Nothing to waste: The advantage of being under-funded

Entrepreneur and programmer Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, talks about marketing as simply "being considerate" without need for fancy trappings:

Nothing to waste: The advantage of being under-funded

Source: sivers.org
Author: Derek Sivers


[This post also appears in my own EarRelevant blog. --mg]

The Music May Not Want to Be Free

In the upcoming July 6, 2009 issue of The New Yorker, reviewer Malcolm Gladwell takes on the technological utopian assumptions of WIRED editor Chris Anderson's book, Free.

Malcolm Gladwell reviews Free by Chris Anderson: Books: The New Yorker

Source: www.newyorker.com
BOOKS review of “Free: The Future of a Radical Price” (Hyperion; $26.99) by Chris Anderson. ... READ MORE in THE NEW YORKER

[This post also appears in my own EarRelevant blog.]

Scott Smalley Orchestration Seminar in Nashville survey

I went to this seminar last summer and found it helpful, Scott Smalley is an excellent teacher and has some great insight on orchestrating. Nashville is roughly 4 hours away and makes for a great weekend. You also get a thick book of scores and a CD of the scores he uses in class. I plan on going to the advanced one if they offer it.

This is from Geoff Koch, president of the Nashville Composers Association:

Hello everyone,

As many of you know, last year the Nashville Composers Association, along with the Film Music Network, brought Hollywood orchestrator and composer Scott Smalley to Nashville to hold one of his renowned orchestration seminars. We all considered it a great success, including Scott, who loved Nashville and wants to return. To that end, I've been working on bringing Scott back here for another seminar, hopefully later on this year. Scott also has an "advanced course" in the works in which attendees would study "traditional" orchestral works (e.g. Stravinsky, Mahler, etc.) for elements we can use in film scoring today, so having this new course here is a possibility.

The main sticking point is, in light of the slow economy, concern about potentially low attendance. So to help gage interest, I'd like to hear from those who would be willing to pay to attend a Scott Smalley "Art of Orchestration" seminar in Nashville, Tennessee, specifically:

1. Would you be willing to pay $350 for the 2-day course? (Keep in mind that this is for new attendees as those who have previously attended the course may attend again for free, if space is available; there may also be discounts for early sign-ups).

2. Which Smalley course would you be willing to attend -- the "Art of Orchestration" (emphasis on study of contemporary film scores), the "Advanced Course" (emphasis on study of traditional scores), or either?Please respond at your earliest convenience and forward this message to anyone who might be interested.Many thanks, everyone -- I look forward to hearing back from you!

Geoff Koch, NCA President

--> please send responses to gk@kochproductions.com

New Arts Blog in Town

FYI: I've recently learned that Pierre Ruhe, former AJC classical music critic, and Cathy Cox, former AJC visual art critic have started an arts blog. It's still a work in progress, but they have begun posting reviews and comments, so I wanted you to know about it. 

 

Cathy Cox writes, "We believe that thoughtful criticism is a key component of a vibrant arts community, not only as an important link between art and its audience but also as a platform for debate and dialogue. Both Pierre and I continue to contribute reviews and features to the AJC, but we feel --and your expressions of concern suggest you share this view-- that metro Atlanta needs more. We hope that our blog, www.artscriticATL.com, will help to fill the gap.

 

We intend to apply the same journalistic ethics and standards we have demonstrated throughout our careers and, as we add writers, will expect the same from them. So please bookmark our site, add your comments and keep us apprised of what you are doing. We hope to supply you with a steady stream of reviews, news and comments--your and ours."

Adam Scott Neal in recital

Hi all -

I will be back from New York briefly next week, and am performing piano recitals at two friends' houses (Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm). I will be playing selections from my CD Late Frost. Opening for me on Tuesday will be veena player Priya Chandrasekaran.

If you are interested in attending either night, please let me know (adamscottneal at gmail dot com) ASAP so I can reserve you a space (we are limited to 20 guests each night). Tuesday I'll be in Tucker, Wednesday in Powder Springs.

Thanks!
asn

Georgia Young Composers Festival

Georgia Young Composers Festival -- Saturday, May 16, 2009, 8:00 PM
The Guild has initiated the first ever choral music competition for student composers in Georgia's high schools, colleges and universities. Come hear the latest works by tomorrow's great composers presented in concert. A panel of judges will select the best compositions to receive a prize award. Our Performances page contains complete details about the concert. Visit the Festival Web Site to read about our student composers.

Tickets for the concert: Adults: $15
Seniors and students: $5
Click here to purchase tickets online.

Bent Frequency presents "Georgia In My Ear" - Tues 21 April @ 8pm

Bent Frequency presents "Georgia In My Ear" tomorrow, April 21 at 8pm in GSU's Kopleff Recital Hall, featuring music by Georgia composers Nickitas Demos, Mark Gresham, Lewis Nielson and Joel Puckett, and composer Vivienne Olive from Atlanta's sister city, Nuremberg, Germany.

Thanks to recent underwriting of the program through a CENCIA Grant from Georgia State University, admission to the concert is now FREE for all attending audience.

Program:

Nickitas Demos: Secret Music
Joel Puckett: Gunslingers
Mark Gresham: Mortal Coils (premiere)
Lewis Nielson: Danger Man
Vivienne Olive: Another Silly Love Song

Click image below to see full-sized graphic for the concert:

Rapido Composition Contest hosted by Atlanta Chamber Players

Ugh! Why does this cool stuff happen right in the middle of our wedding/honeymoon! Brian C. and I won't be able to do this, but maybe one of you can. Win it for Atlanta!

June 8 - 22, 2009
Sponsored by the Atlanta Chamber Players & The Antinori Foundationto promote new works for chamber ensemble by Southern composers

The Atlanta Chamber Players, a mixed ensemble of strings, winds & piano, were founded in 1976 and have premiered more than 65 works to Atlanta audiences, including commissions by John Harbison, Michael Gandolfi, Anne LeBaron and Jonathan Kramer. The group has performed in more than 250 cities in the U.S. and Europe and has five CD recordings in its discography.

THE COMPOSITION CONTEST:
An original movement of 4-6 minutes for mixed ensemble must be composed in 14 days! The Rapido!SM judges will award the first prize winner a commission to complete the work for premiere performance by the Atlanta Chamber Players in May 2010.

PRIZES:
Cash prizes total more than $6,000.Each finalist will receive $500 to be used for travel to Atlanta for Oct 09 competition concert.First Prize: $3500 award to compose additional 10-12 minutes of music Second Prize: $600 Third Prize: $400Audience Favorite Prize: $250

ELIGIBILITY: First 100 online registrantsResidents or full-time student residents of 11 southern states:(AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)Composers of all ages and levels of professional experienceCONTEST TIMELINE: June 1, 2009: Closing date for online registration at http://www.atlantachamberplayers.com/.

June 8, 2009: Announcement is made online and by email of required form and instrumentation of Rapido!SM composition entries. (Maximum group is quintet)

June 8, 2009 - June 22, 2009: Composers will have 14 days to write an original movement of 4-6 minutes based on strict requirements.

August 14, 2009: Announcement of up to four finalist compositions.

October 4, 2009: Finalist Compositions to be performed in concert by the Atlanta Chamber Players at the High Museum's Walter Hill Auditoriumin Atlanta.

April 1, 2010: First Prize Winning Commissioned Work of 14-18 minutes to be delivered to Atlanta Chamber Players for premiere performance inMay 2010.

For more information and to register for Rapido!SM please go to:http://www.atlantachamberplayers.com/.