For those rare musicians infected with a desire to create true original music an understanding of the relationship between a composer and his work is beneficial. At the core of this relationship is the fact that music reflects a musician's values. What are values and how are they expressed in music?

A value is anything that is important to someone. It might be a glass of water on a hot day, the trust of a friend, or a state of mind like peace, love, or freedom. It might also be crack-cocaine or a new bass guitar. A value can be defined as "that which one acts to gain or keep" and therefore it is the object of an action. 'Something' is of value to 'someone' and that 'someone' has to act in a certain way in order to acquire, achieve, or maintain that 'something'.

How then does music express a musician's values? Before a composer begins creating a work he often has a general idea of the type of the work he wishes to create. He might know, for example, if he wishes to conform to a certain format, or not. Does he choose to create upbeat pop or more dramatic styles of music? One way to gain insight into a composer's values is to determine his motives for creating a particular type of work. If a composer decides to create a piece of music because it happens to be in fashion at the time and by creating it he will increase his chances of becoming rich and popular and having sex with many beautiful women then, in such cases, the values moving him to action are money, public adoration, and sex. If on the other hand a composer chooses to create a work because it reflects a general mood or overall sense he feels inside then the work might be considered to be an expression of an emotional, or spiritual, value. Oftentimes, a composer's highest value is the cathartic nature of the creative process.

In order to create a particular type of work a composer must make those choices during the selection process that best allow him to realize that type of creation. It should be noted that goals and values are closely related and that goals are properly based on values. Some musicians value simplicity and some, technical virtuosity. The process of musical selection, of choosing which elements are important enough to include in the music, and which are not, is based on those values a musician holds both inside and outside of music. What types of scales and chords will he need to use in order to support the mood he wishes to express? What kind of groove is required for an accurate expression? Will the nature of the expression be dramatic, or subtle? By answering these types of questions further insight is gained into a musician's values.

In some music, particularly pop music, there are different layers to these expressions. Pop music is an art form where collaboration is the norm rather than the exception. In other words, there is often more than one person involved in the music creation process. A composer might write only music while a lyricist writes words. A group of musicians may then perform selected songs with the guidance of a producer who provides direction based on an overall concept derived from the individual songs, the performances, and the expectations of the marketplace. At each stage specialists in their field are making value judgments. This brings us to the concepts of synergy and compromise.

The concepts of synergy and compromise are opposites when considering collaborations. If collaborators on a project have similar music values and each participating party has similar end goals then the resulting work is often a product of synergy. In such cases the parties choose to create a relationship whereby decisions are made according to an end concept mutually agreed upon by the collaborators. The resulting work created by this type of synergy may be more fully realized than it would be otherwise. Contrarily, if music values are not similar between collaborators and an end concept is not agreed upon at some point during the creative process the resulting work often deteriorates into a product of compromise and inferiority.

Understanding how the process of music creation and values are related can give those musicians who dare to be different the confidence to stand alone in the face of great opposition. By being aware of values and how they are being expressed in music an artist can be psychologically armed to protect himself from those who do not share his ideals and in fact, may resent them. He will be able to see how other's criticisms arise directly from a comparison to a set of values which may have been compromised, or sold out, in favor of other values. It takes epic effort to create something truly unique and original. At every turn there are those who argue that it is impossible to create something new and that it is a waste of time to even try. These naysayers ask questions like, "How dare you try to be original?" and "What makes you so special?" Because of this, extreme confidence is a key ingredient for those musicians who crave to be original. This special breed of musician must have a deep-rooted belief that his work is strong and valid even in the absence of something obvious to compare it to. Non-conformity is not recommended for most but for some, it is the highest power. There is no right or wrong way to create music; the art simply reveals the artist.