How I'd start a Career as a Composer in 2025

Discover what your biggest composing block is and unlock your creative flow by taking my free quiz

If I were to start my composing career all over again in 2025, these are the genuine, impactful things I would focus on. This isn't about running ads or getting on Spotify playlists. It's about fundamental shifts that make a huge difference to a composer's journey.

For those new to the show, my name is Richard Prynne. I've been a professional composer for over 10 years, and have been doing it part-time for almost 20 years. Over that time, I've learned a few things, and these three points truly make a difference.

1. Identify and Conquer Your Blocks

The first thing I'd do is figure out what's truly blocking me. I'm not talking about Lego blocks, but those things hindering your creativity, your career, and your progress.

There are five common blocks composers face in their careers:

• The Blank Page: This is when you're struggling to come up with ideas in the first place.

• The Perfectionist Trap (The Unfinished Symphony): You struggle to finish your ideas, leading to countless unfinished pieces.

• The Tech Tangle: The technology feels overwhelming, and you don't know how to use plugins, mix, or master effectively.

• The Inner Critic: Your internal voice is too loud, stopping you at any point, even when you've achieved "success".

• The Industry Imposter: You don't understand the industry or how to get into it, leaving you unsure what to do with a portfolio you're proud of.

If you want to discover your biggest block and how to overcome it, I've created a fun quiz and a free masterclass (it's actually a mini-course) that provides advice on clearing all these blocks.

2. Set Clear, Specific Goals (and Understand Your "Why")

Once you know what's blocking you, the next crucial step is defining what you truly want to do. Being definite and concrete about your goals is incredibly important. Specificity allows you to formulate the beliefs and actions needed to reach that goal.

Early in my career, my goal was simply to "make music my full-time gig". While I achieved it, I later realised I wasn't fulfilled. It got boring because I wasn't specific enough. My goal should have included writing different types of music that fulfilled me and having an outlet to help others.

This experience taught me the importance of understanding your "why" – what truly gets you excited and drives you. For me, it's adventure, excitement, fun, variety, and helping others. These are your core values that underlie everything you do.

So, be specific: What type of films do you want to score? Where do you want to write them? Who do you want to work with? How much do you want to be paid? All these details matter.

3. Practice Achievable Daily Habits

With your blocks identified and your goals clearly set, the final piece is to establish small, achievable daily actions. These tiny habits are what will help you overcome your blocks and steadily move towards your goals.

Let's look at some examples:

• If your block is the "Blank Page" and your goal is production music:
  Set aside five to ten minutes per day to generate ideas without judgment. Sing into your iPhone, record into Logic, or simply write them down. Each idea can then go towards your goal, like creating a crime show underscore.

• If your block is "Industry Imposter" and your goal is trailer music:
  Your daily action is outreach. Dedicate 10 minutes a day to researching trailer music libraries – find out who they are, what music they do, and get contact details. Then, send a tailored email with your best tracks. This puts you in control.

• If your block is the "Perfectionism Prison" and your goal is to release an album:
  Your daily habit is to take an idea and aim to finish the track to about 70% completion, then export it. Don't go for perfect, because perfection is unattainable and constantly changing. Done is better than perfect. This consistent "doing" builds your portfolio towards your album goal.

Remember, even when you achieve your goals, the blocks don't disappear. They're like weeds in a garden that still need tending. By practising these daily habits, you learn to use your blocks not as obstacles, but as steps to ascend and climb higher.

Ready to Begin Your 2025 Composer Journey?

Figure out your biggest block, set your clear goals, and start implementing achievable daily habits.

To help you get started, take my free quiz to find out what your biggest block is.

And as a bonus, everyone who takes the quiz gets access to my free Composer Breakthrough Masterclass, where I share my favourite advice for overcoming these five blocks.