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I'm impressed both by your light touch playing this, and the lack of scratching out on your handwritten copy. If I wrote that way, it would be all chaotic scribbled out former ideas. The interplay between your first and second sections works very well! A very satisfying piece to listen to!

Hello! It is time. As you asked, I have delivered. Attached on this comment are my annotations on the arrangement thus far. Directly under, I have attached a sample PDF and sample Audio file to pair with my notes. The notes are found at the end of the current score and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Kvothe - Reger Humoresque (ANNOTATED).pdf Attached Files: Kvothe_Example.pdf Kvothe_ExampleAudio.mp3

Hi all, it's been a really long time, I decided I wanted to come back and check out what's going on! I also wanted to share two successes of mine in the past several months: Slipping, which was written in early-2025, written for Symphonic Orchestra, was performed by the California Youth Symphony in November 2025. I have attached the score and two recordings of it, one MIDI and one of the performance. The Dunning-Kruger Effect, written in mid-2025, written for String Orchestra, was performed by my school orchestra, which I conducted. I have attached the score and here's the video: https://youtu.be/CQBDUVbKEpQ?si=psCVro_MLM3NfmEV . Looking forward to seeing what's going on in this forum after so long! Slipping.mp3 Slipping FINAL MIDI.mp3 Slipping-score.pdf the dunning-kruger effect score.pdf

Thanks for listening luderart, glad you enjoyed it :) Hey Kvothe, thanks for listening! Regarding your point #1, yeah you're correct, it was more for playback. @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu was kind enough to record it, I could just write con pedale or something now 🙂

Really? That sounds like a very harsh critique. To be truthful, I think your work is good; it simply reflects your good style. Your melodies have a certain melancholic quality, yet they still feel energetic and full of hope—Specifically, in version 80, the first 27 seconds have a bit of a lonely, melancholic atmosphere. But starting with the note at 0:28, it feels as if the music begins to take a step forward with a sense of hope. It’s hard to put into words, but that’s the impression I get. Whether that was intentional or not, your music is capable of telling a story, and I think that’s great. I’m also interested to hear how others feel about it, not just me.

Could you tell me, for example, what kind of criticisms you received? Personally, I think it’s good overall!! If I had to point something out, I’d say the melodic phrasing feels a bit similar throughout, which makes the development feel a little thin. Among the new melodies, I really like measure 90. Personally, I thought it might be interesting to try swapping the left-hand accompaniment of 90 with something like what's in measure 96! By the way, if you don't mind, could you tell me the name of that forum? I’d love to take a look myself.

Subject: Honest Feedback Requested: Lithl - Swarm of Sound (Polytempo & Polyrhythm) I would like to hear your honest thoughts on my piece, "Swarm of Sound," without any flattery or sugar-coating. I don't mind harsh criticism at all; in fact, I would find it very helpful. This was submitted to the Sonuscore Competition. (While the music was not originally composed for this contest, the video was created specifically for it, so it differs from the actual original concept.) It was rejected, and I want to know exactly why it failed, where it fell short, and whether it even functions as "music" at all. Please provide your feedback without any compromise . =The Concept= Idea: The piece was built around the imagery of a massive swarm of percussion with strings.While the result bears a slight resemblance to Ligeti's Requiem: II. Kyrie. Molto espressivo, it was created primarily out of curiosity—specifically to see what would happen when stacking polyrhythms in polytempo based on my initial imagery. =Compositional Elements= A. Polyrhythm: Based on the concept of using 12 notes in the strings, I chose a 3:4:7 ratio (resulting in 12 notes per cycle). B. Polytempo: The above polyrhythms will be performed in polytempo.I determined the tempo based on a manually drawn graph. There are 12 sections; each new tempo is added as the previous cycle ends. The tempos are based on integer ratios rather than simple multiples, progressively getting faster. C. 12-Tone Strings: To evoke the "swarm" image, I used all 12 tones. Strings are triggered simultaneously with the polyrhythmic/polytempo timings and held until the next note is played. Furthermore, the strings are layered in octaves. This ensures all 12 tones are constantly sounding to heighten the sense of chaos. The strings are played with tremolo. D. Aleatoric Selection (Dice): To remove personal bias from the note selection, I attempted a randomized system based on simple rules (inspired by John Cage). Specifically, as shown in the video, I created a table using dice to select the notes. This makes it more chaotic and hopefully creates a kind of swarm of sound. =Final Note= I submitted this because the timing coincided with a contest held by Sonuscore, a major strings library developer, but consequently, It was rejected. While the other entries were undoubtedly wonderful, I am left wondering if this rejection proves that I lack talent or that I am merely producing self-indulgent noise that provides no value to the listener. If that is the case, I intend to change my approach immediately upon receiving feedback. Please be blunt. I am not looking for comfort; I am looking for a harsh, honest critique. I would truly appreciate your rigorous feedback. (Private feedback is also highly appreciated.) Thank you and sorry for taking up your time.

