My failing composing career and what turned it around 

15 years old I desperately wanted to be Beethoven, then I learned Beethoven already existed and I had to be Tyler, 10 years later I was hired by Disney as a musician. The work has slowed down but the fact that I got to make a living playing music for 10 years is a win. Going to keep composing and putting myself out there thanks for the great content David!!

Inspiring video David 😊 I find when you hear stories of how people came to be successful they are never tales of well executed plans, but instead stories of someone who took a random opportunity, that lead to another opportunity, that lead to another, that lead to where they are today! All you’ve got to do sometimes is say “yes”!

The photos of you with your wife are just too cute for this world

We need more videos with David showing off pictures of his younger self, just for us to appreciate how continuously amazing his eyebrows have been in all these years.

I’m 28, just finished my masters in composition and applying to doctoral programs. I’ve had the EXACT anxieties now that you’ve described. Thank you so much for the most inspirational video I’ve ever seen. Hopefully my composition career gets that boost of “luck” as well!

Came across this video as a random youtube recommendation. I'm not even persuing a career in the arts but this still felt so relevant to me! I was almost in tears when you started talking about the importance of friends. I'm finally beginning to overcome a long battle with depression and social anxiety, and at 24 I'm making friends for the first time in what feels like forever. Everything you say is to true - friends are like roots that ground you.

Thank you for this! As a young aspiring composer, I find it hard to stay motivated, but this video was a great help. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

This is one of the most bluntly straightforward warts and all pieces ever. And all of it true- not only for you but for the rest of us. Thank you for sharing your story and giving us all hope. Your turn around came in your 30's, I think I'm reaching my turn in my 70's. I always knew I'd be doing this, certainly am determined, and as luck would have it-- a few friends along the way who believed in me. And the love of my life and I sometimes literally hold each up in our 50+ year. Who knew?

As a filmmaker with similarly wild dreams and being in my thirty's, this video is incredibly refreshing and hopeful. thank you!

personally I always liked - "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity". Thanks for sharing your story, best of luck on future endeavours 😋

Beautiful video David. This hits close to home - I've paused my songwriting and picked up web development to earn capital for my music dream, which has led to barely any music being written. It's scary being away from something I obsessed over for nearly 1 and a half decades. This video gives me the strength to continue this journey. Thanks for everything you do.

Fun Fact: In German, there's a single word for both luck and happiness: Glück. As Panta Flux has pointed out, there are, of course, more words that describe these concepts, but Glück is, I think, the most common.

I love the slap-in-the-face realism of your life story. No artificial sweeteners. I am a teacher and I will take the liberty of showing this to some of my (overly) ambitious students. I am afraid too many of them believe effortless success is imminent and guaranteed for all, when in reality it is a journey of 'ups' and 'downs'. With a bit of luck the 'ups' hopefully prevail in the end.

"If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all" - Albert King. Great video David, and I concur. All my successes in life have come from friendships. As my old dad used to say, "It's not what you know, it's who you know!"

I'm 18 years old, living in sweden in a small town with pretty much no aspirations. My dream is to be a composer (or a musician) but I'm terrible at music teori and awful at playing piano so I feel extremely stuck at the moment. But this video was very inspiring! I fortunately have really good friends who suffer through my music shananigans and who support me in every way!

Hey David, thank you for this video. I dreamed becoming a professional composer since I was 13 years old. I studied piano, oboe, composition, harmony, music theory and opera. But at the age of 22, I desperately needed a job and, like you, I didn't feel like I would be able to become a performer or a teacher. I then pivoted to web design and started working in an agency. This career choice has been incredible and I find myself very lucky now: I'm a 36 year old CEO who's currently growing a team of 40+ people internationally. It's great but in the depth of my soul lives this flickering flame of music composition. This video really felt like a glimpse inside an alternative version of what could have been my own story. I'm glad you had the chance to meet those wonderful people and pursue your dream career. Congratulations

David, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. You have no idea how fundamentally moving this video was to me. It came at exactly the time when I needed to hear its message most. I'm struggling career-wise and relationship-wise, and hearing the reminder to put stock in my friendships really helped. Even though we've never met, I like to consider you one of those friends. So thanks.

