Composing Music: A New Approach
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • An excellent self-teaching method for aspiring composers
  • Nice book-Gave me Ideas
  • fails to teach application of theoretical principles well
  • Clear, logical, complete.
  • Inspirational
Composing Music: A New Approach
William Russo
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

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ASIN: 0226732169

Book Description

Aimed at those who have some knowledge of music but not formal training in composition, this concise introduction to composing starts right in with a brief composition exercise, then proceeds step by step through a series of increasingly complex and challenging problems, gradually expanding the student's musical grammar.

"This is a wonderful book for anyone who is developing improvising skills or who would like a fun way to explore music."—Jim Stockford, Co-Evolution Quarterly

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars An excellent self-teaching method for aspiring composers.......2007-09-26

I picked this book up a few years ago, and am still getting a lot out of the exercises. The processes used are very refreshing, from a music student's perspective. The approach is from the view of more contemporary music, and the text leaves out the stuffy, "unnecessary" theory. If you want to study theory, get a theory book.

This book is designed to teach the individual who has little experience outside of very basic music fundamentals. From the first page you'll be writing "mini-compositions". The book works through the following concepts (chapter by chapter):

1. The Cell, the Row, and Some Scales
2. Harmony (I)
3. Transformation
4. The Small Theme and the Large Theme
5. More Scales and teh 12-tone Row
6 Isomelody and Isorhythm, Combined
7. Ostinato
8. Accompaniment Procedures
9. Harmony (II)
10. Counterpoint
11. Organum
12. Imitation: A Useful Game
13. Words and Music
14. Picture Music
15. Popular Music as a Source
16. Minimalism

Although you certainly don't need to have advanced theory knowledge to make use of this book, once you do gain those skills, the book will prove that much more helpful.

5 out of 5 stars Nice book-Gave me Ideas.......2005-10-03

If you are a real musician or lyricist, this book will help inspire you and give you some background in the format of western pop music. I recommend this book to any seroius songwriter, but please no more songs about butterflies!

2 out of 5 stars fails to teach application of theoretical principles well.......2004-05-24

I see that most people have high ratings for this book, but I cannot give it more than 2 stars for several reasons. First of all, the book does give a ton of exercises, but I didn't find these very useful--most of them were very simple exercises that had restrictions on how you could write the piece. This book does give much information about music theory, and the author does allow you to use this theory to write small (usually 10-15 bar) monophonic melodies, but by the end of the book this was all that I had learned to do. Yes, I did learn a lot of theory but I did not learn how to use the theoretical concept to its fullest potential when I composed a piece. At the end of the book, I found that, since the book gave me no practice at writing for more than one instrument at a time, I was not any better of a composer than I was at the start of the book.

In my opinion, the author should add a CD to the book to illustrate how each concept he teaches is used to its fullest potential in a musical example. A major part of learning to compose is to listen and imitate--without listening, how are you supposed to know how to use this new music theory that you have just learned?

Overall, the book is just a music theory book with a bunch of useless (to me, anyway) compositional exercises. Perhaps this book is for people who already have experience composing for a while. Personally, I am an ameateur and have piano skills and I wanted a book to teach me to compose, but I am afraid it did not help me very much, and I don't think it will help other ameateurs either.

5 out of 5 stars Clear, logical, complete........2004-01-14

The book's author is clearly influenced by minimalism not only in his approach to music, but also to writing and music instruction. His clearly modal approach to both melody and harmony is presented in superbly logical and fluff-free sequence of explanations and exercises. Some of advanced chapters on topics such as mating lyrics with music or writing picture music are brilliant as well.

5 out of 5 stars Inspirational.......2002-11-26

This is one of the best "How to" books I have ever read on any subject.

It works on several levels. Even though it takes a "beginners" approach to introducing many topics, it doesn't shy away from "real" music. For example, even the first simple exercise contains something different - 5/4 time. A beginner will simultaneously learn the basics of chord progressions and melody writing, stripped down to the bare essentials, while delving into modern techniques like 12-tone rows and picture music.

The key to the book is the concept of restricting the musical palette by some simple rules, to prevent the budding composer being overwhelmed by the possibilities. Right from the first page, you are working on real composition examples.

Even though the book is not particularly aimed at computer music or sequencing, electronic music enthusiasts should find it useful. A lot of the minimalist techniques are ideal for sequencing. Plus, if your musical background is pretty basic, and you are looking to broaden it with a mix of traditional and contemporary techniques, this book should take you a long way.

By its very nature, a book like this can only touch on some areas. So you will probably want to supplement it with some other material if, for example, you want a bit more detail on counterpoint. Still, it manages to cover a huge amount of ground, with the most detail where it counts most - developing and harmonising melodies, and a very good section on writing music to lyrics (ie songwriting).

