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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...