Basically, this is just like the Pianist Profile (although that integrated into more of a Musician's Profile) but I got the sense that the same questions could be 'varied' to a Composers Profile. . .This is also a good way to show us who everyone is a composer with their inspirations, genres, goals, etc.

Here's the 'template'


Genre(s) / Era(s) -
Instrument(s) -
Currently Composing -
Influences / Autobiography -
No. of Years Studying/Composing -
Goal(s) -

Here I go--to start it off. :)

Genre(s) / Era(s) - Neo/Romantic, Impressionistic and Jazz (Alter-Ego Composition XD)

Instrument(s) - Piano, String Quartets, Concerti, Symphonic

Currently Composing - Waltz in F# Minor ; "Songs for the Piano" ; Miscellaneous Piano Music

Influences / Autobiography - I got into music (in general) when I first listened to Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" by Horowitz. I started to feel emotions that I have never felt before, and it through me into a state that I had never gone to before-I noticed, right away, that this was the feeling of a "passion" (something that you love, in my definition). When the III Mvt. started, I was in a state of complete infatuation, which was a different infatuation that you get from another person (relating to love, of course). This state was something that (from that moment on) that I wanted to engulf myself into and continue this passion that was opened to me through that piece of music-this basically had my influences towards piano, and composing for it. Overtime, I took lessons for piano, and I soon started to compose. . .and hey, I found Ichigo's right around that time! :heh: As many people know on Ichigo's, I started out just as any other newbie, but I still had that grasp on music from my piano playing, and I kept on pursuing my ambition of a composer. I continued to write down ideas, and eventually wrote and arranged a piece for my 8th Grade Band with me on Piano. Last summer I wanted to study music, but I couldn't so I just started to experiment with progressions and music in the style of the Romantics--which eventually made me one. XD After months of a composer block, I started listening to Impressionistic music, and that also had a large effect on my composition, and broke me out of the block, but just enough to write down ideas and such. Now, I am taking private lessons from whom he could be considered the best in the country. I am now seeing how theory and music intertwine and now I can envision orchestration already, even though we haven't gotten that far, yet. ^_^ Most of my influences in my music show: Chopin, Liszt, Grieg, Debussy, Kondo, Beethoven, Hisaishi and Ravel. . .and my Jazz is usually Original, but I have a LOT of influence from Keith Jarret's original jazz as well.

No. of Years Studying/Composing - 1.5 Years (Composing) ; 2 Weeks (Studying)

Goal(s) - [Type of] Composer

Genre(s) / Era(s) - I don't know, honestly. I've studied everything after Baroque and before 20th Century.

Instrument(s) - Full/Chamber Orchestra, Concerti, Piano, Clarinet Quartet/Quintet(s)

Currently Composing - Tentative Title: "Christmas Suite" for full orchestra, and arrangement for band. *hint*

Influences / Autobiography - I, honestly, used music to get away from my "issues" a year ago (as I mentioned... somewhere :shifty: ). I first became interested in composition at a very young age of 9. I would ask for staff paper at that age from the band director. XD 2 years later, I learned about Finale Notepad, and my knowledge of theory really went up. Thanks to my orchestration studies, I've done better than I have before.

(Check for updates)

No. of Years Studying/Composing - 5 years (Composing) ; 1.5/2 Years (Studying)

Goal(s) - I want to influence the music in the U.S. by composing/performing non-popular music. To me, the U.S. has had a huge lack of musical talent, and this "popular" music is so simple, anyone can make it, which I also see in some other styles in the U.S. This "popular" music has influenced so many things too; how we make our decisions (trust me, I know what I'm talking about), and even religious sites. I also want to show that Classical isn't as boring as people think it is; in fact, I always say: "If Classical music never existed, we may not have the music we have today"...

Genre(s) / Era(s) - Romantic/ Impressionistic/ Experimental

Instrument(s) - Piano, Flute, Orchestra, Arranging

Currently Composing - 12 Sketches (redrafting), Sonata nr 1

Influences / Autobiography - well i first got into composing for a level music because it was like a course requirement. i hated it at first but as i kept redrafting my stuff i started to think, i actually quite like this. main influence is Messiaen; i read some of his "Technique de mon language musical" and i think its amazing how the man practically invented his own music theories. i could go on about Messiaen for ages because he's just amazing =P also influenced by Ravel- like the combination of Liszt and Debussy. since having to write program notes on Scriabin i have also become influenced by his idea of assigning a different colour to each note; although my ideas around this are only in very early stages.

