What did it mean to study composition?

[oullman7130]

When I read about famous classical composers, I always read that they studied harmony and counterpoint with this person, and composition with another person. I get what harmony and counterpoint would entail, but what about composition?

[mjames]

Learning how to deal with forms, creating structures, sense of development, variations, and analyzing compositions etc. I'm sure someone else will give you a more detailed answer, but that's basically the gist of it.

Pretty sounds aren't enough to make a composition a good composition!