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Interview with Caleb Cuzner
February 19, 2012
Caleb Cuzner is a composer. For information about his work, visit www.calebcuzner.com.
Tibbetts: How long have you been writing music, and what made you decide to become a composer?
Cuzner: I have been writing music for 10 years, but I didn't start regularly writing music until 5-6 years ago. I originally started writing music just because I thought the notes/symbols looked interesting; it was before I knew how to play any instrument. A year or two later, my brother found some software that creates midi files using music notation. I started using that software and it eventually became one of my favorite things to do. A few years after that, I decided to put my skills to the test and I started taking music requests for computer games. I have been writing music as much as I can ever since.
Tibbetts: What inspires you?
Cuzner: I'm inspired by whatever the people requesting music from me give me. Sometimes they have me look at a picture, sometimes they have me play a game, sometimes they have me listen to a song, and sometimes they just give me a description. I search for the melodies in my head, and write down the notation. Eventually a full orchestration evolves from the melodies and beats in my head. I believe that there is a spiritual component to composing, and that much of the inspiration comes from the Holy Ghost. I always find that inspiration for music flows much easier if I pray first.
Tibbetts: Of all you have done, what do you consider your best work, and why?
Cuzner: I used to have one song at a time designated as my best song, but after writing a lot of songs (currently 700+) I just can't choose anymore. Each time a write a song, it is usually a little bit better and more sophisticated than the song I wrote previously. Due to this, I consider my more recent work to be much better than my work in years past. Although, if I have to choose specific songs to classify as some of my best work, I would have to choose my three Shark Bait songs (Part 1, Part 2: Attack!, and Will the Shark Survive?). Those songs used a lot of new elements I hadn't used previously, and all three have gotten good feedback and have been periodically put on the top scoring list of one of the communities I compose for.
Tibbetts: What is your 'typical day' like?
Cuzner: That depends. When school isn't going on, I usually wake up, compose music until I can't physically do it anymore, take a little break, and then start composing again. Ideally I would compose from the time I wake up until the evening. When school is going on, things get more hectic. I go to school, and then try to compose when I get home. I don't get to compose absolutely every day during the school year, as I sometimes inconveniently fall asleep the moment I get home. I also have to balance my composing with attending band rehearsals and church functions. I do not compose on Sundays.
Tibbetts: Do you have any words of wisdom to offer to aspiring composers?
Cuzner: Composing isn't all about learning music theory. I have not yet completed any official music theory courses. My musical knowledge all comes from what I learn in a band or piano lesson setting, and from what I discover from experimenting. Composing music is about harnessing the power of the melodies within. Its about figuring out how to write the melodies in your head. In general, I have found that the melodies in my head already have a set chord progression and beat, and I just have to figure out what the chord progression/beat are. If you want to compose, go for it! There is nothing to stop you, you'll never learn if you never start.
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