My failing composing career and what turned it around
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- Опубликовано: 1 фев 2023
- What do you do when your dreams of becoming an artist aren't working out? In this very personal video I take a look the role luck played in turning my career round, and how, on reflection it wasn't actually luck at all, but something much more important.
I tried to uses royalty free music for this, but wasn't happy with the feel, so I won't be getting any ad revenue for this one. If you'd like to support the channel do feel free to head over to my patreon! www.patreon.com/davidbruce
#composing #careers #luck 
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Inspiring video David 😊 I find when you hear stories of how people came to be successful they are never tales of well executed plans, but instead stories of someone who took a random opportunity, that lead to another opportunity, that lead to another, that lead to where they are today! All you’ve got to do sometimes is say “yes”!
David comments on David's video!? Love both of you dudes! Very cool!
@@Tylervrooman Well, after David is on one of David's photos, it's no surprise!
As my trombone teacher says, "Just pick up the phone when someone calls."
15 years old I desperately wanted to be Beethoven, then I learned Beethoven already existed and I had to be Tyler, 10 years later I was hired by Disney as a musician. The work has slowed down but the fact that I got to make a living playing music for 10 years is a win. Going to keep composing and putting myself out there thanks for the great content David!!
Good for you!!!
do you have any advice for breaking into the disney/movie music industry?
@@cappybara Show up to auditions, do your best, meet people, put yourself out there. I sort of just got lucky and was prepared. Right place, right time, right abilities. Be cool too. Be kind. Everyone likes a good "hang."
I had exactly the same thing but then with Mendelssohn! After two years my teachers addressed this by saying: "sure, you replicate his style flawlessly and in such fashion that even we can't tell the difference, but we want to get to know you! We already know Mendelssohn..."
I hesitantly followed up on their suggestions to find my own modus and style.
Now, it all turned out to be just one step closer to what I actually wanted to do, writing music for film. This month I got my very first award for a fiction short movie. I hope to do a lot more . . . Working at Disney must be something like a dream coming true, right? I can imagine that to be the pinnacle for musicians and composers, apart from all the 3D and 2D animators working there.
@@Tylervrooman thank you I really appreciate it!!
We need more videos with David showing off pictures of his younger self, just for us to appreciate how continuously amazing his eyebrows have been in all these years.
I’m 28, just finished my masters in composition and applying to doctoral programs. I’ve had the EXACT anxieties now that you’ve described. Thank you so much for the most inspirational video I’ve ever seen. Hopefully my composition career gets that boost of “luck” as well!
this video explains that academia was Not the route to success... In fact it has horrible ROI. multiple masters degrees? Ph D? whyyy?
So now you need to found a company;)
Yeah, pretty sure you got a masters degree for something fun and not to make money.
Don’t worry normal life jobs will love you have a masters so it will never be useless.
Same as me, but I've finished my second masters in music and am 36 years old. 😝
@@superblondeDotOrg because there's some topics you can only find, and most commonly, debate at high level only inside academia.
The photos of you with your wife are just too cute for this world
This is one of the most bluntly straightforward warts and all pieces ever. And all of it true- not only for you but for the rest of us. Thank you for sharing your story and giving us all hope. Your turn around came in your 30's, I think I'm reaching my turn in my 70's. I always knew I'd be doing this, certainly am determined, and as luck would have it-- a few friends along the way who believed in me. And the love of my life and I sometimes literally hold each up in our 50+ year. Who knew?
fuckin happy for you dude :)
I'm turning 70 in a few months and have come back to composing after 50 years during which time I turned my energies to study, getting a job and raising a family with my "rock". It hasn't happened yet but I'm keeping on keeping on. Who knows? The clocks ticking but I just keep writing for the love of it.
Loads of love to you brother.
@@planetfixer 👍Thx for commenting! Here's the thing- At the bottom of it all, you can't lie to yourself late at night when it's only you in the room. As I was told awhile ago, "If you are an asrtist, be an artist." Doesn't matter if it's a paint brush, oboe (?), pen, or ballet slippers.
@@DRPETERQUANTICK 👍 Thanks for sharing! It's a liberating time when we have nothing to prove. With the arts, all beets are off anyway. We had a family saying, "Devil take the hindmost." It has always meant that we were about the business of doing and being.
