By Avery Berman Find more of my resources @empoweredmusicproducer.com
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It’s a path to making music proactively (planning the big picture moves) instead of reactively (randomly clicking around and hoping something works.)
In the real world the creative process can still be messy - but this sheet will help you know where you are, what needs attention, and how to get to the end. At least it does for me.
Hope it helps you finish more tracks you feel great about!
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| Step | Core Action | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 🎯 1 | Pick a target & collect references | Get inspired & define a clear direction. |
| 🧠 2 | Analyze emotionally & technically | Set up your creative “bumpers” by reverse-engineering what works. |
| 🎹 3 | Sketch melody, harmony, bass, rhythm | Discover an inspiring concept with melody, harmony, bass & rhythm. |
| 🌱 4 | Bring sketch to life | Make your rough musical idea feel expressive, intentional, and fun to listen to. |
| 🎨 5 | Arrange using structure + story arc | Shape your concept into a full journey with clear structure. |
| 🏁 6 | Polish, mix, and master | Finish the track with clarity, emotion, and energy. |
Goal: Get inspired & define a clear direction.
💡 You don’t need to know exactly what you're making yet - just enough direction to give your creativity a place to land.
[ ] What’s the current inspiration, project, or goal? (self-exploration, game, ad, artistry, music library album, etc)
[ ] Collect 2–3 references and add to a playlist.
[ ] Sing along and absorb the vibe into your body.
[ ] Write a one-sentence creative intention
“A feel-good, loopable game theme that hums in your head.”
“A gritty, post-apocalyptic action cue with swagger.”
“Banger for people to jump in the club.”
“To practice writing melodies similar to this track I like and make it into a full experience.”