Composer Coffee Break

In a post-lockdown world, for most of us, our ‘events’ are still experienced through a screen. In 2020 I had a series of 12 conversations with legendary figures from the film and TV music world, which you can catch up on below. Do check this page when you can for future live events and other such delights.

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Future Events

14.6.2025 The Mallig Diamond Wigmore Hall, London

Book Tickets

Past Events

16.04.2024 Guest Lecture University of Surrey

Course Details

29.05.2022 Sea Change Festival Totnes, Devon

Book Tickets

23.04.2022 6 Brandenburgs: 6 Commissions Malling Abbey, Kent

Book Tickets

17.08.2020 Guest Tutor NYJC Summer School

Course Details

Featured blog posts

How to be a Composer in an AI World

I did a lecture back at my old Uni last year on "How to be a composer in an AI world" and thought I'd write up some of my notes as a post. Anyway, here were my 10 quick suggestions for what young composers/artists of any kind could focus on, to flourish in this brave...

How to be a Music Editor

As someone old enough to have been a music editor on Lord of the Rings, Love Actually and Children of Men, when I had some very interesting questions recently from someone just making their start in music editing, I thought I'd collect my advice on music editing in...

How to be a Composer’s Assistant

I was assistant to a really great composer, the late Michael Kamen, for 5 years or so. It was the most amazing, frustrating, bewildering, life-enhancing experience I could have hoped for. I feel like I’m still absorbing some of the things I learned from him, and from...

How to Get an Education

There are lots of people who are very happy to take your time and money for training in the music industry. These range from serious universities and colleges to one man band trainers working out of bedroom studios. I think it's a positive sign of the enormous amount...

Little Music Notebooks

Gotta love Moleskine. They do two sizes of music manuscript notebooks; a really small one that genuinely fits into a pocket, and a bigger one that alternates manuscript and blank pages. They are so cool. Nearly as covetable as the Sigur Ros hand-painted Moleskine...

Letters to a Young Composer

With apologies to Rilke, I'm collecting together a series of replies to some of the questions I've been asked, about the how, when and why of composing. Zen and the art of Pencil Sharpening, perhaps? Or the Composer's Way? In any case, I'll keep this page updated as...

How to Conduct an Orchestra

Have you tried conducting? If you ever get the chance, you should. It’s the ultimate game of ‘rub your tummy & pat your head’, and, apparently, takes as much coordination as flying a helicopter, except pilots don’t have to withstand storm-force heckling from the...

Free Manuscript Paper Templates

I've had a few enquiries about the customised manuscript paper I print for myself, that I use for different kinds of composition work. My own version has my name at the bottom in case I forget who I am during a late night, but I've left the PDF versions below blank,...

Working from Home

I resisted working from home for a long time. Our family seemed to benefit from some separation of roles, and I always felt I could be more present at home when I couldn’t just go and fiddle with something work-related at the weekend. But circumstances change, and it...

Keeping a Piano Diary

I’m fascinated by the daily rituals of other artists. The painters who get up at first light, whatever the season, the musicians who practice in hotel bathrooms to avoid complaints, and the writers who turn their daily craft into an act of disciplined service. More...