Thank you for this! As a young aspiring composer, I find it hard to stay motivated, but this video was a great help. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Came across this video as a random youtube recommendation. I'm not even persuing a career in the arts but this still felt so relevant to me! I was almost in tears when you started talking about the importance of friends. I'm finally beginning to overcome a long battle with depression and social anxiety, and at 24 I'm making friends for the first time in what feels like forever. Everything you say is to true - friends are like roots that ground you.
happy for you, everyone has their own pace, I am glad you are doing better and finding friends
As a filmmaker with similarly wild dreams and being in my thirty's, this video is incredibly refreshing and hopeful. thank you!
Laughs in A.I and big studios like Netflix ruining the industry.
I believe in you that you can make a wonderful film, I just have less faith you will be able to pay your rent or even think about owning a home 🏡
Modern art and economics don’t mix well
in your thirsty thirty's
personally I always liked - "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity".
Thanks for sharing your story, best of luck on future endeavours 😋
Beautiful video David. This hits close to home - I've paused my songwriting and picked up web development to earn capital for my music dream, which has led to barely any music being written. It's scary being away from something I obsessed over for nearly 1 and a half decades. This video gives me the strength to continue this journey. Thanks for everything you do.
Surely fate had something in mind bringing me here. I'm pursuing web development for the same reason 😭
I can't believe what I'm reading. I'm 28 and I've been writing music since I was a teen, but now I'm seriously considering to study a bootcamp in data analysis for the same reasons you mentioned
@@el_guingo As far as luck goes, I was fortunate enough to double-major in music and data analytics at the university of my choice! I never really considered music as anything more than a hobby (outside of some gigs here and there), but also pursuing the data analytics degree helped me land a solid job that allows me to continue exploring music as a hobby without having to worry about it paying the bills, or anything like that. I know it was a privelege to be in that position with my education opportunity, but I'm glad I went to school somewhere where I could both study for a career and follow my passion with music simultaneously.
@@thordy9526 Man, I would love to so that. May I ask some questions?
How hard is it to double-major? For example, do you think you have a lot of pressure, lots of exams or assignments?
Secondly, what do you need to study music? Audition (if yes what are the standards?), portfolio of compositions?
And at last, which school is that? I know it's a lot of questions, but I really want to get more infos. I want to study music, but I also want something else that I can rely on.
"If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all" - Albert King. Great video David, and I concur. All my successes in life have come from friendships. As my old dad used to say, "It's not what you know, it's who you know!"
Fun Fact: In German, there's a single word for both luck and happiness: Glück.
As Panta Flux has pointed out, there are, of course, more words that describe these concepts, but Glück is, I think, the most common.
That word reminds me of a certain composer name...🙃
As well as Zufall, Freude, Heiterkeit, Glückseligkeit, Fröhlichkeit, …
Fun Fact: In Australian, it's G'luck, mate.
In Czech we have such a word too: Štěstí
Fun fact: In Ukrawe we commonly use this german word "Глюк" to describe a certain type of bug in a computer program, usually it is basically a glitch
David, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. You have no idea how fundamentally moving this video was to me. It came at exactly the time when I needed to hear its message most. I'm struggling career-wise and relationship-wise, and hearing the reminder to put stock in my friendships really helped. Even though we've never met, I like to consider you one of those friends. So thanks.
Hey man hope you are well!
I love the slap-in-the-face realism of your life story. No artificial sweeteners. I am a teacher and I will take the liberty of showing this to some of my (overly) ambitious students. I am afraid too many of them believe effortless success is imminent and guaranteed for all, when in reality it is a journey of 'ups' and 'downs'. With a bit of luck the 'ups' hopefully prevail in the end.
I guarantee. For me was up, downs, and explosions.
That was uplifting thank you. I began my music life 50 years ago when I found an old guitar in a garbage can in Toronto while walking home from school, I thought I'd won the lottery. Since then I have lived and had my so-called careers to pay the bills and always having to put my songwriting and music on the shelf. Then 5 years ago in my 60s, it came back into my life through a well know lyricist who one day gave me a song to compose music to. We began writing together when he go sick and passed away, but what it did was fill me will passion and love for what I had left behind so many years before. As a result I wake up every day and sit and write songs in our little flat in Godalming Surrey. I have no idea how to make my dream of having my music recorded and performed by others but I do know this. I am madly in love with music once again, just like the day I found that broken-down guitar in the bin....peace my brother....peace...
A career in the arts is such a treasure. Thank you for telling your story.
