Tips on writing down musical ideas.

Hmm... Got a cell-phone with a recorder app?   (Heck ... got a cassette-tape Walkman?)   Whatever ya got, first, c-a-p-t-u-r-e that idea!

Then, well... as Winnie-the-Pooh said ... “start at the beginning, then proceed until you reach the end, then stop.”

Visualize just one of those “beautiful music ideas in my head, full counterpoint and everything,” so that it is as-clear-as-possible.   Then, try to write-down just one small part of it.   Perhaps the line of just one single instrument.  

Now, “go for the second one.”   And, so on.

It might also help for you to “see how The Master Himself did it.”   Obtain the score of something that Bach did, and carefully study it.   Cue-up a recording and listen to it as you follow-along with the score.

When you strive to understand this sort of thing, you need to anticipate that “it’s gonna hit you like an iron skillet in the face.”   “Pwangggg-g-g-g-g!!”   (ouch...)

So, you need to break it down.   What’s the Cello line?   What’s the Flute?   And, so on.   To understand the tapestry, you must begin with the threads.   (And:   have patience!)   :-D

One piece at a time ... then, move on to the next one ...

A computer-geek columnist referred to it as “Taking a sip from the fire-hose.”