Good friends => good music

Part of the collegiate experience is learning as much as you can, not only from your professors, but also from your peers. I would argue this is even more true for music students, and even more so still for composers. My (short) professional life as a composer has been dramatically shaped by the people around me, be it fellow composers, performers or just musically inclined friends.

In my personal experience with fellow composers, they are most helpful with relevant literature and the like. Composers are typically well versed in the literature of their time (or should be anyway). I have learned about more great composers through my composer "coworkers" than I have through the radio, books, professors, or the internet. When you sit down with someone near your age and experience level and you discuss composers and works you like, dont like, and why, you have a tendency to internalize what you learn more through the interactive nature of an in-depth conversation with a compadre. This kind of interaction is usually informal in nature and starts with one person sharing something they recently found or heard on the radio or what have you. I have spent countess hours with fellow composition students sharing scores, cd's, analyses, and ideas. The other great thing to take from your compositional relationships is their own music. Looking at fellow student compositions is a great way to grow and increase your musical vocabulary. And let's not forget how valuable your fellow composers can be for proof reading.

Performers are also a most important connection to have as a composer. While not often as well versed in contemporary literature as a whole as a composer might be, you can bet a violinist will know a lot of lit. for violin. If you are writing for the violin, you would be well advised to speak to anyone who will listen who plays the violin before finishing your piece. I have learned so much from my performers about what sounds good, what sounds bad, what is easy, what is fun, etc. This will be very valuable if you are trying to write an idiomatic, musically interesting piece.

Now, we can all do more to increase our experiences together if we make it more of a priority to get to know one another (I am bad at this too, so please dont think I am just casting stones here) and open ourselves up to critique and complement from the wealth of tallen we have in our studio. As for a specific recommendation on how to do this, its a difficult thing. I think Michael's "listen party" that didnt go over very well was a good idea, maybe a BBQ at Dr. Suter's (wink wink) would be a good way to get everyone together. Concerts are also good opportunities to be social and such, like the one Tuesday. So, go fourth and be social! It will prove to be beneficial for everyone in the long run.