Composers write the music you hear at concerts, in films and in advertising jingles. Most of them write professionally, and, while they influence each other, they work in a variety of styles, and each has his own preferences for what makes a piece of good music.

Function

A composer is any person who creates music for musicians to play. Composers apply music theory and their knowledge of concepts like counterpoint, melody, rhythm and tone to create new musical compositions.

Identification

Three-quarters of composers consider themselves professionals, spending at least 27 hours a week composing, but making only 10 percent of their income from it, according to a study conducted at the Research Center for Arts and Culture at Teachers College at Columbia University. Many composers supplement their income working as musicians, conductors or teachers.

Potential

According to composer Fernando Rivas, the great composers of today are writing film scores and advertising jingles, "serving their masters, much like Mozart did in his day..."

Temperament

According to psychologist David Keirsey's personality test known as the Temperament Sorter, composers tend to be artists who ae deeply in tune with their senses. They possess a firm grasp of what belongs and what does not belong in a work of art--in this case, music.

Types

Composers have ranged in style and function throughout history. Mozart and Beethoven were composers of classical music, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin were composers of popular American music, and John Williams is an award-winning film composer.

Training

Most composers attend a music conservatory for years, taking courses in subjects like ear training and music theory, becoming familiar with new music technologies and learning to understand musical instruments and how they work with one another. Others, even famous composers like Gershwin, receive no musical training and rely solely on their own innate talent, ear and intuition.

Source:

Keirsey.com: Portrait of the Composer

American Composers Forum: Survey of Music Composers

Eunomios.com: The Mozarts Of Today?

More Information:

The Society of Composers & Lyricists

American Composers Alliance