I'm 18 years old, living in sweden in a small town with pretty much no aspirations. My dream is to be a composer (or a musician) but I'm terrible at music teori and awful at playing piano so I feel extremely stuck at the moment. But this video was very inspiring! I fortunately have really good friends who suffer through my music shananigans and who support me in every way!
Var i Sverige bor du? Jag är också 18 men jag bor i Finland
Hello!) The same situation...
But, i believe that it is possible to develop some skills and get significant emotions during the process of writing music) The most crucial thing is attempt to be on your own way, not comparing yourself to others ( i know it is pretty complicated, but there is no way)
I'm feeling also confusion and don't know what to do with it...
@@carloscastro1192 Mellan Göteborg och Trollhättan om du vet vart det ligger! Väst Sverige alltså
Hey David, thank you for this video. I dreamed becoming a professional composer since I was 13 years old. I studied piano, oboe, composition, harmony, music theory and opera. But at the age of 22, I desperately needed a job and, like you, I didn't feel like I would be able to become a performer or a teacher. I then pivoted to web design and started working in an agency. This career choice has been incredible and I find myself very lucky now: I'm a 36 year old CEO who's currently growing a team of 40+ people internationally. It's great but in the depth of my soul lives this flickering flame of music composition. This video really felt like a glimpse inside an alternative version of what could have been my own story. I'm glad you had the chance to meet those wonderful people and pursue your dream career. Congratulations
Thanks for this video. ❤️ I am 36 and I hope to find my way with my music. It's hard. And I am very thankful for all my friends who have supported me along the way. ❤️❤️❤️
The concept of ten minute operas really tickled my mind. I'd love to hear more about it. I don't work in classical music, but I sometimes find inspiration from the more high concept styles of classical music.
If you haven’t done so already, have a listen to “A Hand of Bridge” by Samuel Barber. It’s a fantastic little ten minute piece, and it’s a perfect example of how good a short opera can be.
Thank you for sharing your story, David. I'm a composer/singer, just turned 30, and in pretty much the exact position you described currently (even in terms of personality type, I recognise a lot of myself in what you said). Continuing to find the motivation to press on in a job market that doesn't accommodate creative work at all is a tough endeavour. But it's good to know we're not alone in our struggles!
What a lovely video, thank you for making that. I had the good luck of meeting my future wife in the cello section of the Kansas City Symphony when I came here to play as a substitute in 2014. She inspired me to learn, grow, change, and gave me the motivation to quit my old job and move to Kansas City with the hope of winning an audition for the orchestra (which I did, in 2017). We even played Gumboots here together!
I remember! Nice to hear from you John!
Beautifully told, David. I'm a university professor who teaches gospel music history and performance, but I've been able to balance academia with my own performances and composing for decades now. What you said is true:: building relationships over the years has helped open doors throughout the years. Cheers!
Fantastic video. I'm going to add it to the “Must Watch List” I give all my students (private and institutional). I burned out in 2016, and have climbed back to a more joyous - and productive! - artistic life than I could ever have imagined, in large part by leaning into friendships instead of chasing The Other Things™. So glad to have a confirming perspective to share with my students.
That 3 year hiatus without composing reminds me of myself and my relationship with music and other professional choices I've made in life. I think I'm going to rewatch this video from time to time to allow myself to get inspired by it and reflect on my life choices. Whatever flame I thought I lost - this video has sparked it in me again.
I'm a musician and composer in my 30s with a non music business trying to make a living and your video spoke right through me, amazing work and a spark of hope for me. Thanks!
I love this. Rest in peace, Richard. Luck is not luck, it’s human kindness, love, and friendship.
Thank you for sharing your journey. This was very touching and inspiring indeed!
Such a phenomenal editing - and story as well. Great video!
Thank you so much for this video David. Beautifully done
Really lovely video, David. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Deeply inspiring, David. I'm currently applying for PhDs as a molecular Microbiologist and this is just what I needed to hear
Great video David I was very interested in all you spoke of and it was good to hear of more of your work
a beautiful presentation. thank you David!
As usual, David, inspiring and encouraging in equal measure. Thank you!
Lovely and inspiring! Thank you very much for this video and your message. Gave me some hope for the future
Such a wonderful video that couldn't have come at a better time for me, thank you so much. I'm in (hopefully) the final year of my composition PhD at the moment and am fearing that dark world on the other side that you speak of, and also get easily exhausted by social interaction in a way that sounds so similar to what you describe. Thank you for allowing me to feel a little bit of hope about my own future.
