Practice - How to resist recording

Back when I had a piano, I used to do all my practicing and composing on it. Only when a song was sketched out would I bring it to my keyboard to finish it.

These days, however, I don't have access to a piano, so I need to use my keyboard for practice and composition. The problem is, whenever I open Sonar, load a soft synth, and get an idea going, I then feel compelled to record it. So I inevitably press record and soon find myself making an 8-bar loop. And then copy-and-pasting that a few times, and adding drums, and so son... all before getting any meaningful practice or composing done.

Yes, it's great that Sonar makes it easy to build songs with only the flimsiest of ideas, but that can also be a problem. Without real practice or composition, it's hard to progress in those areas.

So how do you handle it, aside from buying a piano or standalone keyboard? How do you make it easier to resist the temptation to record as soon as you stumble across a musical idea?

Self discipline. I practice 1.5 hrs each night. But NOT in my studio. If I practice in the tv room I'm less tempted to run up 3 flights and record every riff or new lead lick. Of course, that wouldn't be a bad thing . . . .

I think it is just how you approach the process of composing music. Why not just boot up your DAW and install an acoustic piano sound and simply stop there and work out what the music needs to do. Melody, harmony, tempo etc so much can be worked out before you actually start building the piece. Many people produce mediocre music because there is not enough planning going into it before they start construction. The construction sidetracks the real issues of great melodies over interesting chord progressions. I have found that when even the best electronic music composers are asked about their process, they often start at the piano. I am lucky to have an upright in the same room as my setup and it needs to sound good on there before going any further.

It is down to your self discipline really. But I also do not want to rule out the prospect of maybe having part of a great idea to start and then after construction gets underway you might hit a block but then the construction work you have already done might inspire you to continue on with the next part of the music.  Sometimes the rhythm and the other elements will inspire the next melodic or harmonic section. But that is also not a bad time to go back to the piano sound as well to work that out.

Both are valid approaches.

Jeff Evans


I think it is just how you approach the process of composing music. Why not just boot up your DAW and install an acoustic piano sound and simply stop there and work out what the music needs to do. Melody, harmony, tempo etc so much can be worked out before you actually start building the piece. Many people produce mediocre music because there is not enough planning going into it before they start construction. The construction sidetracks the real issues of great melodies over interesting chord progressions. I have found that when even the best electronic music composers are asked about their process, they often start at the piano.

I like this approach Jeff.  I've been trying it out for a little while now, but haven't used my DAW to simply compose yet.  I have a keyboard workstation with some pretty decent piano sounds and they are my first step.  This is where I plan and set up the song.  By the time I'm on my DAW, I have a basic arrangement in mind.