Can anyone learn to compose? Many musicians assume composition is a gift reserved for a talented few. In this article, I explore why creativity grows through instruction, curiosity, listening, and practice—and why composing may be far more accessible than you think.

What makes one musician's performance sound completely different from another's? Discover how melody, harmony, rhythm, and improvisation work together to transform a familiar standard into a personal musical statement, illustrated through Jerome Kern's Yesterdays.

After discovering how to start a composition, the next challenge is learning how to continue it. In this article, composer and educator Diana Mascari explores practical techniques for developing musical ideas through phrase writing, accompaniment, instrumentation, ABA form, and creative listening.