2 questions, both probably in the wrong forum...

[SafyreSchool]

1, is it shunned or frowned upon if you are a composer that doesn't know how to conduct?:o

2. is there a website out there that can take your sheet music and have a live orchestra play it for you?:)

-DaVe

[robinjessome]

1: I don't think so...I don't conduct very well.

2: I really doubt it.

[montpellier]

1, is it shunned or frowned upon if you are a composer that doesn't know how to conduct?:P

Very few composers conduct. When they do, they usually make a mess of their own works....with some notable exceptions like Boulez (and in former times, Beethoven).

2. is there a website out there that can take your sheet music and have a live orchestra play it for you?:P

-DaVe

At a price, I dare say. Everyone has their price. Otherwise you spend some time making contacts with people who do have some say in repertoire, give them your scores to look at. Be prepared for rejection letters. With public performance an unknown name on the program may not go down well.

A few members here have had their works performed.

If you play an instrument, try to start an ensemble and compose for it. You can start to get known that way.

:P

[Keerakh Kal]

1.) Yes and no. Mostly no, but sometimes yes. I just decline politely. The excuse "I'm sixteen" usually works.

2.) I wish. That's why I bought finale- I could hear what I wrote. It's too convincingly real, but you get an idea of how it sounds. Plus, you can save it as an mp3 to give to someone as a Demo CD.

~Kal

[Michael Sollis]

1, is it shunned or frowned upon if you are a composer that doesn't know how to conduct?;)

2. is there a website out there that can take your sheet music and have a live orchestra play it for you?:)

-DaVe

1. No of course not - but its such a useful skill to learn, that it should be encouraged anyway.. you will find that your score-reading will improve dramatically, as your general musicality.

2. No of course there isn't! BUT... and this is a very important BUT... it's not that hard to get your music performed - find some like-minded people, start up a concert series, get some musicians who are keen to try new things - get your own orchestra together to do a couple of recordings - you will usually find student/young musos are VERY generous with thier time to people in the same boat as them - if your at school, get your school to play it, or a school nearby, if your at uni, likewise....

COMPOSERS NEED TO GET OUT OF THEIR SHELL!!

[Michael Sollis]

1.)

2.) I wish. That's why I bought finale- I could hear what I wrote. It's too convincingly real, but you get an idea of how it sounds. Plus, you can save it as an mp3 to give to someone as a Demo CD.

~Kal

The problem is, though, that very very very few people will take a MIDI realisation seriously... for a demo CD your much better off (IMO) in doing a small scale work that you can perform live... the reasons:

1) It gives your some credibility - the fact that your music is played

2) It shows your piece is performable - so many students who start off writing on MIDI write the most impossible things for humans to perform... humans (especially large ensembles) need simplicitly!

3) Let's face it: MIDI sounds dodgy and naff, and I am always ashamed if someone else hears it... sure, a useful tool to help compose... but in terms of selling yourself - Always try and use a live performance.. if you start small, then people will take notice and you might be able to get bigger ensembles playing works.

[montpellier]

1. No of course not - but its such a useful skill to learn, that it should be encouraged anyway.. you will find that your score-reading will improve dramatically, as your general musicality.

Ha! You've hit on something there. Your music will start to look and be practical rather than looking clever and difficult!

COMPOSERS NEED TO GET OUT OF THEIR SHELL!!

Some hope! Most of those here spend their time on the internet - it's more comfortable than going out making your own music, not to mention the headaches of all the organising and persuasion. :)

[Michael Sollis]

Ha! You've hit on something there. Your music will start to look and be practical rather than looking clever and difficult!

Some hope! Most of those here spend their time on the internet - it's more comfortable than going out making your own music, not to mention the headaches of all the organising and persuasion. ;)

So tell me then friend.... do you count yourself as someone who writes clever and difficult music? And do you count yourself as a composer who looks out of their shell??? I'm not sure where your coming from :)

Although I agree.. writing music is the easy part.. the organising part is the hard one.

[montpellier]

So tell me then friend.... do you count yourself as someone who writes clever and difficult music?

Not at all! Like every composer, bits of my music are difficult but I go out of my way to make them easier appearance-wise. You soon learn, when rehearsing your own work, to keep things as simple as possible.

And do you count yourself as a composer who looks out of their shell??? I'm not sure where your coming from :P

I took you to mean that composers shouldn't work too much in isolation. I don't. I still believe that live music is where it's at. Composing, with no chance to play live is not for me. My musical education included the idea that no one should compose without playing. But that's just me. Unfortunately my current work situation doesn't allow much time for that but I'm using what I have to compose new work and revise some earlier stuff that's been on the back burner too long. I still keep in touch with a couple of students with whom I play music, given the chance.

How about you?

:)

[Michael Sollis]

Not at all! Like every composer, bits of my music are difficult but I go out of my way to make them easier appearance-wise. You soon learn, when rehearsing your own work, to keep things as simple as possible.

I took you to mean that composers shouldn't work too much in isolation. I don't. I still believe that live music is where it's at. Composing, with no chance to play live is not for me. My musical education included the idea that no one should compose without playing. But that's just me. Unfortunately my current work situation doesn't allow much time for that but I'm using what I have to compose new work and revise some earlier stuff that's been on the back burner too long. I still keep in touch with a couple of students with whom I play music, given the chance.

How about you?

:)

Oh I totally agree with everything you've said - and I would never really write anymore unless I anticipated it being performed in the near future...

Unfortunently I don't get the chance to play an instrument regularly - one of my biggest regrets.. I'm just not that good :)