Teaching composition requires different strategies depending on each student's interests and experience. Reflecting on my own experiences as a composition student, I have found two teaching approaches to be especially helpful. Undergraduates frequently require compositional exercises that build technique and confidence. More experienced composers often benefit from carefully formulated confrontations that help students enlarge the scope of their musical imagination. Seminars allow students to explore new compositional approaches in the spirit of collaboration and experimentation. Such experiences can open new avenues for creative exploration.