No. of Years Studying/Composing - i dont think composition is something that can be taught- you have to make your own way otherwise you will never produce something truly unique like the great composers. i have been composing properly for about 2 years.

Goal(s) - maybe to get some stuff published lol

Genre(s)- Late impressionism with very slight influence of jazz and new age, atonalism, and experimental.

Instrument(s) - Hm... It's pretty obvious to people here. ;)

Currently Composing - N/A, for my current project is to be kept a secret.

Influences / Autobiography - Well, my influences are mainly Debussy, Ravel, Rimsky-Korsakov, Faure, and Stravinsky, so you can pretty much say I'm a fan of French music (yes, RK and Stravinsky lived in France before, even if they're both Russian). I am not really a fan of early romantic music and etc... Well, as for a biography, you can read it in my thread. ;] Though, performance (i.e. playing piano and whatnot) never really inspired or had an impact on my compositions. I am also very peculiar person when it comes to music. I either really really love a piece, or really really hate it. I guess orchestrating is my biggest passion in composing. Though, I know I am not completely perfect at the moment, I am still very clear of what kinds of sounds I strive for. I always insisted that music is like a painting and the colours are the orchestration and/or textures of the piece. I am also very strange when it comes to defining the meaning of my music. I really don't care about messages to be conveyed or emotions or whatever. I just want the audience to relate to my music themselves. Right now, I am trying to strive for originality, and for very special musical colours that not many other composers have explored. I also really don't like it when composers does cliched sounds, it just kind of makes me feel... bad.

No. of Years Studying/Composing - Composing - 3 years Studying - 3.5 to 4 years Though, following up to what Thorn said: Yes, I agree, composition cannot be studied (though how to write music down can), and I also think that compositions and composers cannot be judged by experience and number of years studying or composing.

Goal(s) - Getting my bigger pieces performed.

Genre(s) / Era(s)
Classical, Modern easy-listening, Strangeness (I have no idea what my genre is, to be honest).

Instrument(s)
Small ensembles: mainly the piano, but I am also fond of string quartets.

Currently Composing
Nothing new at the moment. Just editing/updating my old pieces for now.

Influences / Autobiography
When I was about 6 years old (around the same time I started learning the piano), I watched the movie, Amadeus. Right after I finished watching, I told myself that I wanted to compose too. So I did. And it was horrible. Anyway, as a result, my earliest pieces were heavily influenced by Mozart. As I grew older, I started to listen to other types of music: Romantic, asian pop, Frank Sinatra/jazz, so I managed to break free from Classical music. In addition, I like to incorporate aspects of my personality into my music: me being different, me being organized, and me making something difficult appear simple. Why do I compose? Because I enjoy it, because it's fun/challenging, because I want to try out my ideas, and because I want to express my feelings to the world (and if you know me in real life, I'm pretty shy).

No. of Years Studying / Composing
I've been composing for about 17 years. I guess that also means I've been technically 'studying' for 17 years (because during these years, I learned theory/harmony/counterpoint). I've had one year of formal instruction in composition, sorta, but it was in a classroom setting, and I didn't get much one-on-one time with my professor.

Goal(s)
Hopefully within a year, I'll have released a CD as a side project (you know as they say, "Don't quit your day job"). And after that . . I'll just keep on composing.

Hi, everyone! :wave: I'm new here and I'm not ready to make a composition thread just yet, but I might as well introduce myself properly. :P

Name ~ Nuclear Foetus

Genre(s) / Era(s) ~ My compositions are rooted in the Classical style, but I've been branching out a lot lately... Now they sound more Romantic, a lot Jazzier, and very Modern.

