Are Composers And Songwriters the Same?

Both composers and songwriters create music and arrangements to captivate their respective audiences. However, there are differences between these two respectable professions.  Here is what I learned in my research.

In general, composers and songwriters are not the same. While composers tend to work with larger groups of musicians, songwriters usually produce musical compositions for themselves or other individual musicians or bands. Composers often work with orchestras, songwriters tend to find themselves working with a few other musicians.

 Read on to find out more about how composers and songwriters differ.

Characteristics Of a Composer

So, what is a composer? You might have a general gist of what a composer does, but what’s involved in this profession might be a little cloudy. Most composers actually receive large amounts of music theory training to understand the concepts needed to undertake this profession. With the demand for music present in many different parts of the media landscape, the skills composers gain from this theory training makes them more desirable to employers.

Often working from home, composers can submit recordings of their music to potential employers, whether this is for big producers of films or small musician groups in schools. Composers are usually very reliable, have creative skills, and strong communication and collaboration skills to work with clients.

Characteristics Of a Songwriter

Unlike composers, songwriters most commonly work on mainly music with a song structure that dominates the modern, pop-music field. They write melodies and harmonies and provide accompanying lyrics for musicians and singers, although many songwriters create lyrics for their own performances since they are musicians or singers themselves.

Modern technology is often used by songwriters, with computer programs like Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and recording software and hardware allowing them to record musical ideas, play them back, and edit them on the fly. To be a songwriter, sharp creative thinking, solid communication skills, and well-developed musical talent is required.

Responsibilities Of a Composer

With both composers and songwriters being responsible for creating music, you might be wondering by this point how much their duties can differ. There are a few distinctive activities to be aware of.

 Composers apply their learned musical theory to create original melodies, usually in the classical genre. They write music commissioned by orchestras, for TV, film, radio, and other areas where original music compositions are required. Writing for orchestras is common, and people in this profession often work to determine the best instruments, tempos, and harmonic balances to create the highest impact in each piece they compose.

They are responsible for enhancing the narrative through music, making this job extremely important to channel the audiences’ emotions. Composers collaborate with potential clients, practice music pieces, re-arrange, edit, and alter them to make the overall product perfect for their clients. Being an expert in their field, composers should be able to develop these pieces to the highest-quality level, especially considering their strong musical background, education, and experience.

Responsibilities Of a Songwriter

A Songwriters’ responsibilities involve examining their musical compositions to be able to apply the relevant lyrics and use their musical talent to experiment with different sounds, tone colors, and harmonies to improve their song. Songwriters sometimes even have to take on the role of the producer.  If that’s the case, they may also be responsible for booking recording studio slots, communicating effectively with their clients, and coordinating music rehearsals. Singer-songwriters will also be expected to perform their music, whether this is as an individual musician or as part of a band. 

How To Become a Songwriter Or Composer?

People are often introduced to musical instruments at a young age by family members, teachers, or even friends. Children may grow up with quality music in all genres, and they could have that one favorite song that makes them recall a happy memory. With many young people being enthralled by the joys of music in these numerous ways, it’s no surprise that many people are interested in becoming composers and songwriters.

As mentioned above, composers will need to rigorously study musical theory and composition. Getting a degree in these areas can be a good option to take. Further study in master’s degrees may be needed for certain jobs. Auditions are sometimes required for music-related degrees, so having good experience with musical instruments is essential. Having some background music experience will also help composers get into this profession – working on student films or simple video games can help build a good portfolio.

Unlike composers, you don’t need to know as much music theory to be a songwriter even though it can be beneficial. Learning the music theory basics will be a good idea to strengthen your skills, though. Enrolling in a music program could be beneficial to improve your skills too. However, unlike composers, having a degree certainly isn’t necessary to become a songwriter. You could start gaining experience by offering people your songwriting services at competitive rates.

While practicing your instrument daily, you could also make your way as a songwriter by getting a work apprenticeship that will give you some experience in recording studios and working with clients. You’ll also need to learn how to protect your work with copyright after writing a song to avoid any unpleasant consequences of people stealing your work.

How Much Do Composers And Songwriters Make?

Even though both professions are similar, the rate of pay can certainly differ. This is something to be aware of if money matters to you in your chosen career path. Both songwriter and composer salaries can vary a lot depending on the success of each individual, including their musical reputation and genre of music. With the need for further education, composers usually earn slightly more, although both professions can fall in the range of $40,000-$60,000 per year on average.

Composers and songwriters certainly have a lot of similarities, centering on their love of sound and input of creating music for different clients, although there are a few differences to consider. The main differing points are who they compose music for and what roles they are responsible for.

Composers often need higher qualifications than songwriters to understand musical theory to a great extent, songwriters are usually responsible for keeping up to date with modern music trends and even executing their own artistic performances. Composers usually deal with traditional orchestral compositions on a larger scale, even sometimes working with the top blockbuster films to blend storytelling with the perfect harmonies and melodies.