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So I’ve been working on my Splunge Music business page a lot these past few days. I found a new plugin for online selling, and I’ve been busy negotiating the learning curve. I think I’m pretty happy with it, and I’m eager to see how it will work from the buyers perspective. I’ve done my own test transaction, but it would be nice to get some feedback from a sampling of other folks.
So this is where I try to turn on the charm and ask for volunteers….!
If you have a couple bucks and some time to spare and are willing to be a guinea pig, then head on over to the Splunge Music web page, and I would be pleased and honored for you to buy one of my pieces. Any of the Solo Piano pieces are just $2.00, and after you complete the transaction you should be able to download and print the score. After you’re done, I’d be very keen to get an e-mail or some comments on how smooth the experience went for you, how the score looks on your printer, and any kind of feedback that will help me make the system work better before I start adding more titles and trying to promote it as much as possible.
Thanks in advance to any who choose to give it a shot!!
I am pretty keen to start producing a CD this year. I have three pretty solid ideas for CDs that I *want* to do, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each concept. I decided to bang some of these out and possibly get some input from those who are tuned in to my psycho-regurgitations…
#1 – Royalty Free Music Collection
This would be an actual produced CD of the pieces I’ve released in podcast form and which are already available for download. In the online released form, these pieces are free for use in non-commercial work, and anyone who wants to use it in a commercial setting would pay a very nominal fee. The CD versions would automatically grant commercial use by purchasing the CD. The collection is currently a mix of mostly classical masterpieces, plus a smattering of original works and short “sting” type segments.
Advantages
Least production time – There’s almost enough music right now for a CD release. I have some basic artwork already completed.
Least financial outlay – There is just the expense of CD production.
Exposure for possible commissions – People buying this type of CD are looking for music for their projects.
Disadvantages
Limited Market – This isn’t really a CD for folks to buy and just listen to for enjoyment.
Slower return – Goes with above. Even with a higher price point, it will take longer to sell this type of CD. Probably a couple years before even breaking even.
#2 – “Soundcrafts”
Original compositions and arrangements. Many (probably almost all ) of them completely digitally orchestrated.
Advantages
Marketable – Certainly more marketable than #1. Those that like this kind of thing might even listen to it more than once!
Easier to produce – Still requires more than #1, but not as much as #3. Confident I could still complete work in 2010.
Most intellectually satisfying – I would enjoy the whole process of putting this together and making it as interesting as possible.
Disadvantages
Least artistic/professional – Despite efforts at sound quality & expression, the computer-produced works will come across as such to trained listeners.
Could lack cohesion – My work has varied and that will likely have an impact on the overall sound.
Hard to categorize (goes with above) – Not really “electronic” music, and not always strictly an orchestral sound.
#3 – Solo Piano Music
This would be a CD of me playing a variety of solo piano music, including some classical works, original pieces, a standard or two, and possibly some “show tune” type things.
Advantages
More marketable – This would (hopefully) be the most easy to sell, and therefore get a quicker return on the investment of production.
More artistic – Definitely more interesting and artistic, both personally and for any potential audience.
Disadvantages
Much Higher cost – I would be recording professionally in a studio. Would probably require begging for pre-orders or even producers.
Longer to produce – This would certainly take longer to complete (probably in to 2011). Requires more discipline and just plain more work.
Less cohesive – With a such a mix of genre’s, the mishmash factor might make it challenging to market. (Might also be an advantage, I suppose…)
So… Very curious… Which one would YOU buy…?
(Hopefully a LOL or two will be had by folks who choose to read…)
So, this was an interesting day. Today looked to be the only day this week that I would have a chance to get in to work, between the snow and being away for Farpoint this weekend. Things actually started off relatively smoothly. I got the car out from under a partial snowdrift and mobile much easier than I anticipated. The drive in to work was incident-free. I accomplished everything I needed to, and also configured some automated away messages for the online store, my e-mail accounts, and the phone system.
