--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most composers and arrangers these days…" description: "\"Most composers and arrangers these days use computer programs and keyboards, but I'm one of those dinosaurs that still writes it down on score paper an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/phil-coulter-75364_composer_most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days_2719095.jpg" --- # Most composers and arrangers these days use computer… ![“Most composers and arrangers these days use computer programs and keyboards, but I'm one of those dinosaurs that still writes it down on score paper and still dreams it up in his ear first.” quote by Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/phil-coulter-75364_composer_most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days_2719095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/phil-coulter-75364_composer_most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days_2719095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/phil-coulter-75364_composer_most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days_2719095.jpg) > “Most composers and arrangers these days use computer programs and keyboards, but I'm one of those dinosaurs that still writes it down on score paper and still dreams it up in his ear first.” [Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditional scoring preserves aural imagination, resisting digital convenience. **In simple terms:** Old‑school scoring keeps imagination alive. Key Takeaway Value handwritten composition. Themes tradition technology imagination music Mood nostalgic proud Type artistic reflective When to use this quote - music education - studio sessions - creative brainstorming - performance preparation Key Concepts composition cognition heritage Questions to Reflect On - How does writing music by hand affect your process? - Can technology coexist with tradition? A Different Perspective Digital tools can enhance creativity, not replace it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrangers-1414945/) [Arrangers Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrangers-days-2867869/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Composers Arrangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composers-arrangers-2867866/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Dinosaurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinosaurs/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Keyboards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keyboards/) [Keyboards Dinosaurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keyboards-dinosaurs-2867868/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [These days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/these-days/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Writes Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writes-score-2867867/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I can count on one hand the number of conductors-composers-arrangers that I enjoy working with, and at the top of that list is Mack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-can-count-on-one-hand-the-number-of-conductors-composers-arrangers/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [Remarkable only the very best arrangers can get a sound like that from four horns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/remarkable-only-the-very-best-arrangers-can-get-a-sound-like-that/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [That's what I do: I'm a singer. I have many arrangers, but I usually conduct for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra-jr/that-s-what-i-do-i-m-a-singer-i-have-many-arrangers-but-i-usually/) [Frank Sinatra Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra-jr/) > [I mean, I don't think I would call Claus to do an album of big band tunes. You know, just like arrangers write for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/i-mean-i-don-t-think-i-would-call-claus-to-do-an-album-of-big-band/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [In the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra we play such a diversity of music, with 10 arrangers in the band, we don't really worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/in-the-jazz-at-lincoln-center-orchestra-we-play-such-a-diversity-of/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [It was a matter of not seeing the woods for the trees. Glorious songs have been in Ireland forever, but a lot of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/it-was-a-matter-of-not-seeing-the-woods-for-the-trees-glorious-songs/) [Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) > [I started on drums when I was 13 and played them for two years. Then I went to guitar for a year, played keyboards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-bolin/i-started-on-drums-when-i-was-13-and-played-them-for-two-years-then-i/) [Tommy Bolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-bolin/) > [When I'm not at the keyboard, I'm generally reading, practicing tai chi or middle eastern dance, or cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/when-i-m-not-at-the-keyboard-i-m-generally-reading-practicing-tai-chi/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [Most of the stuff I learned to play, I learned in high school. I had a band in high school, a jazz-fusion thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/most-of-the-stuff-i-learned-to-play-i-learned-in-high-school-i-had-a/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I can't really deal with buttons. And that's what I keep saying, "Okay, I can't push buttons, because that means I have to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/i-can-t-really-deal-with-buttons-and-that-s-what-i-keep-saying-okay-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [While it is becoming increasingly obvious that the fundamental architecture of a system has a profound Influence on the quality of its human factors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-m-branscomb/while-it-is-becoming-increasingly-obvious-that-the-fundamental/) [Lewis M. Branscomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-m-branscomb/) > [There is nothing like having your hands on a keyboard. Or an acoustic piano. Those are the things you can't really replace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-downes/there-is-nothing-like-having-your-hands-on-a-keyboard-or-an-acoustic/) [Geoff Downes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-downes/) > [Even