Beautiful inspiring video David! Thanks!
Beautiful story and inspirational as well! Good work:)
This had me in tears and chills multiple times. Thank you David for sharing your story and synthesizing it into a wonderfully creative video all the while
this was an excellent and inspirational video, and honestly it couldn't have come at a better time. i've been in a creative drought and unable to grasp any hope, and as luck would have it, these things are exactly what i needed to hear. you have my gratitude.
also, i'm happy for you that you found someone who could inspire you and support you all these years. it's wonderful how you clearly cherish each other!
Thank you for this wonderful video, David!
What a lovely video!
I'm just starting my composing career literally right now, so this couldn't really be more fitting.
I do feel frightened beyond belief, and at the same time, unbelievably grateful that I have known what I wanted to do since I was a young child.
I hope one day, after luck strikes, we'll meet and converse about this!
Thank you David for presented your personal and most precious!
Wow, great biography! Thanks, Bruce.
You’re _even more_ inspiring me to get my composing life back when I finally retire in a few years.
what a great video. The storytelling is fantastic and really inspiring as a young aspiring musician myself!! Definitely taking notes
What a great video, David! Thank you.
Thank you so much for this video. It means so much to hear someone like yourself opening up about how windy the road has been, it puts us all at ease with our own windy journeys.
Heartwarming, David :) Thanks for posting.
you always inspire me. I really appreciate you and the great content you upload. thank you David!
What a good video. This is my favourite video I have seen on youtube. Thank you!
One of my favorite videos by far this year..❤️
Beautiful video with a great message. Good on you for creating your own luck, persevering through adversity, and recognizing your fortunes and being humble and grateful for it. Inspiring, thank you!
This is great! Thanks for sharing your story and insights on your career and the importance of friendships/collaborators. A very good reminder, especially for introverts.
❤ What a beautifully presented video !!!
I’m sure that many of us have experienced your life’s experiences too and appreciate your having shared them with us
Thank you 🙏🤗
Thank you for posting this video and sharing your story David. I couldn’t agree more!
I LOVE the concept for this video. So refreshing and practical advice for other artists! thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing your life with us! Very interesting and thoughtful perspectives! Cheers!
Thank you David so much. You are a genuine one to watch and listen to and learn from on RUclips. You're an inspiration!
very good video for real, loved thr style of editing and the story telling is on point 👏 great message, great everything you definetly deserve more views
thanks for this video! it feels so authentic with the creative edits and detailed personal history. I'm just finishing up my two to three years of a creative rut, and your story is so relatable. it really is the friends around you that energize and inspire you through the tough times!
You are full of heart ! Thank you for this video 🌞🤍
Amazing video David, incredibly touching ending and a meaningful lesson I will take with me into tomorrow. Thank you :)
I genuinely cried throughout most of this. Beautiful video David thank you for sharing
That photo of you and your wife you put in the thumbnail is incredible. It looks like you're dating someone from the coolest ever new-wave-slash-shoegaze band ❤
David this was really inspiring and insightful to me, as someone with the lifelong ambition to compose, but I only started properly around 50.
this year I have written my first pieces of music at 56
I couldn’t be happier about that
All of the other insight and personal description also resonated with me, about friends, about luck, about the course of a life for someone who composers
Thank you for sharing all of this with us
Thanks for this beautiful, insightful piece David.
Wouw that was refreshing. Thank you for making that, it put a smile on my face and strengthen my perseverance.
I wasn't expecting this story to be so moving and inspiring. Thanks for sharing it!!
What a beautiful and poignant video, David! Thoroughly enjoyed hearing a larger version of your story--it's very hope-inspiring. Keep up the great work!
A very heart-warming video that I'm sure rings true to many, myself included. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing.
This is an absolutely wonderful video and a lot of care has gone into its creation. It could have been very bitter but it never treads into that territory but rather straddles a stoic optimism and personal story telling that is very relatable to all of us composers. I loved the tour around London on the bike too, the Royal Albert Hall and RCM are especially close to my heart 🌷🙂
I'm happy that I clicked on your video, David :) Thank you for sharing your story! Love, from Poland :)
This is the universe coaxing you back into the right direction :) thanks for the video David. Very beautiful story
Thank you David for your honest and human video, it touched my heart greatly. Thank you
Such a great video. Really validates the ups and downs of the artists life and it all being part of a process. I agree that friends are such a fundamental part of the creative process as well. Sometimes you cant do everything alone ! Great work :D
Beautiful video. I love and agree that often this "luck" factor is really friendship and kindness from others.
