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Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 04, 2025 2:46 pm
by Guy Rowland
Tanuj Tiku wrote: ↑Sep 04, 2025 9:58 am
I am not particularly good at any of those but I could pass with some types of instrumental composition and production. It is astonishing how strongly I feel about the fact that I know so little with each passing year!
I think composing for library has made me a better composer because film can be tricky due to structural demands. If you work in film for a long time then standard instrumental composition can take a hit because many films don't require long structured cues that tell the story classically.
If you are not qualified to tick the "instrumental composition" or "production" boxes, I need to not just uncheck all my boxes but erase the boxes themselves.
I know what you mean, though I don't take "instrumental composition" to mean classical - that would require its own box imo.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 04, 2025 10:54 pm
by Lawrence
So many amazing musicians here.
Tanuj, it was my impression that your primary focus was on film music, with library music on the side. Has that changed?
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 05, 2025 4:19 am
by Daryl
Tanuj Tiku wrote: ↑Sep 04, 2025 9:58 am
I am not particularly good at any of those but I could pass with some types of instrumental composition and production. It is astonishing how strongly I feel about the fact that I know so little with each passing year!
I think composing for library has made me a better composer because film can be tricky due to structural demands. If you work in film for a long time then standard instrumental composition can take a hit because many films don't require long structured cues that tell the story classically.
Without calling you out specifically, your view is a typical view of someone who is an artist. Insecurity, and undervaluing of ability. I've often said that there are five stages of development, when it comes to artistic achievement:
1. You know nothing
2. You think you know a lot
3. You think you know nothing
4. You know that you know something, it's not enough, but hopefully you can avoid being found out
5. You know everything
Nobody ever gets to category 5.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 05, 2025 8:05 am
by Ashermusic
6. You know a fair amount, not enough but it will have to do.
But you have to get pretty old, like me, to get to #6.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 05, 2025 11:13 am
by Lawrence
Imposter syndrome would be a whole 'nuther poll.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 10:56 am
by Tanuj Tiku
Guy Rowland wrote: ↑Sep 04, 2025 2:46 pm
Tanuj Tiku wrote: ↑Sep 04, 2025 9:58 am
I am not particularly good at any of those but I could pass with some types of instrumental composition and production. It is astonishing how strongly I feel about the fact that I know so little with each passing year!
I think composing for library has made me a better composer because film can be tricky due to structural demands. If you work in film for a long time then standard instrumental composition can take a hit because many films don't require long structured cues that tell the story classically.
If you are not qualified to tick the "instrumental composition" or "production" boxes, I need to not just uncheck all my boxes but erase the boxes themselves.
I know what you mean, though I don't take "instrumental composition" to mean classical - that would require its own box imo.
I did eventually click on composition and production. For whatever reason, I do genuinely feel like that. Film music needs to do so many different things, it can be difficult to build musical rigour but every now and then one gets to flex some musical muscle.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 11:51 am
by Daryl
Ashermusic wrote: ↑Sep 05, 2025 8:05 am
6. You know a fair amount, not enough but it will have to do.
But you have to get pretty old, like me, to get to #6.
I would say that's point 4.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 11:59 am
by Tanuj Tiku
Lawrence wrote: ↑Sep 04, 2025 10:54 pm
So many amazing musicians here.
Tanuj, it was my impression that your primary focus was on film music, with library music on the side. Has that changed?
Larry, it’s always been a push and pull between film and library for me. I suppose in a way both give me an opportunity to do something that the other can’t and sometimes they provide a feedback loop of course!
I do enjoy working on film a lot but it’s gruesome and I genuinely feel like quitting films after every film. I just finished one and feel exactly that! The working conditions are often absurd and the ‘legend’ of film tiring sometimes. The glamour and glitz (though it doesn’t reach me directly is also repulsive).
I try to do as much library as I can and may be doing more of it in the future as I really enjoy the work and also the people I currently work with (Daryl and Co!) it’s a really terrific bunch of people to work with.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 12:02 pm
by Tanuj Tiku
Daryl wrote: ↑Sep 05, 2025 4:19 am
Tanuj Tiku wrote: ↑Sep 04, 2025 9:58 am
I am not particularly good at any of those but I could pass with some types of instrumental composition and production. It is astonishing how strongly I feel about the fact that I know so little with each passing year!
I think composing for library has made me a better composer because film can be tricky due to structural demands. If you work in film for a long time then standard instrumental composition can take a hit because many films don't require long structured cues that tell the story classically.
Without calling you out specifically, your view is a typical view of someone who is an artist. Insecurity, and undervaluing of ability. I've often said that there are five stages of development, when it comes to artistic achievement:
1. You know nothing
2. You think you know a lot
3. You think you know nothing
4. You know that you know something, it's not enough, but hopefully you can avoid being found out
5. You know everything
Nobody ever gets to category 5.
I remember you talking about this when you were in Mumbai last year and it did help put things in perspective for me!
I suppose every step is important and allows you to keep moving. I can’t imagine feeling like this when I started out - I would have never done it!
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 12:15 pm
by RobS
my number 4. would be:
4. You know that you know something, but keep finding many of the things you know are wrong...
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 12:52 pm
by Lawrence
RobS wrote: ↑Sep 06, 2025 12:15 pm
my number 4. would be:
4. You know that you know something, but keep finding many of the things you know are wrong...
7. You’re never as good as you think you are at your most egotistical point and never as bad as you think you are at your most insecure point.
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 1:04 pm
by Ashermusic
Rob, you nailed it!
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 1:43 pm
by progger
To pick just two for me, it's "instrumental composition" and "live performance," the latter of which is how I've made most of my living most of my adult life. "Copyist/transcriber" should really be in there too, since I've also made a good chunk of my living doing that and I'm good at it, but I definitely prioritize composing and improvising over everything else in music, so it can have the bronze medal. And I enjoy "production" very much but it's definitely fourth out of the bunch.
I get to put damn near all the hats on over the next couple months, I've gotten a large arts grant from the city of Austin to produce a record and I'm flying in friends from LA, NY, and Japan to join the core group for it. Three days in a great studio next month, lots of tough tunes (half of which nobody's played yet), lots of cat-herding. We'll see what happens!
Re: Your Skills?
Posted: Sep 06, 2025 3:22 pm
by Lawrence
progger wrote: ↑Sep 06, 2025 1:43 pm
To pick just two for me, it's "instrumental composition" and "live performance," the latter of which is how I've made most of my living most of my adult life. "Copyist/transcriber" should really be in there too, since I've also made a good chunk of my living doing that and I'm good at it, but I definitely prioritize composing and improvising over everything else in music, so it can have the bronze medal. And I enjoy "production" very much but it's definitely fourth out of the bunch.
I get to put damn near all the hats on over the next couple months, I've gotten a large arts grant from the city of Austin to produce a record and I'm flying in friends from LA, NY, and Japan to join the core group for it. Three days in a great studio next month, lots of tough tunes (half of which nobody's played yet), lots of cat-herding. We'll see what happens!
Fantastic to hear- congratulations!