Hello Have you heard of this virtual instrument called CANTAI? Please note: I have no affiliation with these programmes, even though I use them. https://cantai.app/ It’s a virtual instrument for voices and choirs. It works with MuseScore (which is more advanced), Dorico (the official version was released a couple of days ago) and Sibelius. The novelty is that you write the score, add the parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir) and write the lyrics... And once everything is set up, the result is that it ‘sings’. I use it with Dorico. It still needs improving, because although it interprets dynamics and accents, and there are many voices available, there will be more. At the moment, in Dorico you can write in English and Latin. But Chinese and Spanish are already available in MuseScore (I think). I’ve written this little sample song to see how it works.

Hello my dear friend, First of all, thank you for taking the time to listen to my sonata, and I’m truly happy that you enjoyed it. I thought it might be nice to share with you how I conceive these sonatas in my mind. The truth is that I have blended many different elements into binary form with the intention of creating something personal—my own voice through binary form. Structurally, it is indeed binary, as expected. What I do differently is to approach it with a more Classical sense of transitions and dramatic development. So in essence, my sonatas are fundamentally binary, but with a Classical morphology, featuring clear transitions and the sense of dramaturgy found in the Classical era. Harmonically, I would say it is a mixture of many influences—primarily Classical, with touches of early Romanticism. I absolutely love binary form. Domenico Scarlatti has been an incredible inspiration to me, and I decided that I, too, wanted to create a vast musical diary of binary sonatas—works that truly feel like my own personal musical journal. At the same time, this form encourages me to be bolder, more innovative, and more adventurous compared with other genres. Once again, thank you, my dear friend.

Hello @Vasilis Michael It is refreshing to see a binary sonata form. Binary was primarily used by baroque period composers before the proper form took off. In the A section, you would have your primary theme in tonic. Followed by contrasting B section in the Dominant. What makes binary stand out: the lack of transition between the two sections. Or maybe there is one(?) We can tell there are two major sections. One that repeats and one that follows after repeat of first section. Ergo. binary! I love how the main motive is used thorough out the entire piece. It moves so flawlessly. As usually, your writing is on par! I could not hear anything wrong. :)

Hello YC gang, Below I have attached the first ten measures of arrangement of Meger second Humorquse. The cast is woods in pairs and two horns. Here is what needs to you check for me: Score this as if this this was entry for YC contest. My goals; I want to successfully score for orchestra->check balance, texture, and timbre. Check for engraving errors I have missed. check for instrumation errors Harmony errors etc Reger Humor no. 2 untitled.mp3 Meger.pdf

Not normally, no. They are standard in our industry. The only time it would be broken is when you have a larger ensemble or other instrument combinations that are not standard. In this case, it’s not about orchestral order, it’s about highest-> lowest instrument for the layout.

I don’t know why it’s called ‘Cantai’. But I don’t think it has anything to do with artificial intelligence; rather, it means ‘to sing’ or one of its verb forms in various Latin-based languages. What’s more, it uses recordings of real professional singers (soloists and choirs). I’m familiar with that software you mention. And I used to have it, but depending on what you want to do or what your needs are, it’s better or worse for different people. What I like about Cantai is that you write the notes and the text in the same editing programme (MuseScore, Sibelius, Dorico). And that’s it. It uses expression maps for dynamics and so on. You don’t have to work outside the editing programme (in a DAW, or in XML, etc.). Which is fine, if that’s what you want to do

Those are very different things. If I buy a hydraulic press and use it to flatten a stainless steel pipe, obviously I'm morally responsible for flattening the pipe. If that pipe belonged to someone else, I can hardly evade responsibility by saying, "Hey, it wasn't me! It was the hydraulic press!" On the other hand, it's equally obvious that I can't lay claim to flattening the pipe as a feat of strength. If I cry, "Behold my strength!" as I hold the flattened piece of steel aloft, I am quite rightly met with, "Uh... you didn't do that. The hydraulic press did."