One last point - a lot of theory and composition books miss the mark with contemporary musicians because they approach the subject from the purely "classical" angle of cadence and resolution. This book is soundly classical in its approach to harmonisation and melodic development, but uses the comfortable pop/jazz approach to chord progressions, so it shouldn't lose any reader.

Highly recommended!
Writing the Broadway Musical
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good basics
  • Thorough, Well-Organized Guide for Playwrights
  • Power-packed handbook
  • 176 pages of solid advice
  • Writing the Broadway Musical
Writing the Broadway Musical
Aaron Frankel
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306809435

Book Description

A classic updated to include the developments of the 1990s-the first book to explore in detail how to create a Broadway musical

Brimming with advice and techniques, this essential reference for book and song writers clearly explains the fundamentals of the three crafts of a musical-book, music, and lyrics. Using copious examples from classic shows, Frankel has created the quintessential musical writers' how-to. Among the topics:

- Definitions of musical theater
- Differences between musical books and straight plays and between poetry and lyrics
- What a score is and how it develops
- How to write for the voice
- How to audition musicals for producers

With a new introduction and revised text, Frankel's work is ready to guide a new generation of aspiring writers.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Good basics.......2006-01-18

This book gives a good foundation for basic elements of a musical script. I bought this wanting to write a musical script but not necessarily the lyrics/musical score and am a complete novice - was a bit lost on the different musicals it quoted. However another book that is quite "meaty" in terms of how to write a compelling gripping story/script for theatre is "The Writers Journey" surname is Vogler. What Frankel says is that the book or story needs to be written first before appropriate lyrics/musical score can be created. So I would have gone straight to this book first. Good as reference but can borrow from library, not a must have.

5 out of 5 stars Thorough, Well-Organized Guide for Playwrights.......2004-09-03

Frankel's concise, clear volume on writing large-scale musicals is a welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to understand how this peculiar theatrical genre works-- when it does. By focusing on two artistically successful, well-known pieces in the canon-- "My Fair Lady" as a well-executed classic musical with linear plot, "Company" (my personal favorite) as a well-executed plotless musical whose songs move character forward--, Frankel can support his intelligent teaching points with concrete yet familiar examples. I'm very happy to see this book back in print.

5 out of 5 stars Power-packed handbook.......2001-05-17

In only 192 pages, Frankel presents writing for the musical theatre from the perspective of the book writer, lyricist and composer -- and how each contributes to the whole. Enough specifics for each to gain a better appreciation of the others' unique contributions. The book would be an excellent introductory text for a musical theate workshop. Most examples from My Fair Lady are illustrative and excellent; other examples from Company were less helpful (as that show was less successful). Highly recommended for those working on musical to keep near at hand.

5 out of 5 stars 176 pages of solid advice.......2000-12-30

Many of today's top talents in musicals on and off Broadway have studied with Aaron Frankel. Now anyone can learn the ropes from this honored director and instructor in a step-by-step guide that makes for good reading whether you are a writer, composer, or simply an avid theatergoer. I enjoyed the previous edition and found this revised and updated one an even more interesting read.

5 out of 5 stars Writing the Broadway Musical.......2000-10-24

Aaron Frankel writes with the voice of helpful and comprehensive experience. He is a writer - and teacher - of the highest order, and there are important points made in this book that are of great value to actors, directors and producers, as well as the playwrights for whom the book is primarily intended. Mr. Frankel is one of the few authors who expresses himself with both a clear, accessible style and a with a talent for engaging the reader every step of the way.
From Score To Screen: Sequencers, Scores And Second ThoughtsThe New Film Scoring Process
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Overall: good
  • Rock-solid advice from someone whose been there
  • EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE & A CONFIDENCE BUILDER
  • Informative, practical, and thoughtful.
  • Extremely useful real world advice.
From Score To Screen: Sequencers, Scores And Second ThoughtsThe New Film Scoring Process
Sonny Kompanek
Manufacturer: Schirmer Trade Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0825673089
Release Date: 2004-09-01

Book Description

Scoring for film has changed dramatically over the past twenty years. With the advent of MIDI, sequencers and low-cost recording gear, just about any composer anywhere can score a film. Well-known composer Sonny Kompanek teaches this new film scoring process at prestigious New York University and now he shares his secrets within the pages of From Score to Screen. Learn about the cast of professionals you'll work with as a film composer. Find out how to meet people in the business, network, and create a promotional demo. Learn how to compose themes and battle writers' block. Understand how to preview a score with the director and manage requested changes. And know how to make a director happy with your work. With this book, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can put into action immediately. SELLING POINTS: This is the only book that discusses the new film scoring process which utilizes the latest technology. Written by revered film composer, Sonny Kompanek. Ideal for any composer interested in film music, from beginner to advanced.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Overall: good.......2007-01-04

This is a good overview book of film music. I own and have read a variety of these types of books, and this holds pretty well. However, i would suggest the Berklee Press book by Richard Davis as well.