Lovely film David and so great to see Gosia too! Very happy memories of our time together at RCM.
Beautiful video ! It's always great to hear other composers's story ! :)
This is a truly soul warming video... thank you so much for that. I'll say I'll be lucky enough if I could ever travel to London to hear your music and maybe meeting you.
Great video.!!! Loved it. Amazing how some things work out. Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful video this is! Thanks for making my day.
Great video. You aboslutely nailed it. I agree with everything you said. Congratulations and thank you!
What a beautiful video. The end was so heart warming. 😌
What a profound and inspiring message you put forth in this video - brought by your life experience. A young soul will keep it close to him, Thank you David.
David, truly, this makes me feel so validated. I believe that i am in that very same turning point that you talked about as an animator and hear that is not only normal, but, as it seems, it's a decisive point in the creative workforce it's incredibly conforting.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for this. This story keeps me motivated to continue composing and playing music. Music is a part of my soul.
I'm 28, just about to start substitute teaching even though the idea of teaching horrifies me, but doing it because it's the best I could get while trying to make my composition career work. I've been in a slump, but I do have great friends and a wonderfully supportive life partner. I just need some opportunities. One of your videos where you flashed how much a composer should be asking for commission sort of gave me hope again, that maybe I could live off of music alone. I have many more challenges to come across, but I hope to be able to make it work like you have over the years. Thank you for your story.
Heyyy I just started subbing to make some bread myself, trying to make as a working performer. Probably not as hard as composer, but I'm starving for those opportunities also. Good luck on the path
Great video and message. It's a good reminder for all of us introverts/obsessed artists that loving and supporting the people around you, is good for everyone. Including you.🙂
Genuinely moved me to tears. That is rare. I’m so glad things worked out for you.
I find myself getting frustrated when I work with others in a musical context because I always feel like the music isn’t moving/unique enough and mainly that’s because I’m unable to express what I feel inside because I’ve just started learning the language of music.
I understand that it’s just a matter of time and effort before I can start to compose pieces that compel me. This video gives me strength and humility
Thank you David
Really sweet conclusion to that video, thanks for sharing and putting life into the most important perspective:)
A most excellent message David! Luck seems to also need to go hand in hand with effort. Those we meet we might say is by luck, but there's still effort that must go along with meeting our friends and making something of the ideas we share. Thanks for creating and posting this, I wish you and all of us creative dreamers well
This is an inspirational story, David. I'm a pianist and composer myself and have just started out on this path after graduating from a science degree and not getting a job in that field.
You unintentionally included another lesson as well, and it’s so well received. Hope. Thank you.
A very nice tribute to your wife!
I enjoyed your video, it draws very similar parallels to my own life and experience in music. I am a classical pianist and have 3 music degrees; An undergrad, 1 master's in teaching music at degree level and 1 masters in composing. I was always filled with ambition but my fear of the world seemed to be greater. When the music composition didn't take off (completely due to me), I found the years shoot by where I didn't compose.
I am glad to hear that you finally found your way! Having someone in your corner could def make things easier.
This video found me at just the right moment. Thank you for your wisdom, humor, and insight. Best wishes
Your story really moved me. Thank you for sharing.
When I was 31, I acquired a PhD in Chemistry and had also managed to compose one symphony, one symphonic poem and a violin concerto simply by studying scores and books by myself. But at 35, I was unemployed, I didn't compose much and the relationsship with my wife was strained. But when I was 49, I started to study composition after having composed a viola concerto which was well received. Never give up!
Interesting, how your career in composing sort of went in reverse order!
@@gabehizer111 Yes, actually my grandfather passed away in 2002 when I was 35, he was a bit annoying but a great support. He founded a semi-professional orchestra, and they performed some of my works. A couple of years later the same orchestra performed my Violin Concerto again and my Cello Concerto was premiered by the same orchestra, even if it was too complex for the orchestra and the conductor. But sadly I didn't care, I was in a state of limbo, thinking about how I could terminate a bad relation.
@@ruramikael And are you still studying composition?
@@gabehizer111 No, I could only afford 3 years, I need some money when I retire. However, I am working on a large cantata which I started to compose as early as 1995. That cantata is what keeps me going and the reason why I started to study composition..