How to compose piano music

Compose piano music is not simple. So, I've put together these 5 tips for anyone who would like to how to compose music for piano.

1) Start With the Melody

Just start with one simple melodic phrase. That melody will be the centerpiece for everything else in your solo piano composition. It's the foundation and the focal point of your solo piano music. As you begin to compose, improvise on that melody and see where it naturally wants to take you. Think of your chorus as your melodic destination.

2) What is Your Piece About...

As you develop your overall melody, think about the emotion or image you want your composition to convey. What is the message... Is it love... Peace... Christmas... Summer... Whatever your message is, keep it in the forefront of your mind as you compose. Doing so will influence the direction the composition takes. I find it helps to give the composition a name early in its development.

3) Follow the Muse

It's not uncommon to find that while you're developing a composition, you find yourself taken into an entirely new musical direction. The question to ask yourself is, does this 'new direction' belong with your original melody? Or, have you accidentally stumbled upon a new, second melody better suited for an entirely new work? A great number of my pieces originated as spin-offs of other compositions. So if you have a great melody and it takes you to a second great melody, consider whether you're might really be working on two different pieces and whether you need to split them apart so they can 'play' in their own separate worlds.

4) To Intro...

It is sometimes tempting to write a long introduction to set the mood for your piano composition. Remember, the melody is what makes or breaks your piece. It is also the device that holds the various elements of your composition together. Finally and most importantly, the melodic hook is what your listener will remember. So, get to the melodic point quickly, and don't linger too long on your introduction.

5) An Anti-Melody Appoach?

Some compositions are just 'mood' pieces. I have a few of these, which don't really have a melody so much as cool, ambient sense about them. There's nothing wrong with writing mood pieces, but be warned, you can only carry a 'mood' for so long before the listeners ear tires. Keep your mood pieces relatively short. Under 3 minutes is a good.