That was uplifting thank you. I began my music life 50 years ago when I found an old guitar in a garbage can in Toronto while walking home from school, I thought I'd won the lottery. Since then I have lived and had my so-called careers to pay the bills and always having to put my songwriting and music on the shelf. Then 5 years ago in my 60s, it came back into my life through a well know lyricist who one day gave me a song to compose music to. We began writing together when he go sick and passed away, but what it did was fill me will passion and love for what I had left behind so many years before. As a result I wake up every day and sit and write songs in our little flat in Godalming Surrey. I have no idea how to make my dream of having my music recorded and performed by others but I do know this. I am madly in love with music once again, just like the day I found that broken-down guitar in the bin....peace my brother....peace...

Writing doesn't pay well in my country. I had to learn that the hard way, applying for jobs that were a couple hours away only to find that they pay so little. I had to give up on the dream and got a job as a call center agent instead. Months of tedious work later, the company that I was working for was looking for a writer. Been writing ever since. Life is weird.

A career in the arts is such a treasure. Thank you for telling your story.

Thanks for this video. ❤️ I am 36 and I hope to find my way with my music. It's hard. And I am very thankful for all my friends who have supported me along the way. ❤️❤️❤️

The concept of ten minute operas really tickled my mind. I'd love to hear more about it. I don't work in classical music, but I sometimes find inspiration from the more high concept styles of classical music.

When I was 31, I acquired a PhD in Chemistry and had also managed to compose one symphony, one symphonic poem and a violin concerto simply by studying scores and books by myself. But at 35, I was unemployed, I didn't compose much and the relationsship with my wife was strained. But when I was 49, I started to study composition after having composed a viola concerto which was well received. Never give up!

Thank you for sharing your story, David. I'm a composer/singer, just turned 30, and in pretty much the exact position you described currently (even in terms of personality type, I recognise a lot of myself in what you said). Continuing to find the motivation to press on in a job market that doesn't accommodate creative work at all is a tough endeavour. But it's good to know we're not alone in our struggles!

I love this. Rest in peace, Richard. Luck is not luck, it’s human kindness, love, and friendship.

Alternate Title: David Bruce Composer: Friendship is Magic ✨✨ Kidding aside. I really find this video inspirational, as I'm feeling a little hopeless in my career as a composer, and can attest how friendships can make or break you as an artist. Before composing, or theatre, I used to be a visual artist, poet, and writer. Unfortunately, due to one toxic friend, I COMPLETELY lost my ability to do all those other things that I listed above. All those hurtful words, toxicity, and traumatic experiences, took away the very art that defined me all my life. I don't mean that I don't find joy in those art forms, it's just that for some unknown reason, I'm suddenly no longer able to do it. Like I suddenly couldn't see or walk. But, like how Matt Murdock suddenly developed sonar vision the moment he got blind, I found a new life through composing, and branched elsewhere to musical theatre. That toxic friend is long gone from my life, but the damage that was left was permanent. Fortunately, I am finding myself again through composing music, and even found me a few couple of friends that's been there from the onset of my artistic blindness, and stayed until I developed a new way to see. Friendship is truly something, and it's the people that are with you that can make you feel like your "luck" is turning around.

What a lovely video, thank you for making that. I had the good luck of meeting my future wife in the cello section of the Kansas City Symphony when I came here to play as a substitute in 2014. She inspired me to learn, grow, change, and gave me the motivation to quit my old job and move to Kansas City with the hope of winning an audition for the orchestra (which I did, in 2017). We even played Gumboots here together!

Fantastic video. I'm going to add it to the “Must Watch List” I give all my students (private and institutional). I burned out in 2016, and have climbed back to a more joyous - and productive! - artistic life than I could ever have imagined, in large part by leaning into friendships instead of chasing The Other Things™. So glad to have a confirming perspective to share with my students.

That photo of you and your wife you put in the thumbnail is incredible. It looks like you're dating someone from the coolest ever new-wave-slash-shoegaze band ❤

This video goes way beyond composing. It's such a deep life lesson, and I'm gonna share it with friends who have no connection to music

I'm a musician and composer in my 30s with a non music business trying to make a living and your video spoke right through me, amazing work and a spark of hope for me. Thanks!

Beautifully told, David. I'm a university professor who teaches gospel music history and performance, but I've been able to balance academia with my own performances and composing for decades now. What you said is true:: building relationships over the years has helped open doors throughout the years. Cheers!

