What are the first steps to making it as a composer or musician?

You're already doing the first thing right: furthering your education by studying and surrounding yourself with musicians. Keep surrounding yourself with musicians and take as many side opportunities you can (recording gigs, live gigs, etc). Never stop learning, practicing, and performing.

The second part is harder. You have to market yourself. You have to create a public identity if you want to "break into the scene". Subscribe to every social media there is and stay active on them. Go to musical conventions outside of your school and town. Post your compositions and performances to sites like SoundCloud and Instagram. If any of your compositions are ever performed by your peers, take videos and post them to YouTube. You can also post an accompanying video/vlog on your thought processes behind your compositions.

Also something not music related, but you have to go to parties and gatherings. I'm not an incredibly social person, so I wasn't super successful at this in my 20's, but in my 30's, I started going to more social gatherings and parties that were not music related but attended mostly by musicians. Networking like this will get you so many more opportunities. Easy if you're already a super social person, but not so easy if you prefer and value quiet/alone time.

In the end, do music for you. Do it because you have fun doing it. I've been surrounded by musicians who do it to be famous, and those are the musicians who are the most stress and who have the least fun. People are intuitive and can tell if you're doing it for the wrong reasons. On the other hand, if you're having a great time, people can tell that too and the positivity will radiate through your art.

Background: B.A in saxophone performance and M.M. music education from Boston University. Have done the social media thing to a certain degree of success (reaching half million YouTube video views and counting) before switching careers into tech to pay the bills.

Hi Beverley! Congratulations! You have already accomplished much! Perhaps you should keep on focusing on writing the best music you can and not being too concerned about the "scene." Good music has a way of finding its audience - as long as you are doing the hard work and making it public where and when you can. It helps to just get out there and perform, and/or involve others to perform your music. As you get out there, the "scene" will open up to you, if it is meant to be. Keep going. Keep trying. Even if you "break in," as you say, there is much work to be done! No one "arrives." As creators, we keep on creating out of love and because it is in us to do. Breaks come and go. Popularity comes and goes. Even "scenes" come and go! Focus on your music. Be open to new places and ideas. Seek help when you need it. Take care of yourself physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Encourage others in their artistic pursuits. And mostly, do your art because you love doing it! Best of luck!

Study! Study! Study!

Learn music theory - The more you know, the more you can create new things!

Learn to read music so you'll be able to communicate with other musicians on their level.

Learn to read guitar tab - it really helps when you know what the guitar players are doing in your band. Most use this form of notation.

Learn the piano/guitar - They are both in the Key of 'C' and they allow you to "show" others what you want to do. It's a great way to start building your projects.

Learn the drums - this will teach you rhythm, tempo, and help you communicate with other drummers or at least provide yourself with a basic beat for your projects.

Master YOUR instrument(s). Maybe guitar, piano, and drums aren't your forté. Perhaps you prefer the Violin or the French Horn. Master YOUR instrument. But learn what the other instruments are. Know what they sound like. Understand how they are best used in an arrangement. Check out the "Peter and the Wolf" children's fairy tale (link below). This is a GREAT way to learn, understand, and appreciate a variety of classical instruments.

Practice! Practice! Practice! Remember, practice makes perfect, BUT... Imperfect practice makes perfect imperfection. Don't rush. Slow down. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Get our there and perform.

Don't give up. Never, ever give up!

Don't quit your day job! This is not meant to discourage you in any way - making a living in the music industry is difficult. Keep the money flowing in through a day job until your luck changes. Just keep working towards your dreams and don't let anyone tell you "no" or "your can't do that". Break the rules if it means you are creating something new, fresh, and ground breaking!

My backstory - I've been a drummer since I was 10 years old. My second instrument is the piano. My tertiary instrument is miscellaneous hand drums and percussion. I have dabbled in electronic music as well. I have studied music theory, I have played with classical orchestras and I have played with rock/alternative groups. During college, my band released one album that was played on a local radio station. My day job is that of an IT Security Engineer, but music will ALWAYS be with me and who knows, maybe one day I'll be the next big hit...

Always listen to the music in your heart!