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You don't have to learn to play the instrument, but you should definately learn about the instrument and it's possibilities and limitations! If you don't learn about the instrument you run the risk of writing music that is technically unnecessarily difficult, or impossible, to play. For example: making bad keys selections; writing note sequences that ...

jjmusicnotes' answer is a good answer, and I'd like to make a special plea for the percussion section. I know many musicians don't have much time for percussionists, but as a composer the section can be your ally. It can keep the ensemble together (whether there's a conductor or not); it can give you a lot of support for dynamic changes; and it can help make ...

As a composer, you mostly end up writing for instruments that you yourself don't play. Apart from Hindemith, it is fairly impossible to maintain a high level of proficiency on every instrument - there just isn't that much time and it is not feasible. However, that does not excuse having a working knowledge of the instrument. Though it might seem silly to ...