Ludwig van Beethoven — 60 beans a cup: he reportedly counted coffee beans for focus. Translation: ritual helps.

Igor Stravinsky — morning headstands: a reset to “clear the brain.” Translation: movement breaks boost ideas.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — dice & playfulness: chance procedures (the famous “musical dice game” tradition) and jokes. Translation: embrace play to break ruts.

Ennio Morricone — early starts & pencil first: disciplined hours and melody-first thinking. Translation: theme before texture.

Hans Zimmer — custom instruments & found timbres: build signature sounds from unusual sources and collaborators. Translation: make a palette only you have.

Man of Steel Official Soundtrack | Behind The Scenes Sculptural Percussion- Hans Zimmer | WaterTower

Philip Glass — craftsman’s mindset: years balancing music with day jobs taught ruthlessly efficient workflows. Translation: protect deep-work blocks.

Claude Debussy — sound as color: writing to evoke light—water—and motion. Translation: describe the scene in words before you score it.

Danny Elfman — storyboard-level alignment: tightly linking musical shapes to character and picture. Translation: sketch motifs per character and cut.

Try it on your next cue: pick one ritual (coffee count, quick stretch, chance roll, or theme-first sketch) and one palette rule (one new timbre you’ve never used). Then score!

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