I don't know why youtube proposed this video to me, looking at the title, it didn't attract me, I clicked on it, and I watched it till the end. Well done, I have no idea how you got me glued to the screen.

What a lovely video! I'm just starting my composing career literally right now, so this couldn't really be more fitting. I do feel frightened beyond belief, and at the same time, unbelievably grateful that I have known what I wanted to do since I was a young child. I hope one day, after luck strikes, we'll meet and converse about this!

Deeply inspiring, David. I'm currently applying for PhDs as a molecular Microbiologist and this is just what I needed to hear

That 3 year hiatus without composing reminds me of myself and my relationship with music and other professional choices I've made in life. I think I'm going to rewatch this video from time to time to allow myself to get inspired by it and reflect on my life choices. Whatever flame I thought I lost - this video has sparked it in me again.

Such a wonderful video that couldn't have come at a better time for me, thank you so much. I'm in (hopefully) the final year of my composition PhD at the moment and am fearing that dark world on the other side that you speak of, and also get easily exhausted by social interaction in a way that sounds so similar to what you describe. Thank you for allowing me to feel a little bit of hope about my own future.

This is an inspirational story, David. I'm a pianist and composer myself and have just started out on this path after graduating from a science degree and not getting a job in that field.

David this was really inspiring and insightful to me, as someone with the lifelong ambition to compose, but I only started properly around 50. this year I have written my first pieces of music at 56 I couldn’t be happier about that All of the other insight and personal description also resonated with me, about friends, about luck, about the course of a life for someone who composers Thank you for sharing all of this with us

A very nice tribute to your wife! I enjoyed your video, it draws very similar parallels to my own life and experience in music. I am a classical pianist and have 3 music degrees; An undergrad, 1 master's in teaching music at degree level and 1 masters in composing. I was always filled with ambition but my fear of the world seemed to be greater. When the music composition didn't take off (completely due to me), I found the years shoot by where I didn't compose. I am glad to hear that you finally found your way! Having someone in your corner could def make things easier.

As a composer and former RCM student, was nice seeing you talk going around in London. All of this is very inspiring, wholesome and true. Hopefully many musicians and composers will find meaning in your video. My 2 cents: 1. be open to collaborations, to change. 2. Stay 'in the loop' & do not disappear from your artistic community 3. always try to work on your craft so you always improve and have things ready for performance or to be shown/submitted.

I'm now working as a musician for 3 years. The largest part of my income is composing for theatre projects, whilst the largest part of my time is spent working on my own music projects. The fact that the theatre part of my profession pays me well, is purely that it these projects are being carried by institutions with a lot of money, for people that have been in priveliged positions of eduction and network oppertunity, exclusive to those who are able to study and live in the most expensive city in my country. And me being part of it is all because I was a childhood friend to one of the directors I work with. I have seen so many albums, performances and projects fail to see the light of day, because of lack of exposure or funding - that i truly believe that the best works of art have never made it beyond the determination stage. And every time I stand on the stage and receive applause it feels bittersweet because of it.

I'm 28, just about to start substitute teaching even though the idea of teaching horrifies me, but doing it because it's the best I could get while trying to make my composition career work. I've been in a slump, but I do have great friends and a wonderfully supportive life partner. I just need some opportunities. One of your videos where you flashed how much a composer should be asking for commission sort of gave me hope again, that maybe I could live off of music alone. I have many more challenges to come across, but I hope to be able to make it work like you have over the years. Thank you for your story.

I came to Tokyo from London in love with Japanese game music to compose and it's been one hurdle after another. I'm a music graduate and fluent in Japanese but spent most of my time interacting with people doing something completely uncreative. I have hundreds of songs online but it means nothing when nobody knows you. Just as you mentioned I took myself out of my comfort zone to interact with people at TGS (tokyo game show) and it changed my perspective. Your journey and accolades are really inspiring! Thanks so much for this upload, praying for even more for the future!

Thank you David for sharing your story because that is actually what I am going through right. I am giving my composition journey another 10 years and then if I don't succeed then I will give up 25+ years of trying. I hope one day I will share a similar story like yours. Yes you are right, luck comes from meeting up with people who can provide that opportunity and help. Something I am not comfortable with. Thanks for sharing this. And well done for making it!!!!

