Making your own music
Easy digital creations
From thirty-second ditty to hour long masterpiece, making your own music is increasingly easy to do even if you have no formal musical training.
Advances in music software and technology mean many home computers have the ability to run music creation programs or internet-based tools for working with sound.
The BBC, for example, have created One Music, a website where you can play with an online mixer and download samples to use in your own music. The site also offers advice on how to make your own cds, and a songwriting game. No special software is needed, but broadband is recommended.
A few years ago, no one would have dreamed that such tools would be available for everyday use now there are huge range of sites available, for beginner and serious musician alike.
Software packages
Other than online, one of the easiest ways to start making you own computer-based music is with software-based tools there are plenty available on a free or trial basis for a range of computer platforms.
SharewareMusicMachine has a great range of demo and shareware computer-based audio programs. Computer music is a magazine that can introduce a range of tools available for people working with sound.
There are several well-known software packages such as Apple’s Garageband, ProTools, Steinberg’s Sequel or Cubase commercially available for creating music. If you have some musical training, you may enjoy Finale Notepad - a free music notation program. Sibelius is another well-known music creation tool.
Going low fi
Making music needn’t necessarily be computer based. Artists all over the world create sound sculptures, and others create their own instruments and have done since the dawn of time. You can easily make a shaker and other percussion instruments xylophones and drums - or get ambitious and build yourself a stringed instrument such as a harp… there are plenty of books to show you how.
Cassette recorders are low cost and widely available, and it can be great fun to play with sound or record your efforts.
Hi tech funk or low fi folk, the choice is yours if you’re inclined to make a noise, there’s no excuse not to.
Making music resources
Our online resources
- Have a go at learning an instrument our advice and tips.
- Sharing your music online - find out how to get your music to a wider audience.
- Learn about using our CINCH directory to find music courses and organisations.
Our Internet Gateway
- NZ Music Industry Commission website education page.
- Further study at CPIT.
- Further study at MAINZ.
- Shareware Music Machine Tools A software repository with resources for computer-based composition and recording .
- BBC’s Radio 1 OneMusic studio Songwriting games, online sound mixing console and audio samples for download.
Browse the resources in our libraries
- Books on how to make musical instruments.
- Making Music in New Zealand by Gareth Shute examines the realities of being a musician in New Zealand. See also Shute’s books on hip hop and creativity.