Michael Cooke

Today, I want to share two important lessons from my recent experiences in composing and music notation.

1. The Importance of File Formats and Backups

Last week, my progress in composing was slower than anticipated – I managed to add only about 50 seconds to my composition. This was partly due to other projects taking precedence. One significant task was rescuing compositions for Dr. Mark Alburger, the founder of SFCCO, who sadly passed away last summer. We’re organizing a memorial concert for him titled “Leaving a Mark,” but faced challenges with various music notation software.

Some of his music was in the now obsolete Encore software, while others were in Finale and Musescore. As a regular Finale user, handling the pieces in this format was straightforward, allowing me to seamlessly generate parts. Musescore, having recently undergone an update, has become more user-friendly. However, familiarizing myself with its nuances, particularly in exporting parts, presented a bit of a learning curve that I navigated with interest. The biggest hurdle was the Encore files. I tried several methods, including attempting to compile software tool for conversion. Eventually, the simplest solution was using an old laptop that could run an older version of Encore. This allowed me to convert files into MusicXML for use in Finale or Sibelius.

This experience taught me the vital importance of keeping scores and parts in accessible formats like PDF and MusicXML. I almost lost my first symphony, which was in DOS-based software. Thankfully, I had printed copies, though it still requires re-entering it into a modern music notation program.

2. The Value of Detailed Planning and Notes

The second lesson concerns the current piece I’m writing. I never anticipated such a long pause in its creation, leading to insufficient notes on my plans. While the overarching ideas and concepts were clear, the detailed, section-by-section plans were lost in my memory due to the extended break. This resulted in significant delays as I tried to recall and reconstruct my original plans.

This was a major oversight on my part, as I usually document thoroughly, especially for longer pieces. My usual practice includes taking notes of any good ideas, even for later sections. The key takeaway here for fellow composers is the importance of documenting your plans comprehensively. Ensure that you have enough details about your themes and ideas so that it’s easy to pick up where you left off, even after a long pause. This approach can save you from having to re-conceptualize parts of your work.

Both these lessons have been poignant reminders my approach to composition and music notation. I hope sharing them helps you avoid similar pitfalls and enhances your creative process.

Stay tuned for more updates on my compositions.

Tags: democracy, in progress

This entry was posted on Monday, January 15th, 2024 at 6:00 am and is filed under In Progress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.