Hey there! I am new to this forum and would like to present my piano ballad (version 86). It was critized strongly in another forum, mainly because of the piano melody. The piece isn't completed in full. From 1:53 on the dynamics of the topline strings aren't edited yet. Because of the many critics I composed 3 new piano melodys (version 90,96,101). What is your hearing impression? How do you find the 3 melodys? Piano Ballade_86.mp3 Piano Ballade_90.mp3 Piano Ballade_96.mp3 Piano Ballade_101.mp3

It's a German forum. They said things like:"There is no melody." "That's just tinkling." "I can't sing to this melody."

Hellooo, I made this waltz as an attempt to approach music for pedagogic uses. I also tried to give it a 'funny' sound so this waltz uses a lot of dramatic/parodic gestures. I think it turned out pretty good and funny. Hope u like it!!!!! <3<3 ·<{:D Vals I.pdfVals I.mp3

𝕰.𝕬.𝕾. | 𝕰𝖑𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖈 𝕬𝖒𝖇𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝕾𝖕𝖆𝖈𝖊 𝟏+𝟐 French Ambient Electro.mp3 ELECTRONIC AMBIENT SPACE.mp3

"Archeangel," is a Fractal Fugue developed from my website: www.atonalfugue.net The matrix is: [0,2,9,3,7,11,4,8,10,1,5,6] It's based on, Webern's Symphony, which has no transformations according to my theory of matrix modulation. It moves at 30 BPM, and follows Mason's rules of composition, albeit serialism, at that tempo. Attached is a complete analysis of the numbers. You can tell, according to the galactic harmonics, how much thought was put into that matrix. I Joke. However, looking at the analysis, there are some interesting inferences: 64. GALACTIC FREQUENCY ANALYSIS ▸ COSMIC ACOUSTIC SIGNATURES Milky Way Frequency Drift....... 0.9305 Andromeda Collision Sonic Reflection 0.5836 Dark Matter Interaction Tone.... 0.2100 Supernova Remnant Frequency Mapping 0.3495 Pulsar Waveform Analysis........ 0.9389 Black Hole Sonata............... 1.0000 Neutron Star Collision Harmonics 0.2377 Galactic Echo Sonification...... 0.6505 This is what I'm jamming on now. It's said that we are composing the very thing that the universe's materials encompass. It's only fair to analyze it as such, too. I mean, we don't have to agree - there is room for independence in what I have to offer in the website. So, what do the numbers mean? Numbers, are often static. When paired with music, the numbers become realized through motion. In this case, as each number permeates through a representation of music, the numbers become more viable. That's expensive to convey, and data intensive; I guess it just means that the numbers are a symphonic glade of information that is easier to ingest than learning about it. I hope it sounds good, in any case. Based on the acoustic signatures, I can conclude that there is a weak correlation to Dark Matter, but there is a strong correlation to Pulsar Waveform Analysis. I do like the idea of Galactic Echo Sonification, in my music too. I hope you have fun with the website, empowering your music, too. Archeangel.mp3 Archeangel.mid WebernSymphony_Analysis_AtonalFugue.pdf

Thanks pateceramics for your review and appreciation of the piece. I am glad you enjoyed it. Thanks also for giving me the idea of caesura markings. I will make sure to consider them as an option in future pieces for solo instruments.