A touching story ... a strong and supporting wife behind you is certainly the best what can happen.

Wow, great biography! Thanks, Bruce. You’re _even more_ inspiring me to get my composing life back when I finally retire in a few years.

This probably one of the best "random" RU-vid recommendations I've had. Thank you for making this video.

I feel proud of myself for realising exactly where in London you were at the beginning by the Riverbank alone, I didn't even notice the London Eye to the side and I didn't need to. In fact I feel proud of myself for recognising almost all of the places you went to just at a glance. A few years I wouldn't know how to get to the nearest Asda from my house, but now I recognise large amounts of Central London. This has very little to do with your video but I just needed my personal growth to be shared. Also the point of saying "Break a leg" is to say you hope the actor gets in the cast

Some profound insights. It is true relationship building and friendship building is so important but can become challenging as we age. Especially when having to take care of loved ones. From an Actor / Musician perspective as we age we see friends begin to couple. Sometimes the relentless pursuit turns us away from relationship building. The constant hustle, balancing auditions, paying bills. Old friends develop their own family circles. The cost of staying committed to your dream becomes more challenging to maintain those old friendships. It becomes particularly challenging when you're in near constant scarcity mode. Then add to that personal setbacks such as the loss of a loved one and taking on caregiving roles. It is a complicated picture sometimes.

I wasn't expecting this story to be so moving and inspiring. Thanks for sharing it!!

Picture at 7:40 is beautiful. It encapsulates that feeling of past history and nostalgia.

I’m a 20 year old musician and producer this is some of the best most true advice I’ve gotten delivered in probably the most emotionally compelling way. Thanks :))

IM 36 and i find myself often tiemes in the same awkward spot as you when I have to go teach my guitar lessons but I manage it. I live in Brooklyn and Of course its a very expensive city so you gotta do what it takes in order to survive. I used to work as a waiter in catering events and it really drains me so teaching is not so bad in the end, I remind myself how lucky i am for not having to work in catering anymore. This video was truly inspirational and I thank you for it also your music is awesome

The thumbnail photo is the cutest thing I've seen this year so far

brought tears to my eyes....bravo david....you are an inspiriration

This is now my favorite YT video. A bit sappy, yes, but what the heck. I'm a decade older than Mr. Dr. B, with a very vaguely similar arc on the outside. After gaining my two music degrees, I spent almost 40 years toiling in the bowels of large I.T. organizations. Recently retired. Spent a few years here and there in only mildly fulfilling church music jobs, doing a little composing and arranging on the side, to provide the choir with just the right piece for the occasion. So a lot heavier on the computers than the music. My stroke of luck came back in college, while pursuing those music degrees, I stumbled into a job that taught me programming. Didn't know it at the time, but for a couple of years I had access to computer hardware and software that would have been the envy of the hordes of Comp Sci students on campus. Just plain fell into it, and I had just enough ability (and sense) to pursue it. My theology is involved here, and I now write that "luck" up to God's providence rather than a faceless chance, but from the outside it might look the same. Friends in high places? (That I IN NO WAY deserve...) At the moment I'm in kind of a pensive state, having just gone thru a very unexpected health crisis (brain surgery!). Emotions run right up close to the surface all the time. And probably more than at any point in my life, I'm thinking about composing. I think this video might help serve as some impetus.

Now I'm crying. For real I'm holding back tears, holly shit was this cute and I needed this. I have to finish a piece for next week's Sunday and I just couldn't get myself up to do it. I'm back to writing right now, thank you.

some thoughts - Luck is generally the same as opportunity. Being active in a particular field will open opportunities. It takes effort to find opportunities but it isn't usually a direct route. People recognizing that you have talent or skill or potential isn't really "luck". Being able to move forward through failure and set-backs of course keeps you still involved in your field ...if we don't "give up" we will continue to be available to the "luck" of opportunity.

As a composing student who is grasping at every opportunity that comes by, whilst also trying to figure how to financially support this endeavour, this is what I needed to hear. Thank you sir, I am a very big fan of yours. From a fellow introvert.

