Contrabassoon

Hi, I tried to search first, using the... well, search function and it seems as the function has an error of some sort. I just wanted to ask about theory textbooks. I'm talking about music theory textbooks, obviously, and I would like to know some of the best ones available that covers rudimentary to atonality in depth with suggestive music and examples. It would be a PLUS if it also had jazz theory as well. Also, it would be awesome if it was no more than $200, and widely available. I did my time in a university as a composition major. It's kind of embarrassing, actually, to ask the names of descent textbooks. :S, lol. Thanks in advance, -CB

Hello people, I have 4 sopranos and 4 altos in my piece. The altos are (for verses) singing in a very rhythmical style, but the problem is... the text is "doo" (just the for the altos). Will that sound okay in a performance setting? Thanks in advance -cb

Thanks for the input. I did visit the M-Audio page and had a look at the Keystation. I like the simple design, and I would say that it's probably just the thing for me. However, I'm wondering... The Keystation looks good enough for me for Sibelius 5-6 applications. But, I plan to compose more popular music styles on Logic (Dance, Hip-hop, R&B, Trance/Electronica, Rock-fusion). I'm not very familiar with all the knobs and such, but would the M-Audio Keystation allow me to switch VST or sound patches quickly and test them out (demo them) on fly without painfully going through the mouse and click movements? or any other basic movements such as hit record and play? transpose? or changing the parameters of the patch (like put more mids or like put modulations). Thanks again.

Andy, thanks for the reply. I don't know what i want actually. But, I don't want to find out that i needed something and be stuck with something too simple. Then again, it does sound as if I'm thinking too ahead. At most I would want 49 keys. I was wondering, if I can switch octave designations on the keys (for example, like assigning the last C as C2? or as lower or higher notes) when recording tracks on Logic or Sibelius? Is that called Octave displacement? I'm looking to produce a reasonable quality sounding demo tracks using Logic and other fire-wire interfaces. I find that having a keyboard controller will save me a lot of time (looking/hearing through the sounds, playing/recording the figures). Additionally, i'm also planing to record my compositions on Sibelius. I am looking at M-Audio, Edirol and Novation. So far, Novation Remote SL 49 looks very nice. Looks like Sibelius 6 and M-Audio have teamed up, does that mean other MIDI controllers are useless? no right?

Howdy, I was planning to get a MIDI Controller for Logic 8 and Sibelius 5 or 6. I know nothing about MIDI Controllers (except for that it can control the program and record/sound with the program only), and what's right for me. I've searched YC and the internet; so far I'm not getting any solid answers. It's probably all relative and for the price I'm willing to spend ($300 before tax) there probably isn't much of difference between Controller A and Controller B. But I was wondering if anyone had experiences using MIDI Controllers for Logic and Sibelius? If so, could you explain a little bit about the MIDI Controllers and which Controller is right for me? I'm definitely not going be performing with it plugged into a laptop. I'm planning to compose, and layout ideas and pieces more efficiently. And of course to record. Thanks.

You better be good at theory.

I'm assuming that you are located in the US of A? I'm from Canada. From what I have gone through, 1. Theory Exam and/or short ear-training 2. Instrument audition and ear-training 3. Portfolio (your music) I tried for 2 schools, one school required an interview. The dean(?) or the coordinator asked, why are you here? what do you want to do? what is your ultimate goal? what is your music like? The other school didn't even ask anything, I didn't even get to meet the composition department. However, I had written all the same answers on my application. Are you classically trained? In terms of the studies and composition? Anyway, I hope your auditions go well. Once you are in, it's quite a journey...!:whistling::toothygrin: All the best!

I also have trouble naming my compositions. I would just write stuff and give it a title later on. Or ask my friends to do it for me.