The woodwind section of the symphony orchestra can be categorized into three primary timbral color groups: Cold, Warm, and Hot. This classification helps composers understand how different woodwind instruments function within orchestral texture, balance, and emotional character. By organizing instruments according to their inherent timbral qualities, composers can make more intentional decisions when writing melodies, harmonies, and layered textures. Additionally, this categorization provides practical guidance on instrumental mixing, allowing composers to predict how different woodwinds will blend, contrast, or dominate within an orchestral context—and what kind of sonic result will ultimately be achieved. 1. Cold Timbres: Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet 2. Hot Timbres: Oboe, English Horn 3. Warm Timbres Bassoon, Contrabassoon NB: Due to the dominance of higher and less perceptible harmonics in the extreme upper registers, the timbre of woodwind instruments becomes less distinct. In these ranges, different instruments may sound surprisingly similar in tone color. For example, when the flute and oboe play the same pitch—such as F6—it becomes difficult to clearly identify whether the sound is cold or hot, or even to distinguish which instrument is playing. For this reason, the following graphics and timbral classifications are based on the most effective, practical, and musically “sweet” registers of each instrument, where their characteristic tone color is most clearly perceived and reliably distinguishable in orchestral writing More Information and Free Orchestration Resources: Free Download

Thank you, sincerely, Interlect. This program has been a passion project of mine for the last 3 years. It began with a simple modulator, then transformed slowly to all the features on the site. No, it's not classified information. Since you asked nicely, I can tell you, actually! 😃 So, I've been following Ai and its strength is analysis, while its weakness is physics. Physics, is just not there yet. If you ask Ai to analyze anything, it will give you information that is great to bank off of and further reason with comparable inference. I made this program with Copilot, then Claude, then Perplexity, then Claude Code. Ai kept fabricating my findings with implementation; so if you want to make something like this, do it a day at a time. I didn't use any Altered Chords, but I did create a method that composes with serial intent. Check out the website. It has the ability to export to midi if you want to collaborate with me?

My dear friend, thank you very much for your kind words. I composed this sonata in just a few hours over the course of two days. It was a moment of inspiration, and everything came very naturally. I’m truly very happy that you enjoyed it.

This piece is about a Whale and a Whaling ship, and their corresponding battle, capture of the whale, and bringing it home. I thought this might be an interesting idea for a competition, with a lot of dramaticism inherit, and generally a little easier for a listener to make the connection. Let me know what you think of the piece. I'd love to hear your input on the different textures throughout. I think this piece has some pretty awesome moments and I hope you guys will let me know. Whale and the Whaler (2).mp3 Whale and the Whaler.pdf

Bumping so people can hear the changed endings and edits.

Hi, today I come with a waltz haha. In this piece I wanted that 1-2-3 “waltz” sound in my own style. I composed this in a short period of time so I couldn't develop a variation of theme A. However, I like how it sounds. Someone who listens to the piece said it has a “distorted Beethoven sound” that is interesting haha; what do you think? I hope you enjoy c: Vals No.1.mp3 Vals No1.pdf

This is such nice music! Thanks for sharing 💜 This is such nice music! Thanks for sharing 💜

"Ambience," is a saxophone feature. The score is attached if you want to attempt the song. Ambience.mp3 Ambience_AltoSaxophone_Harper.pdf

Yeah, but look at it like this. I copyright the music before entering it into AI. The AI creates a variation based on my music, therefore it is still mine. IDK, I try to make the AI music as identical to what I compose, too.

Hi Tristan, This sounds very nice! I would suggest finding a different composition software to use, however. The spacing of the notes on the page is a bit all over the place, which makes this challenging to sight read. Musescore is a good free option that sorts that out for you automatically. I haven't used Vocaroo, but I understand it has some AI features for editing recordings?

@Asgarzade Music School Fancy seeing you here. To answer, Henry question. Possibly yes. :) @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu if you know members who earning to learn this, @Asgarzade Music School is great.

Hi long time for no posting! I decided to post an old work of mine.This Nocturne in C-sharp minor is a juvenile work of me as a 16 year old. I didn't think much at the time of composing, but I did write in the style of Chopin Nocturne then. And then a sudden thought caused me to have a 1st try in fugue in 2:35! I revised the work recently to improve on some voice leadings and transitions except passages after the fugato, but retained as much the original intention as I can as a 16 year old then. The work, even though as immature as it is, does reflect some of my feelings then. Here is the Youtube video and the score of the piece: (Final Draft) Nocturne in C sharp minor.pdf This work can be regarded as in a rondo structure: 0:00 1st part(A), typical Chopin Nocturne texture. Don't know why I modulated the music to F major but the music did so himself... 0:58 2nd part(B) Main melody in F major, but with a new b motive in b.31-32 1:35 3rd part (A') The main melody in the original key can't wait to enter... Gets more agitated and cools down. 2:35 4th part (B'). A fugato using motive b as subject and main melody as episode, modulates once more to F major 3:57 Last part and coda (A''): The A section returns with some registeral change, then gets more agitated. 4:29 is the climax of the piece which is my favourite too, I like the agitation in it. 4:47 starts the coda and finally the mood cools down and ends in tonic major. I played the recording myself. I do make one major slip in 3:22 but the recording is otherwise good enough for me. Feel free to leave comment below! Henry