Then, I decided to swing by the old house to check in and make sure everything was okay. On the Baltimore beltway, I hit a rather large piece of debris. I was following a large truck and had other vehicles on both sides, so there was no way to avoid hitting it. It looked an awful lot like a taped-up trash bag with a box or something inside, as it had corners. Maybe it was a little Redneck Borg Ship, or something… I cringed as I heard it scrape under the car, and saw it emerge into my rear-view mirror and watched as the vehicle behind me also ran over it. I didn’t notice any other sounds after and everything seemed okay, so I feel rather lucky that this was all there was to it…
The streets around the old house were absolutely a disaster! What plowing and shoveling that was done left huge piles of snow all haphazardly distributed. I felt like I was on a 4WD obstacle course just along the 2 short side streets to the house. I found a cleared area right near the back and parked where I could also keep a constant look out to make sure I could see when and if somebody returned to claim this spot.
Getting IN to the house was a bit of a chore. The first thing I noticed after accomplishing this momentous task, was that it was quite a bit colder than it should have been. I checked the thermostat, and listened. The furnace didn’t seem to be working… Uh-oh… I had a nightmare flash of frozen water pipes. I checked in on the furnace… turned it off and on again, and waited… It made some sounds like it wanted to turn on, but nothin’! At this time, I noticed that the snow was starting to fall… I cranked up the built-in gas space heater in the basement while I tried to figure out what in blazes (or lack thereof) was wrong.
Of course, I had removed all my tools from the old house after completing all the work I was doing… but I scrounged up an old screwdriver, turned off the furnace, and removed the vent to check the blower motor. Well… wouldn’t ya know… A dead bird.
A couple years ago, my friend Jim’s dad came and rescued me with this very same problem… This is why I decided to check this first. (This year, for sure, I will be getting a chimney cap put on…!)
I pulled the bird out using a plastic grocery bag as a mitten. (I named him “Squawkee”… Last time it was “Fluffy” I think…) I also pulled out a feather or two… then replaced the vent and turned it on. Thankfully, it snapped right on and sang like a bird… (Sorry, Squawkee… no offense intended…)
I turned off the space heater and hung out a bit longer just to make sure everything seemed okay… and then trudged through the thigh-deep snow back to the car and drove again through the snowbstacle course out of the neighborhood.
Traffic coming back was a bit insane. In 2 areas along the Baltimore Beltway, the right two lanes were closed with bulldozers attempting to clear some of the snow off the beltway and over the concrete divider along the shoulder. The backup for the side street to Giant made me quite glad that I had no need (or irrational desire) to try and go buy stuff.
Thankfully, I don’t need to be anywhere until Thursday. And I’m sure what difficulties I had today are relatively tame in comparison to some of the issues some folks out there may be having.
Be careful out there, folks!!
So one of my current projects that is in-the-works is a collection of pieces for unaccompanied solo trumpet. I’m now shooting to put together a suite of about 5 short pieces, two of which are already complete. One could argue this project settled into place based on a pay-it-forward type dare.
I wrote the first piece for a LiveJournal meme thing where I agreed to write three short pieces of music for people, provided they agreed to create something for three others. The first is the piece titled (overheard) and is essentially an un-sung setting of a short poem by Robert Geise. The performance of (overheard) and working with the trumpet player, Dr. Jon Cresci, was very pleasant. The idea came up of doing more, so I had the brain child of a suite of short 1 minute-or-so pieces called “Trumpet Poems”. All going with the same concept of setting poems to a melody, but to be played by the trumpet and not sung.
The second piece I completed recently, but haven’t really talked about it much. I composed three a cappella choral settings of poems by William Blake quite a few years ago. One of these three choral settings was stylistically close to (overheard) and this made it easy to translate over for the solo trumpet.
So, now I want to do at least another 3 pieces for this suite, and this is where I’m asking for contributions of poetry!!