when I can play Europe's most precious keyboard, to have to listen to people who don't understand, or do not want to understand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/even-when-i-can-play-europe-s-most-precious-keyboard-to-have-to/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [As for the piano, the faster her fingers flew over it, the more he marveled. She struck the keys with aplomb and ran from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-for-the-piano-the-faster-her-fingers-flew-over-it-the-more-he/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) ## More by Phil Coulter > [It was a matter of not seeing the woods for the trees. Glorious songs have been in Ireland forever, but a lot of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/it-was-a-matter-of-not-seeing-the-woods-for-the-trees-glorious-songs/) [Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) > [Ever since that night I've been on the road Travelling and trying to forget That awful night I lost all my friends I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/ever-since-that-night-i-ve-been-on-the-road-travelling-and-trying-to/) [Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) [Explore all 3 Phil Coulter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) ## More Composer quotes > [A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanns-eisler/a-composer-knows-that-music-is-written-by-human-beings-for-human/) [Hanns Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanns-eisler/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [Trombone virtuoso and innovative composer, Papo combines the best of jazz and Latin music to create a genre that is unique and wild. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/) [Michael Brecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brecker/) > [“- Mom, can I tell them there that I'm Romanian? - Sure, why not tell them? - I was thinking that they wouldn't think...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-enescu/mom-can-i-tell-them-there-that-i-m-romanian-sure-why-not-tell-them-i/) [George Enescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-enescu/) > [The number of e-mails and letters that I get from choreographers, from sculptors, from composers who are being inspired by science is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-number-of-e-mails-and-letters-that-i-get-from-choreographers-from/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [If a composer could state in words what being a composer means, he would no longer need to be a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-rorem/if-a-composer-could-state-in-words-what-being-a-composer-means-he/) [Ned Rorem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-rorem/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) [Ernest Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gold/) > [I think there's just been this "thing" that's developed, this way that we have of talking about our music that alienates people. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-mazzoli/i-think-there-s-just-been-this-thing-that-s-developed-this-way-that/) [Missy Mazzoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-mazzoli/) > [The ability to understand and deliver comedy and tragedy is extremely rare in one composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/signe-baumane/the-ability-to-understand-and-deliver-comedy-and-tragedy-is-extremely/) [Signe Baumane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/signe-baumane/) > [When synthesizers appeared everyone was a composer suddenly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/when-synthesizers-appeared-everyone-was-a-composer-suddenly/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [A mission that comes from the heart to promote these things and to encourage composers to write, then of course they should do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/a-mission-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-promote-these-things-and-to/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, though its first material expression be destroyed; a vanished harmony may yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beebe/the-beauty-and-genius-of-a-work-of-art-may-be-reconceived-though-its/) [William Beebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beebe/) > [Every time I see a film or TV show, I think about how that composer made those choices and how that director envisioned music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/every-time-i-see-a-film-or-tv-show-i-think-about-how-that-composer/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [Like any other composer of opera, I choose a subject not for polemical reasons, but because it contains vivid characters in highly charged dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/like-any-other-composer-of-opera-i-choose-a-subject-not-for-polemical/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) [Browse all 885 Composer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most composers and arrangers these days use computer programs and keyboards, but I'm one of those dinosaurs that still writes it down on score paper and still dreams it up in his ear first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phil Coulter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days-use-computer-programs-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Composer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days-use-computer-programs-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/phil-coulter-75364_composer_most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days_2719095.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/phil-coulter-75364_composer_most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days_2719095.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/phil-coulter-75364_composer_most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days_2719095.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most composers and arrangers these days use computer programs and keyboards, but I'm one of those dinosaurs…” — Phil Coulter", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Phil Coulter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most composers and arrangers these days...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days-use-computer-programs-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/most-composers-and-arrangers-these-days-use-computer-programs-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```