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When composing music, which medium do you usually use for sketching?

We all know John Williams is one of (if not the) best film-score composer of all time. We also know that because of this, we cannot really compare him with classical composers; film composing is just something different. However because he does write for a symphony orchestra, we can compare composing techniques and styles. My question then becomes: where would you rank him among the well known classical composers? For example, in my opinion, both in creating melodies as well as in colourful orchestration, he really is (almost?) on par with the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky. Let me give an example. If you compare Luke and Leia (from ROTJ) with In a Pine Forest (from the Nutcracker ballet, composed by Tchaikovsky), I think one cannot immediately say one of the pieces is better than the other as a composition, even without the film/ballet. What are your opinions? Curious to find out!

I really want to become a composer in the future but I have no idea what to study or how to get started. I would also like to know if there are any places that I should go to that would give me a good chance at becoming one. If there are any composers here please share some tips. I would much appreciate it. FYI my favorite score is his harry potter score.

So yeah, this was a piece I wrote for my friends (since they think everything I write sounds like a "hot airballoon ride". I explored the concept of leitmotif and having each cue have its own theme (as Williams does). I'm posting it on this website because, well almost everyone here is a John Williams fan, and I'm sure you'll be able to find each theme of the characters/scenes on your own (based on extensive cue/soundtrack analysis I've found here.) Here is a more detailed list of each cue featured in the score: Opening Fanfare ( - ) Introduction of the Hero and the Glance ( - ) Setting Up and Take Off ( - ) Flight of The Dirigibles ( - ) Death ( - ) The Villain's Airship ( - ) Stare Down ( - ) The Chase Scene ( - ) Hero In Trouble ( - ) Flames!( - ) Victory! ( - ) Peering Over The Edge ( - ) What's That? ( - ) Ascension ( - ) The Audience Waits ( - ) Return ( - ) Hero Fanfare ( - ) Race Fanfare ( -end) In the song, there are about three distict themes featured throughout the score: The Race Fanfare The Hero's Theme The Airship See if you can find each theme, as they are occasionally hidden! This is a sort of challenge for you Williams fans out there and a way to get my work critiqued by trained ears! Just so you know, I'm only 16, stopped playing piano years ago. It was written on Finale 2009 by hand, since I have no keyboard/midi cable. Enjoy!

So yeah, this was a piece I wrote for my friends (since they think everything I write sounds like a "hot airballoon ride". I explored the concept of leitmotif and having each cue have its own theme (as Williams does). I'm posting it on this website because, well almost everyone here is a John Williams fan, and I'm sure you'll be able to find each theme of the characters/scenes on your own (based on extensive cue/soundtrack analysis I've found here.) Here is a more detailed list of each cue featured in the score: Opening Fanfare ( - ) - Just a picture of a field with a whole bunch of steampunk balloons. Introduction of the Hero and the Glance ( - ) Setting Up and Take Off ( - ) Flight of The Dirigibles ( - ) Death ( - ) - The Villain's Airship ( - ) - Stare Down ( - ) The Chase Scene ( - ) Hero In Trouble ( - ) Flames!( - ) Victory! ( - ) Peering Over The Edge ( - ) What's That? ( - ) Ascension ( - ) The Audience Waits ( - ) Return ( - ) Hero Fanfare ( - ) Race Fanfare ( -end) In the song, there are about three distict themes featured throughout the score: The Race Fanfare The Hero's Theme The Airship See if you can find each theme, as they are occasionally hidden! This is a sort of challenge for you Williams fans out there and a way to get my work critiqued by trained ears! Just so you know, I'm only 16, stopped playing piano years ago. It was written on Finale 2009 by hand, since I have no keyboard/midi cable. Enjoy!