Thoughts for a Thursday...

        Technology has made it available for composers and arrangers (including myself) to publish their own music compositions and arrangements.

         I see a lot of music because I write for this blog as well as for two, quarterly publications. Based on my experiences, I would like to offer a few 'tips' . . .

* Be sure to consider page turns when setting up your lay-out. If you have to move a measure or two over to the next page, or vice-versa, it is well worth it to those playing your music. 
* When you choose the paper to print on, be sure it is heavy enough so that the music does not show through to the other side. 
* Find someone to look at  your creation and give you feed-back. It could be another harpist, or even another professional musician. (plus it is great to get that encouragement as you go along!)
* If you are un-sure how to properly notate all or part of your creation, seek help from someone. Again, it might not even be a harpist, just someone who is knowledgeable about how to notate music properly.
* When you publish your wonderful creation, be sure to include your copyright information, as well as contact info so people can find you. Someone may need more copies, or maybe they want to ask you any variety of questions!

Perhaps you have other challenges as an arranger/composer. Please drop me a note and we can chat and share more ideas!

A Walk in the Woods

Greetings from snowy Northwest Ohio. I am writing today to tell you about an exceptional book of compositions which I recently discovered.

A Walk in the Woods is a collection of 'colorful solos' by Kathryn Cater. I purchased this book from Eve Stone of Stoney End Harps as I was looking through her music bins at an event. What a marvelous publication! (Thanks, Eve!)

The 9 selections are all descriptive in nature with titles like Barefoot Wanderer, Tango of the Owls and Secret Agent Super Bunny.  The selections in this collection are ideal for a program or recital, I like this idea of "Program Music".

Features in this unique, early intermediate to intermediate collection include: syncopation (love, love love!), crossing hands, tapping on the sounding board, glisses, harmonics, rolled chords and pres de la table (PDLT).

Cater includes a few thoughts about each of her creations, which is a nice personal touch when giving a recital or program. This collection will go into my gig bag and never come out!

I hesitate to tell you about this book...I would like to keep it just for myself!!! :-)

Enjoy...and Kathryn...keep up the good work! (I also keep her book called Adagios nearby as well!)

A Walk in the Woods is published by Afghan Press, 2013.