Whether you're a musician, an artist, or head of Marketing, professional development is vital to innovation and career growth (or, perhaps more importantly, artistic growth). When we're focused on finishing the job, it can be easy to get stuck in a groove that is efficient but lacking in artistic innovation. But we have to remind ourselves that we are working artists. And art, like business, needs to be continuously developed.

​So, below are just a few of the ways composers can refresh their minds and spark creative genius.

So you want to be a film composer, but you don't have the money to go to Berklee, or USC, or Pulse, or wherever. Or maybe you're already working as a composer, but you'd like some resources to go to in a time of need. These 5 books below are some of my favorite books relating to film scoring, and I still open them all from time to time just to keep that information fresh in my brain. Remember, kids, knowledge is power!

Someone recently asked about the best TV themes of all time, and I thought "that sounds like a great list for my blog!" As someone who lived most of their childhood through the 1990's (which I would consider the last decade of great theme songs), I do love me some cheesy classic TV themes. Below is just a small list of my favorite TV themes from the 1950s through the 1990s, in no particular order. I should note that there are many more that I would include, but I had to narrow it down.

As I type this there are less than 10 days left until Christmas, which means that even the last-minuters are starting to feel the holiday cheer (panic). Whether you're working overtime before the end of the year, trampling other customers in stores to get last red Power Rangers action figure (those are still around right?), or Googling "how to enjoy the holidays alone", a good Christmas special can make the holidays a little more manageable. Here is a list of my all-time favorite Christmas specials.

It's that time of year again! It's officially December, everyone's getting sick of Thanksgiving leftovers, and Christmas is pretty much in full swing here in America (sorry other holidays). Smart shoppers probably have half their gifts already bought, while busy (forgetful) shoppers like myself are still in the planning stage. In case you know a composer, or you are one yourself, I've come up with a list of relatively affordable film composer toys for this holiday season!

We've all been there - you're on a roll, the creative juices are flowing, and then out of nowhere you hit a wall. It can happen at any moment, sometimes even before you get started. So what can you do to generate new ideas and get the momentum going again? Here are just a few things I do to get the gears moving again; give them a try, you'll be surprised how well they work!

No two composers share the exact same formula or workflow when it comes to scoring to visual media. I'm always adjusting my workflow to meet the needs of each individual project I'm on, it's just necessary in order to keep growing as a composer and as a professional. Although I'm always trying to do something a little different, there are a few questions I ask myself that, for the most part, stay pretty consistent from project to project.

We love profound quotes, especially from people we admire. They inspire us; they give us a small piece of the speaker's personality; and sometimes they can teach us things about ourselves. I've seen a few great quotes from composers that have stuck with me for one reason or another, so I thought I'd compile a few for my blog.

If you were born after 1955 and have used the Internet at all, you've probably at least heard of the organized anarchy that is Reddit. If you haven't, it's sort of like a global social media/forum/cesspool of anonymous users (called "redditors") who post, comment, discuss and educate on just about anything you can think of. Seriously, think of anything, I bet it's on Reddit. All jokes aside, it's actually a great community and an excellent source for staying on top of various topics, and here are a few subreddits to help you with your film scoring!

Those who know me know that I love Halloween, and Halloween just isn't complete without horror movie marathons. Last year I was very excited to have the opportunity to interview Harry Manfredini, composer for the iconic horror movie Friday the 13th. This year I wanted to start the season off with a month-long calendar taking us chronologically through film history; every day I will post a new horror movie that has revolutionized the genre through history. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this, I hope you do too!