Writing music generally refers to the act of transcribing musical ideas into notation or some form of written representation. This can include creating sheet music, lead sheets, chord charts, or other formats that provide a blueprint for musicians to play or perform the music. Writing music often involves translating melodic lines, harmonic structures, and rhythmic patterns into a written language that can be easily understood and communicated among musicians.
Composing music, on the other hand, encompasses a broader creative process that involves generating and developing musical ideas from scratch. It includes the initial conception of melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and overall musical structure. When composing music, the creator may use instruments, digital audio workstations (DAWs), or other tools to experiment with sounds, experiment with different musical elements, and arrange them coherently to form a complete musical composition.
In summary, writing music focuses on the transcription and documentation of musical ideas, while composing music encompasses the entire creative process of generating, developing, and structuring original musical ideas into a cohesive composition. Both processes play crucial roles in the creation and sharing of music.