By Rob Deemer
When it comes to process, I have seen two camps of composers emerge: the architects and the chefs; “Architect” composers tend to emphasize pre-planning of the overall structure of the work first whereas “Chef” composers tend to focus on the material first.

While there are many successful composers who discover composition either in middle school or high school, attend one of a handful of strong composition programs for undergraduate and graduate studies, and enter the workforce either in academia or as a successful freelance composer, there have been many others that come from all corners of our society and, in many cases, forge their own place in the musical community much more easily because of their non-traditional backgrounds.

By Rob Deemer
The more we all can do to fight these stereotypes and show our world for what it is, the better.

By Rob Deemer
The method and manner by which a composer ends up assigning a moniker to his or her work will be, I hope, a window into who they are and how we can understand their music.

By Rob Deemer
How we manage our own time provides a glimpse into how we create and subsequently who we are.

By Rob Deemer
So many of us equate why we compose with why we started composing.

By Rob Deemer

The fact that this simple question inspires such a ubiquitous pregnant pause with so many who are successful is a testament, I feel, to what makes composing music so mysterious and alluring—those who do it rarely have a simple, pat answer to such a query.

By Rob Deemer
How present should the interviewer be when the conversation is presented in its final published form?

By Rob Deemer
When this project got started, it seemed only right to make a good attempt to not only bring the words and thoughts of today’s composers to light, but also their music.

By Rob Deemer
The process of decision-making for the book is very much like a work-flow for composing a piece, or for that matter curating a concert series.