I would say, Mixing the methods of one and two are better. Every professors I've met follows the first method mostly. I find for writing shorter pieces, the second method is better. For longer pieces, i would say the first one. This is what all my profs. recommended/ordered :whistling: I guess they want me to take FULL CONTROL of the piece not the other way around. But then, the careful planning is already taking control of "me". But then again, I'm writing the plans. However, I'm bounded my plans. I don't know....:toothygrin:

:w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t: Thanks a bunch!!

I'm assuming you want a working synth right? Not a MIDI Controller? SameDayMusic.com: Korg X50 61-Key Synthesizer Keyboard Korg - Product Details I think Korg has a lot more portable synth keyboards. Also I would take a look at Yamaha, M-Audio and Novation. If you have a Laptop, you might as well get a MIDI Controller, I would think. That way you can record/or-straight-into-sibelius. Not that synths can't be recorded through a laptop, but MIDI Controller would be cheaper than "self-working" synthesizer (meaning it sounds even though you don't hook it up to your laptop). I'm told that MIDI controllers cannot make any sound by itself. But then again, if you want to work with just couple ideas, no recording, portable synth is good i would say. There are like folding keyboards, but i doubt they have headphone inputs. I hope this helps and please excuse my rambling.

Hello, For those of you who don't know the "Green Bar".... In Sibelius (4 & 5), the green bar on your score page (main screen) indicates what measure you are in. Also, the music plays from where the green bar is; although, the green bar sometimes moves a beat before, automatically, and plays. You can also freely move the green bar with your mouse. You don't have to tap your right arrow key about 400 times to reach from bar 1 to bar 400. This is a good feature; probably one of the most important feature. But... I was wondering if there is a way to move the green bar with your arrow keys? This is important, because sometimes i would like to shift couple bars before (or after) where i left off (stopped listening or stopped composing) and it's really pissing me off that i can only control/move it with the mouse. I should be a little more thankful, to able to have this wonderful program, but I just wanted to know if that can be done? If not... Can Finale or some other software do this? Thanks.

First of all, I don't wish to offend anyone here. I've seen a lot of students who were Double Majors or had a Major and a minor. Additionally, I've seen 2 Instrument Majors (or at least they were trying to be). Apart from, let's say Piano Major + Composition Major, I've never seen any Double (whatever) students do any one of 'em well. I think Instrument + Composition Major works quite well (at least at my college). Not A LOT of extra work involved except of course, more electives and such. But then, none of them really EXCELLED on their instrument or in composition all at the same time. That is my case (hoping to change that around soon), and many other students' cases (hoping to change that around soon). Definitely those 2 Instrument "Majors"; I've seen a lot of students trying to tackle 2 instruments at a time. Only lucky cases were able to move on (to one however), almost all of them didn't (at both). They were wasting their time. This is what I've seen so far in 3 years in music College. Strictly speaking in terms of College and College-success(?), not real-life success. I do agree with people saying you gotta know how to play more than one to survive; definitely. I play both Guitar and Bass Guitar. Double Jobs!!!!! But then those instruments are very similar; especially in trad. Rock settings. ...Had a "friend" who tried to tackle guitar, piano, flute and voice. The "friend" even was considering becoming a theory Major! (Respect!) This wasn't all done at the same time but the "friend" did try 3-4 categories at the same time. Imagine taking half hr. lessons in guitar, piano, flute and voice; all in a week!

Nicola, what do you mean by developing an extra-musical idea? You are right about saying there shouldn't be a list. I don't even deserve the list to be honest. I lack the years of classical study. I think that's where my problem lies; lack of understanding of fundamentals and general study. Peace,

Thanks guys, Thanks for the link, advises and your interests. I believe, i will have to work extra hard. I'm in 3rd year university study coming from no classical music back ground. You would think that I get enough tutorials and lessons at the school...I do, but i do need extra help and even more extra self-study. I'm getting a lot of criticisms from the profs. Therefore, I'm quite hesitant to show you my "work". Although agreeing with the statement, "criticisms are really helpful", i think i received enough criticisms for a year! haha Thx all