I’m looking for some short poems. Essentially, they will undergo the same process as these other two pieces. I will set the words to a melodic line as a songwriter might, but instead of being sung they will be played on the trumpet. The text will appear in the actual printed musical score, and the poet will be specified in any copyright notice as owning the copyright for the text. The poem may possibly be recited by a performer or put in the program notes for a recital, but is otherwise not a part of the performance of the work as a musical composition and is best thought of as inspiring the piece.
This would be a collaboration and (hopefully) very cross-promotional. No payments would exchange hands, but new audiences should be found for both based on this connection. The poet will certainly receive a copy of the sheet music, and any recording of the first performance when it becomes available. I’ll talk up the poet whenever I talk about the piece and also link to any desired web page for any that may want more information, and would ask the same.
So if this sounds of interest, let me mention two key things I’m looking for in a poem for this project…
It should be relatively short. Something that can be recited in 1 or 2 minutes.
Since the first two pieces are relatively slow, I’m particularly looking for some poems that may translate into a fast or active piece of music.
If you want to send me something, please comment to this post or send it to the e-mail on my Contact page.
I have to hear something in my head in the first read or two before I can really decide if something will work. Chances are pretty good, though, that I’ll be able to use whatever may get sent, or if you are kind enough to send something I will definitely look at some other poems and find something that will work! If you really want to work with me on this, then I really want to work with you!
So it has been almost 3 months without a posting or a Royalty Free Music podcast! Distractions have been high, and look to continue at least into March.
The house remains vacant. Although, I did just finally receive what looks to be the first decent response to the Craigs List posting. I am hoping to get some tenants in by the end of the month. I am also talking with a couple potential property managers.
I have completed a music project recently, that I’m excited about sharing. For now, details will have to wait as it was essentially completed on spec and is awaiting an official acceptance. Another project is in the works, which I will be posting another entry about shortly. I will probably be performing in a recital or two over the summer, and it looks like The Clams of Wisdom are going to start rehearsing again after a lengthy but necessary hiatus. We have our eyes on submitting to perform in a folk festival later in the fall. Cross your fingers for us!
Farpoint is coming up next week! There shall be copies of my two audiobooks available, and I am in charge of our Con Ops department. If history is any guide, I could end up getting dragged into another item or two of programming for the weekend. We have some interesting guests coming, and there are several new friends coming as well as old friends I haven’t seen in AGES. This should certainly be one of the more noteworthy years.
My mother is moving back to Maryland, and I shall be flying down to Florida the first weekend in March to drive back with her.
We are in the midst of what shall be a record-breaking snowstorm right now. I’m likely to be stuck in the house until Tuesday. So, perhaps, I can find some time to do another post or two and produce another Royalty Free selection!
So the 15 week Introduction to Music Theory Class I taught at The Maryland Academy of Music wrapped up last week. I had a nice little graduation ceremony for the students and presented certificates as well as professionally engraved editions of their final project compositions. I learned quite a bit teaching this class, and know exactly how I intend to teach it the next time. I’m thinking maybe in Spring for the another session, and it would be nice to get a few more students next time. Having three was a good number for the first run, and all three of the students want to continue in another kind of class. I’m leaning toward doing a 6-8 week Songwriting Class to give me time to formulate a second Music Theory session to include things like 4-part writing, counterpoint, and maybe some analysis of musical forms.
The Royalty Free Music Collection podcast has somewhat stagnated. Mostly due to the continued work of getting my old house ready to rent. I’m still confident that I can have enough for a CD to produce in time for Farpoint in February. Recent exciting news for Farpoint was the announcement of additional guests: Matt Frewer and Lee Arenberg are now coming in addition to the previously announced Mira Furlan and Felicia Day. I have to say that this is one of the most interesting and exciting guest line-ups that I have seen for a Farpoint. And… I’ve seen more than a few, I’ll put it that way.