I am maths PhD student, sitting in my tiny room right by Hammersmith bridge wondering about what insights you are going to give us about notions of luck in life; and there you are with Anna less than 50m from me talking about the power of friendship! I should try my luck and invite more friends to visit me in Hammersmith! Very beautiful video :)

I am 33 and I am one of the musical friends who have essentially quit. The real luck is finding people who also take things seriously and actually follow through. A lack of others following through is what I'd say beat me down into submission. I can't count how many bands, projects, groups, video content, etc. just fell by the wayside due to the others involved never working past the idea/concept phase. Edit: I was also just always surrounded by doubt and a lack of enthusiasm growing up. My family never seemed capable of even pretending to be interested in what I was interested in. I was consistently discouraged to practice music because I was making too much noise. Whenever I pitched ideas, I was always met with "why?" instead of literally anything along the lines of "you should do that."

❤ What a beautifully presented video !!! I’m sure that many of us have experienced your life’s experiences too and appreciate your having shared them with us Thank you 🙏🤗

Wonderful telling, thank you. Brushing off the issue of talent is a good thing. It's not real thing. It's work and love.

This is an absolutely wonderful video and a lot of care has gone into its creation. It could have been very bitter but it never treads into that territory but rather straddles a stoic optimism and personal story telling that is very relatable to all of us composers. I loved the tour around London on the bike too, the Royal Albert Hall and RCM are especially close to my heart 🌷🙂

I moved to Amstedam, currently doing my 2nd masters degree on jazz composition, have opened my business doing not music. I did mechanical engineering in the past. I think I'm ready for that 'luck' part :D Cheers for the video and especially being absolutely blunt about social situations. I feel the same!

man this video hits close to my heart. thanks for sharing. i have the same thing about interacting with other people: i enjoy it but it takes so much energy, in my case it is because i'm in the autistic spectrum, understanding really helped me come ate peace with that!

Ha! - your video rings so true. Weirdly enough I was confessing to a friend, only this afternoon, that I felt that I had only ever "randomly" arrived at each major point in my career, due to my "luck" in bumping into people who had presented me with an opportunity, and never as a planned step. We agreed, that was probably the way a dynamic life usually played out. However, I've yet to meet my solemate, so I do consider you to be *very* lucky there. (actually had a tear in my eye from your closing remarks!) - Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

What a great video, David! Thank you.

Thank you so much for this video David. Beautifully done

Thank you for posting this video and sharing your story David. I couldn’t agree more!

This is truly enlightening and inspiring - thank you for sharing!

Thank you for sharing your journey. This was very touching and inspiring indeed!

Brilliant video! Thank you for sharing that with us!

Beautiful inspiring video David! Thanks!

a beautiful presentation. thank you David!

you always inspire me. I really appreciate you and the great content you upload. thank you David!

I watched this video when it came out and it helped me a lot. Thanks to it I am not afraid of the future anymore. And above all, thanks to it, I have seen things from a new perspective. Since then I have been able to compose for the cinema which was my life goal and I continue to have new proposals. Thank you very much for sharing all this!

One of my favorite videos by far this year..❤️

Beautiful story, thanks for sharing!

You are full of heart ! Thank you for this video 🌞🤍

As usual, David, inspiring and encouraging in equal measure. Thank you!

Phew, I didn't think I'd be sobbing watching one of your videos, but the ending was quite beautiful. :')

Really lovely video, David. Thank you for sharing this with us.

I'm 21 yo and now i am freaking scared and motivated towards my future! Thank you for the inspiration

Thank you David for presented your personal and most precious!

Thank you for this wonderful video, David!

Beautiful and very motivating. Thank you David! :)

Thanks for this beautiful, insightful piece David.

Great video.!!! Loved it. Amazing how some things work out. Thanks for sharing.

Great story. refreshing to hear and useful. Thanks for posting.

Thank you for the glimpse you shared with us, hugsxx

Excellent positive video, I sincerely wish you success and further development. Because we do not stop there, and are always getting closer to the light, which is God

Thank you so much for your post. Beeing myself a composer, I do feel the same about "luck" and friendship. Toi, toi, toi for a bright future!

You tell your story in such a lovely way. Thanks!!!

Your story really moved me. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for sharing your life with us! Very interesting and thoughtful perspectives! Cheers!

Great video David I was very interested in all you spoke of and it was good to hear of more of your work

Beautiful story and inspirational as well! Good work:)

Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing your life experience in this regard.