Today's spotlight shines north of the border on Canadian musician Ndidi Onukwulu . Although born in Canada, Ndidi has Nigerian heritage as well, which peeks through every so often by contributing some funky rhythms here and there, although… (in post Sunday Spotlight - Ndidi Onukwulu from Mainstream isn't so bad...is it?. Download this at Amazon iTunes More by this artist at eMusic)

Whether you have taken lessons as a young child, or you have only recently begun taking lessons as a young adult, you already know about how very versatile and beautiful the piano sounds. Music written for piano has withstood the test of time, and even an untrained ear can detect the beautiful strains of structure and resonance in a good piano piece. While you might know a lot about the music theory that goes into what makes good piano music, were you also aware that you could compose it as well? Composing piano music is something that many people never get around to, which is a shame as it is fairly straightforward. If you are looking for a great way to put your music down on a paper and to possibly hear other people play it, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Get to know your piano

Don't think that just because you want to compose that you can give the instrument a pass. If you are interested in composing, you should take the time to get a real understanding of the instrument. There is a reason why all the great composers were players themselves; they had a very special understanding of the piano, and if you want to even think about getting competent on this instrument, that is what you have to have too.

2. Enlist your teacher

If you are taking lessons, make sure that your teachers understand that you are in a mode to compose, rather than just play. Before you even find the person you want to teach you, ask the candidates in question whether or not they themselves have ever written music before. You'll find that a surprising amount of teachers are willing to help you figure out exactly what it is you want to do, and you'll find that a good teacher can be more helpful than you have ever dreamed.

3. Work with manual notation

When you are getting started when it comes to putting your music down on paper, you'll find that there are a lot of online programs that can help you out. Before you start getting addicted to them, however, consider using a physical, lined notebook made expressly for this purpose. You'll find that once you have to erase and correct by hand, you'll have a more intrinsic understanding of the way the music will go together.

4. Improve on Your Sightreading

Composing music and sightreading go together. Sightreading helps you become a better composer. Likewise, when you're composing music, your sightreading ability increases. Improved sightreading means you're able to play the notes much more quickly when you're composing.

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