It doesn’t look likely that The Clams will be doing an official Christmas Sing-A-Long show this year. Although there is talk of playing out with some cases open, or even doing an informal thing for friends here at the house. We did get a checking account set up for the group, and will shortly be offering some of our home-produced tracks for download. We’re hoping it can start to generate some income and allow us to get into the recording studio.
My blogging has been rather sporadic lately, due to energy drains in other areas. I’m going to try and get back to posting something weekly. Ideas would be welcome, so if anyone out there listening would like to hear some talk or comments on a particular music subject then please let me know! You may regret getting me started on babbling, but chances are I’ll have SOMETHING reasonably valid, interesting and/or entertaining to say if it’s a music-related subject.
It’s been a very busy few months. I have successfully moved to my new location in Pikesville, and gotten relatively settled in. I’ve also done a LOT of work at the old place to get it ready for rent. It looks better than it probably has for a great number of years. A good chunk of that work is complete, and I want to thank some wonderful friends for donating some of their time and energy to help: Keith, Lynne, June, Renfield, and Benj… THANKS!!! There are still some things to cross off the list, but I’m confident that these will get done relatively soon and we’re finally at a point where it seems a bit more manageable, at least.
Of course, now comes the energy and effort to get it rented. And we’re leading into a poor time of year for this, because getting it ready took so much longer than I anticipated. So if anyone out there knows anyone who might be interested in renting a place on the SW side of Baltimore about 2 miles from UMBC, I would definitely appreciate a lead. I will be taking some photos and setting up a linkable web page to help promote it within the next week.
I’ve just done a new Royalty Free Music Collection podcast and the first one in almost 2 months. I’m planning to do another sting week next week, since that should be a little easier to manage than a more lengthy piece. Even though I still have a lot to accomplish outside of the podcast, it was psychologically helpful to release something as it makes me feel like things are settling back to being normal. I’m still reasonably sure that I’ll have enough for a CD release before the end of the year, which is exciting. I’m going to start planning the packaging for this quite soon.
One of the main goals for 2010 is to create and produce some tracks (original works, digitally orchestrated) to sell via individual download, now that there will be a nice body of pieces available for free with a requested donation. I’m also hoping I can budget to go into a recording studio and record some piano playing, since I have about 4 pieces for sure I’m interested in recording professionally, possibly a few others.
That’s all for now… Here’s hoping I don’t take another 2 months to write a substantial update!
So the bulk of my relocation tasks are complete. I also needed to take Thunderball (my Mac Pro) to have an AirPort card installed to take advantage of the wireless network here at the new place. I just brought it back and hooked it up moments ago. I can tell it’s a lot faster. And here I am, linked in again!
I made sure that one of the first things I did was the next Royalty Free Music Collection podcast, since that has been on hold while I move. It feels nice to get rolling with that again. This selection brings us to over 50 minutes of royalty free music. After about another 20 minutes or so, it will be time to produce a CD with the commercial versions.
The music theory class has gotten off to a good start. I’ve already made some decisions on changes, should I have an opportunity to teach another session. I’m also learning that I will need to hold back on detail in some cases as to avoid confusion. It’s a strange situation to be in, as I feel like I want to answer questions in as great a detail as possible. But I really do need to consider the bigger picture and save some detail for later, realizing that some things really need to be absorbed before moving on to the real answer to the immediate question.
I shall be teaching a Music Theory Class on Monday evenings in Columbia starting August 3rd.
This is the first group class I’ve ever done, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops…
The release schedule for Royalty Free Music Collection offerings will be sporadic over the next 8-12 weeks.
I am currently in the process of moving and getting my house ready for rental. Shortly after this process is done, I’m going to be in the middle of the busiest time of year for work and will probably be working 6 days a week.
I’m hopeful that things will settle down by about the second week of October. My current goal is to have enough music by the end of November to prepare and release the first volume of the commercial CD version of this collection.
Thanks, and happy listening!
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