i can read music to some extent, not really good at different time-lengths for each note