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How to be a successful modern band composer

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:07 am
by JCYS
Recently, I have downloading literally hundreds of those "free on line" band music publisher mp3's. In listening to them, I have come to several conclusions about todays band music composer and music:


1. First of all, and most important, your first name must be Robert, Mark, James or David, any other name means you won't sell as much.
2. If you have a talent for melody, make sure you none for orchestration, and vice versa.
3. If you write a piece that sells well, make sure you re-write it at least 8 times. Invert the melodic line, make some small changes, but enough that everyone knows its basically the same piece. When you get declining sales on those pieces, then start re-writing it at lower grade levels with the SAME name.
4. If writing pieces for young band, always include this word in the title:
Canyon, Lake, Valley, Mountain, Festival, Galaxy, Soaring, River. If you are in doubt, add "Into the" before these. If you really want good sales, add a exclamation point after the title.
5. "In memoriam" pieces are big sellers. Make sure they include a hymn somewhere in them. You can literally make an entire career on these.
6. If you want the piece to sound really profound, make sure there is singing somewhere in it.
7. When writing for young band always include some sort of pseudo native American sounding section, and make sure the title conforms to #4 above.
8. If you are a total genius on the same level as Mozart (and you know it) make sure you publish your own pieces and they are only available on line AND FOR RENTAL ONLY.
9. When you want to write a piece that will "break your mold" and show everyone you really can write something great and different, make sure its in a jazz idiom.
10. Don't write marches. If you have to, make sure they are grade 1.
11. You can NEVER write too much Christmas music.

PS- if you don't have a sense of humor, please ignore this post.

Re: How to be a successful modern band composer

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:56 pm
by Hostrauser
Fantastic. And there are so many "name" band composers that fall into these categories I don't even know where to start.

Re: How to be a successful modern band composer

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:11 pm
by bassoonuba
I love numbers 4 and 9! So true... so true.

Re: How to be a successful modern band composer

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:52 am
by Maestro!
You left out the recurring woodwind motifs in mix meter. Those always make a concert piece exciting, and transferable to the field.

:|

Re: How to be a successful modern band composer

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 9:15 am
by Bakensobek707
Oh man, this gave me a good laugh this morning. Nice observations, this will come in handy for me! :rotf:

Re: How to be a successful modern band composer

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:56 pm
by enobmort1974
I think I could add this:

-To maintain the interest of ever-shortening attention spans, make sure to include clapping, snapping or pencil tapping.

Re: How to be a successful modern band composer

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 10:16 pm
by 12tonerow
JCYS wrote: 10. Don't write marches. If you have to, make sure they are grade
Yeah, what's this all about? Actually, I shouldn't complain - that's the market I'd love to crack into...;-)