Since I started composing seriously, I have accumulated a large amount of compositional advice. Sometimes each nugget of wisdom is worth something in isolation (and, perhaps, in specific circumstances), but when taken as a whole this barrage of do's and don't's is really quite hilarious. If you were to follow all of these guidelines in good faith (which, obviously, I do not recommend), I guarantee you would not compose a note of music.
I emailed Sarah and we came up with a list of several of the do's and don't's we've heard over the years. If you are in a state of writer's block, I urge you to leave this page immediately. If you are feeling less fragile, please enjoy:
