composerland

I fiddled around with it, and I think I have worked out my sound problem. It now plays with different qualities, both "through VST" and "through MIDI." Thanks for leading the way - I have actually accomplished some understanding of GPO4 in the process! peace

I had a look at your website. I really enjoyed your music, and we have something in common. I was a student for a while at Queens College, at that time at about 1990. One of my teachers was Bruce Saylor, who allowed me to more or less do my own thing, since the theory class was not advanced enough. I was an organist, not so much a composer's composer. I wrote stuff for church use. I saw your works being played at LeFrak concert hall, and I became suspicious. Prof. Saylor is a fine composer, and he knows enough to keep anyone engaged for years. I was using Finale in those days - it was very hard for me, since I was nearly PC illiterate. I came back to Finale in 2011, and it is still immensely difficult, but more possibilities exist. peace and best wishes, sylvester

I was close, but I needed this advice very much - and I need a little more. I was able to change to clarinet, as clearly instructed. Thank-you. I have GPO4, and I suspect that I have not set my score up right in the first place to "play through VST." It is checked off in the MIDI/Audio drop box. I think it was playing through softsynth before (it sounded pretty lousy), but I successfully stopped that tonight. I deleted the "Instruments" [softsynth] (and I replaced them again, just in case). Now neither softsynth nor VST GPO4 sound. GPO4 has all the right instruments assigned, and it seems to be properly linked to Finale 2011. But I hear nothing when I play it. Have you any idea why? thanks for your expertise.

I have 5 staves in my score. I'd like to change the Trumpet to a Clarinet (the second staff). I cannot find any information on how to do this in the manual. This seems a simple job... I would like the score to say "Clarinet" instead, and I want to have it play a clarinet. I keep screaming at the score, but it doesn't change! Much appreciation if someone could answer this simple question. peace, Sylvester

Songs are really good. Your English is excellent: after all, you live in the Ukraine! Think about your audience. Is it fellow Ukranians? If so, your English is fine. If you are aiming towards the UK - you are not bad. A lot of Brits sing songs that are next to impossible to understand. If you are aiming towards the USA - you need to study some key things, like choosing more wide vowels (copy from TV). At present, I think you sound like a European who speaks English influenced by a British teacher. Mixed with some American English, which is common for rock music. Of course, the "W" sound is tricky, and you need to decide how you will make it come across. Some speakers put an "H" sound in front to help to form the sound. You are far better off making something of being Ukranian, and singing English with a distinct Eastern European accent. There have been Europeans who have made big careers for themselves in the USA for certain, keeping their interesting accents: just a touch. A person who kept her accent and made it big was "Nico" - who was Swedish, I think. 1960s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjDmX9Tkss Watch her sing "Femme Fatale." You may not understand that we Americans, especially heard her distinct Northern European accent: and the crowds loved her! Your vowels can sometimes be longer. Your consonants sometimes need to be more clear, similar to how you would speak them in your own language. Oh, and the word "pretty" is pronounced "Pritty" (rhymes with Kitty). Don't say "preety" - that doesn't sound good. good luck

I like your song a lot. And the video was excellent. I assume you performed this yourself. You need to look at your intonation: there are times when you are not quite making the pitch. This is really common; and in non-professional productions, this sticks out more. India is a wonderful place. Good luck with your career.

This may be interesting, in a fun way to someone. I rode the M train, an elevated train through Brooklyn, New York. And I wrote music, in a Jazz style - very loosely Blues. It is part of a set of Variations. I repeat the first 1/2, so I can include more footage of Brooklyn. There are clear classical elements in the work. The Theme of my variations is presented just before the repeat. I would present something else, with a picture of the score, but I think this is more fun to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl0N_x5MnSI peace, sylvester

The mood you set is enjoyable. The left hand is too prominent, and eventually becomes tiresome. You need to find a way to relieve having the left hand playing on every beat - especially as the work progresses. The right hand has interesting ideas, and is nice, just as it is. About the ending: it is rather abrupt. This is a good opportunity to use augmentation to slow down the work, so the listener is not unpleasantly surprised. peace