Hi @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu! Below you will find in depth review of this haunting piece! First, let me say what your piece reminds of. It reminds me of Chopin's Nocturnes and Rachmaninov musical moments and preludes. Both, in their on right, wrote lush, emotional themes over triplet 8th pattern. In fact, Rachmaninov used that pattern in his 5th prelude. Nonetheless, we can still bass patterns in our own works! I love how you establish the harmony using that pattern over theme. The pattern slowly changes as the theme moves. The chromaticism creates sense of mystery and wonder, by the way. The transition into the B section is exactly what we need to hear: a break down of the thematic material before a new section! (why does this remind of Franz Listz) After we hear the B section, we return to A, briefly, to remind us of the haunting theme we heard at the start. Then it finishes all together. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I would be tempted to just add a caesura marking between the repeated section and the continuing bars of #5... Since this is a work for solo instrument that doesn't need coordination between players, there is no reason you can't trust the musicality of the soloist to add an appropriate amount of rest. It's always nice to see something written for solo instrument, as so many of them are a bit neglected by composers. Very enjoyable and I think a live performance would bring out the phrasing nicely.

Exceptionally Professional.....Well Done. That Dunning-Kruger Effect, is SOOO True

@Alex Weidmann No worries. Yeah, that makes sense. :) Some programs are annoying to work with score set up. Trust me, I know. (haha...finale). But..hey..I enjoyed it!

Dear friends, Please find attached my second attempt to write for theorbo. I wasn't very happy with my first effort; but I think this one has more promise. Not quite sure about my ending though. Does it fit? Any suggestions for titles would be helpful too, because I can't quite think of one at the moment. Theorbo piece #41 (midi).mp3 Theorbo piece #41 (midi).pdf

That's a lot of info dumping...with very valid comments from @Kvothe and @MK_Piano. I am curious if this specific piece was requested by a 3rd party or did you create for your own learning/pleasure? I'm also not understanding your answer to @MK_Piano's question of how you write your pieces? You mentioned keyboard...do you input the notes and everything using that keyboard? Or it does it come with pre-rendered samples and you just mash them together? I'm a noob when it comes to electronic music... As for the piece of music here, it's alright. It's catchy but repetitive and generic. Not really sure how it ties to Alaska...if you didn't have the video posted, I would've chalked it up to random elevator music. If what you say is true about how the media industry works, it's a shame that the craft of a music making to tell the story pioneered by legends such as Korngold, Newman, Williams, etc. is dead.

Hello there! Here is the latest installment of preludes, no.16. This one deals with a lot of two voice counterpoint and a relentless ramble on one theme. As a personal side note, these have been a lot of fun to write, and it's been great simultaneously writing a bunch at once. I had a sporadic burst of ideas when I started this one, and it lead to a lot of spread out writing. I guess what I'm SAYIN' is... more to come! :D Thanks for listening and reading... any comments of any kind are welcome! P.S. some of those tempo markings are to mimic rubato, dunno I suck as an editor Edit: 🔥 @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu 🔥 Prelude No 16 - Score.pdf Henry Prelude no.16.mp3

Hi! Actually I just completed my piano toccata piece inspired from living near the motor city (Detroit, MI) in my childhood... I decided to make this toccata piece since I thought the mechanistic characteristics of the genre match well with general images of the motor city... In this piece I tried to express free style of lots of jazz and popular music heard when I was growing up near Detroit, while keeping this piece modern classical music... Hope you enjoy this piece, and please feel free to leave any comments and suggestions :) Motorcity Toccata.mp3 Motorcity Toccata.pdf

This is a really fun piece to listen to! The brass writing is top notch. The highlight for me though, was the duetting between the piccolo and flute. Not a combination I would've thought of using. Love the strange sound of the flexatone! Will have to use that instrument some time in one of my future works. I wonder, would it come through as strongly as this against a full orchestra? Or would it need to be amplified?

