Creating music is accessible to everyone. Start simple, explore your interests and enjoy the process of expressing yourself creatively.
A beginner's guide to: Creating music
music composition, songwriting, music production, writing music
Get started with our creating music practice instructions in our free mobile app
- • Identify focus areas for growth
- • Discover activities for improvement
- • Track and reflect on progress
- • Adjust your wellness routine
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Decide on what medium you are going to use and get your gear together, or warm up your voice.
Find a space where you can make all the noise you need to!
Once you are set up, head to our Practice Guides and get started.
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What is creating music?
Creating music is something anyone can try, regardless of background or experience. It’s about expressing yourself and having fun. Start with simple tools and concepts – there’s no need for expensive equipment or formal training. Consider different genres and what styles resonate with you.
You can use various mediums, from your voice, to instruments like guitar, drums or piano, and there are many online apps to help create all kinds of music. These online tools let you experiment with making music without needing to learn complex instruments right away. To mix it up, find some people to collaborate with and combine your ideas, skills – and sounds.
Let us show you how!
What creating music looks like
Why creating music is good for you
Creating music builds self-control and sharpens emotional insight. The creative process enhances creativity, strengthens identity and deepens sense of purpose.
Idea-generation boost
Focus area: Creativity (Impact rating: High)
Builds sense of personal control
Focus area: Agency (Impact rating: High)
Clear sense of purpose
Focus area: Purpose (Impact rating: High)
Reinforced personal identity
Focus area: Identity & worth (Impact rating: High)
Sharpened emotion insight
Focus area: Emotional awareness (Impact rating: High)
People who love creating music
Paul McCartney
Person
Björk
Person
Trent Reznor
Person
"Whiplash" (Movie)
Movie
Real people's experiences
Starting to create music? Read this first
You are probably eager to get started and see what you can create. But before you do, there are some important things to keep in mind. Creating music could be a life long endeavour, and these tips will ensure that the sounds you create are just the beginning.
Common styles
Music creation offers a variety of approaches, each with its unique flair and possibilities:
Traditional instrumental composition
Digital music production
Songwriting
Live looping
What you might experience
😅
"I am going to make beautiful music"
🎸
"Okay, this could work."
🎧
"Let’s see what I’ve got here"
🎚
"This is starting to sound like something."
😃
"I’ll probably have to keep my day job but it’s not too bad!"
Try creating music today
- • Identify focus areas for growth
- • Discover activities for improvement
- • Track and reflect on progress
- • Adjust your wellness routine
What you need to know about creating music
Wondering whether you should start on your own, in a class or 1:1 with a teacher? Explore the table below and discover everything you need to know to get your practice started, right now.
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Recommendation for first-timer
Availability
Average cost per session
Special equipment required
Potential for socialisation & community
Safety & skill building
Space or privacy required
Ease of scheduling
Setup time
Active practice time
Unexpected advantages
Ancestry, history, facts and other trivia
The first commercially available vinyl long-playing record was actually launched by Columbia Records in 1948.
Daft Punk composed the score for the movie "Tron: Legacy" using a 85-piece orchestra and electronic sounds.
The song "Happy Birthday" was originally written as "Good Morning to All" in 1893.
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” - Victor Hugo
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3 facts
Popular memes
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9 memes
Academic research we rate
How Do Music Activities Affect Health and Well-Being? A Scoping Review of Studies Examining Psychosocial Mechanisms
Dingle, G. A., Sharman, L. S., Bauer, Z., Beckman, E., Broughton, M., Bunzli, E., Davidson, R., Draper, G., Fairley, S., Farrell, C., Flynn, L. M., Gomersall, S., Hong, M., Larwood, J., Lee, C., Lee, J., Nitschinsk, L., Peluso, N., Reedman, S. E., … Wright, O. R. L. (2021). How Do Music Activities Affect Health and Well-Being? A Scoping Review of Studies Examining Psychosocial Mechanisms. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818
Association of Music Interventions With Health-Related Quality of Life
McCrary, J. M., Altenmüller, E., Kretschmer, C., & Scholz, D. S. (2022). Association of Music Interventions With Health-Related Quality of Life. JAMA Network Open, 5(3), e223236. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.3236
What works for wellbeing? A systematic review of wellbeing outcomes for music and singing in adults
Daykin, N., Mansfield, L., Meads, C., Julier, G., Tomlinson, A., Payne, A., Grigsby Duffy, L., Lane, J., D’Innocenzo, G., Burnett, A., Kay, T., Dolan, P., Testoni, S., & Victor, C. (2017). What works for wellbeing? A systematic review of wellbeing outcomes for music and singing in adults. Perspectives in Public Health, 138(1), 39–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913917740391
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7 research pieces
Introduction guides from around the web
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