Instrument(s) ~ Piano is the only instrument I'm really good at (unless you count Voice as an instrument, in which case I'm a pretty good Tenor). I have a violin, but I've yet to get lessons... so I'm really bad at it. :heh:

If you're talking about what I compose for, however, I usually stick to piano with an occasional character to fill in the black and white (usually a bowed string instrument or woodwind, though there are a few exceptions). Every now and then I'll compose for a small ensemble (like a full string quartet), but I rarely venture out into larger ensembles unless I have the will and the intention span to handle it. XD

Currently Composing ~ I'm working on a high-energy piece to start off my upcoming composition thread with a bang... It currently hasn't a title, but it's pretty cool and really fun to play on the piano. ^_^

Influences / Autobiography ~ Let's see... I always hummed or sang in gibberish random tunes whenever I was a kid, so my dad convinced me to join Choir once I got into Junior High (like he did). I've been teaching myself how to play the piano, read music, and all those things ever since... It's my ultimate obsession now. :lol:

My style of composition was influenced early on by Mozart, Disney songs, and the random things we sang in Choir. Since then, my taste in music has evolved and so has my own music. My newer influences are: Debussy, Ravel, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov, (which are now termed as "Classical" composers, even though none of them are from that era); Nobuo Uematsu and Koji Kondo (video game composers); John Williams, Philip Glass, Danny Elfman (film composers); Björk, Imogen Heap, Jamiroquai (popular music artists/songwriters); Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, and Eric Whitacre (theatre composers)... I like music. XD

I should stress that, even though I am influenced by it more than anything else due to my only somewhat recent exposure to "Classical" music, I don't actually compose popular music... Well, I hope it's popular with people here on Ichigo's, but I can almost guarantee that it wouldn't do well on the radio--maybe the "Classical" channel. :P

No. of Years Studying/Composing ~ I've been composing and playing the piano ever since I got into Choir 6 years ago... I took Music Theory 3 years later, took a break to develop those new-found ideas on my own, and went back in for AP Music Theory for my last year of High School. I got a 5/5 on the AP Music Theory Exam. :D

Goal(s) ~ I want to become a Choir teacher someday (I'm actually entering college in the fall to pursue a degree in Vocal Music Education), get the Oscar for Best Original Score and/or Best Original Song at least once, and learn how to produce two pitches simultaneously with my voice. XD Weird, ambitions, I know...

Genre(s) / Era(s) - Soundtrack
Instrument(s) - Whatever sounds good in my songs
Currently Composing - song for contest, "Deathraider's" Requiem, Elemental Suite
Influences / Autobiography -John Williams, Harry Gregson-Williams, other soundtrack composers, Rachmoninoff, Eric Whitacre
No. of Years Studying/Composing - That really depends on what you consider studying/composing. I've been doing both since I started piano lessons 9 years ago, but most of it didn't get totally serious until about 2-2.5 years ago. My composing really started to pick up once I got Finale 2006 1.5 years ago. I got a 5 on the AP Music Theory Test and I'm working on IB Music HL.
Goal(s) - to be a film composer the likes of John Williams.

Genre(s) / Era(s) - Classical, Jazz, Industrial, Black Metal, Industrial Techno, Psytrance, Trip Hop, Epic Trance, and Generic Techno.

Instrument(s) - Keys (piano, keyboard, organ etc), Brass (Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, and Trumpet), Guitar (accoustic, electric, and bass), and Clarinet. (All of these I've played in bands or competed in established competitions with)

Currently Composing - I have literally 15-20 works in progress, 8 of which I'm actively composing (some are collabs, some are arrangements of video game/anime songs).

Influences / Autobiography - Well, my great uncle was in duke ellington's band as the lead saxophone player. He was trained on multiple instruments and we inherited his entire musical library and instrument collection when he died (my mom was the only one he knew to absolutely love music as a blood relative). So, naturally when I was in 2nd grade, I was trained to play piano (until mid college). I was in marching band, jazz band, I had several side bands I was in (and played in various parts of the east coast with some well know Christian artists - like Stacie Orrico, Jars of Clay, Raze, etc).. In marching band, I was the lead trombone player, and won several state awards, until I moved - then had to compete for the first chair again... happened 4 times (my dad is still in the military). I've always been very serious about composition, my first 3 movement orchestra piece I wrote mid sophomore year in highschool. In college, I played in another group for a while, and started doing remixes of video game and anime music - I finally got enough momentum to start up my own site (anime remix) for music.

No. of Years Studying/Composing - Hmm... This is a toughy - I've been composing for several bands and have played multiple instruments (trained and self taught). I've played piano since second grade and was trained for 14+ years (2nd grade through college). I really started composing when I was in 6th grade and well - I'm 25 now.

Goal(s) - I used to have a clear vision of what I wanted to do - lately I just want to write music and express my emotions.