Nice tone painting so far the orchestration is really nice too A good job with the orchestration and combining slurred and staccato textures together. On mallet instruments it’s a fairly rare use to do doubles. Great job with the accel. Good with using the smaller end of dynamics. A nice with the double reads low double reads with this pattern of single notes staccatos Flexatone that’s really good good use in a professional setting for that. The textures around 105 is really good. I appreciate the dissonance and surrounding force surround it. I appreciate the English horn solo. And good attention to detail with the Bowing. I rarely see non-string orchestra composers incorporate, bowing directions in the score but like that’s good. Circa measure 180 maybe a few measures next there is a engraving error with the suspended cym part good job with voicing parallel fifths it gives the effect that is needed. Good job with this slower parts. solid ending and with full magnitude as well Anyways, I enjoyed this piece a lot. I hope you well and keep up the amazing work.

Try to cut the delay on the F# and put the F in a lower octave. But most important: adjust the length of the delay on the F# if it can be isolated. If not maybe you don't need it for that bar or beat. Not sure what software you are using or how much control you have of the effects. You could also double the F in a lower octave and leave the one you have in the lead voice. Might help...

Hello @barko -- thank you for listening and for the encouraging words! At 1:24 I know I definitely intended a G7 chord, but the F sharp from the previous chord is still present and clashing with the F because I'm using such long delays. I will experiment with voicing the chord change differently and avoiding that half-step rub. Thank you for pointing it out. 🙂 ~ Gwen

Very nice melody & chords. I agree with Peter, the title is perfect. There's a bit of an awkward moment @ 1:24 where the note doesn't blend with the chord. Maybe try another voicing? Anyway you certainly have talent. Good melodies are not easy to come by. Keep up the good work!

Hello! Thank you for the kind words, and sorry for the delay -- I just finished the Spring semester of school today. I just posted an alternate version of this piece on my SoundCloud with a synth pad I thought was interesting. It's a bit "thicker". I would love to hear any thoughts if you feel moved to listen. https://soundcloud.com/gwendolyn_przyjazna/the-solitude-of-summer-alternate-version

New version with synth ("Wave Turn Around" from HALion Sonic): https://soundcloud.com/gwendolyn_przyjazna/the-solitude-of-summer-alternate-version

Sounds good! Very relaxing and it does remind me of summer. Maybe a pad synth sound in the background?

Hello Peter! Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! I will consider recording the rhythm part on electric piano. I tried it out really quickly in Cubase. I came up with every chord at the guitar but my skill level is elementary and I agree that an electric piano might be an improvement -- especially a softer timbre. I'm glad this tune evoked a clear atmosphere for you; while writing it my mind went to taking walks around my California neighborhood in the morning with the sun being very strong. It kinds of melts any thoughts away and maybe that's why if the music sounds circular. I'm happy if the conclusion sounds solid; I struggle with endings in general lately. :S The assignment was: "Compose a short piece of about 32 bars in length in AABA song form that modulates to a distantly related key and then returns to the original key." Other than that it was really open-ended. 🙂 Thank you for listening! ☀️ ~ Gwendolyn

Hello @Gwendolyn Przyjazna! I think you picked the perfect title for this instrumental. It sounds to me like you could substitute electric piano for the rhythm guitar - and right now, the way it is rendered, it sounds more idiomatic to what a piano is capable of playing rather than a guitar imo. I think the guitar melody is especially evocative of solitude. It also uses a good blend of unity and variety - repeating certain phrases and elaborating on others in an unexpected and musically interesting way. The almost-aimless nature of the harmonic progression sometimes makes me think of someone in the throes of a heatstroke, which is very appropriate for a piece about summer! LoL I think It ends very nicely too - making a piece like this sound like its concluded can be difficult - it sounds like it just wants to go on and repeat itself forever. What was the assignment/prompt that this was written for? It is very interesting music and with a unique melodic sensibility that seems very individual and personal to you. Great job and thanks for sharing!