5 out of 5 stars Rock-solid advice from someone whose been there.......2006-06-27

An excellent book that takes it's title quite literally - From Score to Screen. This book DOES NOT teach you how to write a score, rather it assumes that you have a computer-sequenced score written and are now converting that midi mockup into a full orchestral recording in a professional recording studio with a large orchestra and several helper professionals to assist you. As such, this book does a wonderful job in covering, very specifically, the nuts and bolts of part extraction, conducting ,and just what all those helper professionals at the session (copyist, orchestrator, mixer) do. Although, obviously, I have never gone through this process, this certainly seems like rock-solid advice from someone whose been there (repeatedly).

5 out of 5 stars EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE & A CONFIDENCE BUILDER.......2006-04-01

This book offers a great start to anyone who has questions about film scoring - whether you're just curious or taking things quite seriously this book provides some very good insight. I currently don;t have the luxury of taking classes for Film Scoring and it is clear that Sonny Kompanek is a great teacher. Realistic, straightforward yet positive & hopeful - he provides some words of encouragement to those aspiring to break into this field as well as "cold hard facts."

Great Book!

5 out of 5 stars Informative, practical, and thoughtful........2005-04-28

Having just started in the business of writing music for film and television, I needed a new book to walk me through the practical aspects of film scoring. This book accomplishes that, and more. It goes through the step by step process by which a contemporary film composer can get work, interact with a director, creatively write a score, edit and tweak it, and record it in a studio environment. It's well written, very communicative, and has already helped me figure out where to go to drum up business, and how to write music for film quickly and confidently. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to write music for film and T.V.

5 out of 5 stars Extremely useful real world advice........2004-10-29

This is a wonderful book for anyone who is interested in the art of film scoring. "From Score to Screen" contains an abundance of great advice for beginning film scorers as well as composers who are more established. Topics include: score preparation and how to make the live orchestra session run smoothly, as well as advice and tips on converting a midi mockup to a full orchestra recording. Great insight from an expert.
Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition (Media and Popularculture)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Broad approach
  • this book is great
Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition (Media and Popularculture)
Thomas B. Holmes
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415936446

Book Description

Electronic $ Experimental Music is a second edition of a well-known text on the history of electronic music. Holmes' original book, first published in 1985, was a good beginner's introduction both to the theories of electronic sound and sound production and to the history of some of the earliest experiments in instrument building and composition.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Broad approach.......2005-09-30

This book covers a large scope of musicians and technicians who were involved in electronic and electric music from the early 1900's to the present day. It is written in a fairly comprihensive style and centres upon the impacts that technology has had upon c20 music. A facinating read. Highly recommended for broad insights into the intentions of most electronic composers. I was rather happy to see a brief section on DJ Olive actually - this shows that Homles does not merely wish to stick to mentioning composers that the masses often only know by name. Splendid stuff. Couldn't find much wrong with it really. Take a preview of the contents page for yourself for a general idea.

5 out of 5 stars this book is great.......2005-08-04

this book is an incredible study of electronic music. holmes discusses the history of electronic instruments, from the beginning, including the pre-theramin era, and finishing with some information regarding current electronic and experimental music.

although some sections of this book are a little dry, i feel the author did an acceptable job of conveying the excitement and freshness of the early electronic era. the section which discusses the creation of the soundtrack for the movie "forbidden planet" is just excellent. in fact, i purchased the movie (from amazon), so that i could hear the "strange" electronic tones which constitute the soundtrack.

being primarily interested in analog synthesizers, this book opened my eyes to an entirely new world of unpitched music experiments and compositions. in fact, a section is included on stockhausen, who was a heavy inspiration for the german band kraftwerk.

yes, i recommend this book, as a great amount of information is contained therein. in addition to mere data, this book really got me thinking about electronics and electronic music; specifically, the impact of analog synthesis on modern musical society.
Otto Laske: Navigating New Musical Horizons (Contributions to the Study of Music and Dance)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Otto Laske: Navigating New Musical Horizons (Contributions to the Study of Music and Dance)

    Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 031330632X

    Book Description

    Revolutionary approaches to compositional practice and musicological research have been associated with Otto Laske's work for over a quarter of a century. Laske's scientific understanding of the compositional process has made it possible to systematically formalize computer-assisted and computer synthesized music. In this book, international scholars survey new directions in compositional and musicological practices as influenced by Laske's pioneering work. These two seemingly independent areas of inquiry, composition,and musicology, are presented as a comprehensive integration. The essays offer an interdisciplinary examination of issues imbued with ethnographic considerations of the musical experience, research in perception and brain functions, the design of computer-based neural networks that emulate human musical activities, investigations into the psychological make-up of artists, and a unique perspective on how computers are used in many different areas of music. Compositional and cognitive musicological research are placed in a historical perspective and accompanied with contemporary issues surrounding this research. An interview with Otto Laske and two of his own essays are also included. This study of Otto Laske will appeal to musicologists and students of music theory and composition. Its interdisciplinary content will also interest scholars in a variety of fields including electronic music, ethnomusicology, computer science, artificial intelligence and other cognitive sciences, psychology, and philosophy. Researchers will appreciate the comprehensive bibliography of Laske's compositions and writings.
    Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Very detailed account of early rock music
    • Good Book About The Era
    • Back in the Day
    • Briefly, a hit
    • Great read - that music will never sound the same again
    Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era
    Ken Emerson
    Manufacturer: Viking Adult
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0670034568

    Book Description

    Always Magic in the Air is a family portrait of fourteen remarkable young songwriters who, huddled in midtown Manhattan's Brill Building and in 1650 Broadway during the late 1950s and early '60s, crafted rock 'n' roll's first entries in the Great American Songbook—classics like Elvis Presley's “Jailhouse Rock,” Dionne Warwick's “Walk on By,” the Crystals' “Uptown,” the Shirelles' “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and the Righteous Brothers' “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'.” Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, Neil Sedaka and Howie Greenfield, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich melded black, white, and Latino sounds before multiculturalism became a concept, integrated audiences before America desegregated its schools, and brought a new social consciousness to pop music.

    Evoking a period when fear and frivolity, sputniks and hula-hoops simultaneously girdled the globe, Ken Emerson—author of the acclaimed Doo-Dah!: Stephen Foster and the Rise of American Popular Culture—describes the world that made these songwriters, the world they in turn made in their music, and the impact on their careers, partnerships, and marriages when the Beatles, Dylan, and drugs ripped those worlds asunder. The stories behind their songs make the “golden oldies” we take for granted sound brand new and more moving and eloquent than we ever suspected.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Very detailed account of early rock music.......2007-07-06

    The amount of detail in this book is amazing. Not for the casual music listener, but great for those of us who grew up in the golden age of rock and roll. This book fills in many of the blanks for us hard core music fans who want to know the stories behind the songs.

    4 out of 5 stars Good Book About The Era.......2007-06-16

    Just a couple of things to add to the other comments here:

    Writer must have a grudge against Steve Lawrence/Eydie Gorme as he insults them every 10 pages.

    Very little is said about the actual musicians in the book, only the songwriters.

    But a couple of incredible nuggets, that several Bacharach-David tunes had drummers using one stick and one brush. And that "A House Is Not A Home" refers to a bordello.

    In the coda, book makes a brief note about Carole King's Tapestry, which is still one of the biggest selling records of all time. Carol, more than anyone besides Sedaka, bridged gap between songwriter and performer.

    4 out of 5 stars Back in the Day.......2007-05-12

    This "just the facts ma'am" book chronicles a fascinating time when songwriting made the leap from tin pan alley sentimentality to sophisticated pop (hard to believe they called it rock and roll!) with many fascinating personalities and future pop stars. If early rock and roll history is your bag, dude, then this is fun, well researched book.

    5 out of 5 stars Briefly, a hit.......2007-01-21

    The other reviews are so long, I thought I'd sum them up. They're right.

    If you think you'd like this, you will. You're guaranteed to pick up some interesting new details, while getting a context for the creation of many of rock n' roll's most enduring songs.

    5 out of 5 stars Great read - that music will never sound the same again.......2006-07-14

    I didn't know what to think - a serious book about the fluff and and the writers of pre-Beatles Rock 'n Roll!

    Well, this is a great one. Well written, and an easy read, it is chock full of stories about the songs I grew up on in the 60's. It has given me a new appreciation and respect for that music and its' creators. The author qualifies this book with a comment about it not being comprehensive or encyclopedic. No apologies necessary. He does justice to the material covered, and does not pretend to cover it all, just an important part of the New York music scene of its' day. I will be reading it again in a few months. I can't wait to re-read those stories about how these songs came to be written and recorded.
    The 21st Century Voice: Contemporary and Traditional Extra-Normal Voice (New Instrumentation)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The 21st Century Voice: Contemporary and Traditional Extra-Normal Voice (New Instrumentation)
      Michael Edward Edgerton
      Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 081085354X

      Book Description

      The 21st Century Voice is a unified and comprehensive examination of extra-normal vocal production. This work addresses history, science, and religion and documents a wide variety of compositional and performance trends as it explores the seemingly limitless possibilities of the human voice in the 21st Century.
      Notes from the Metalevel: An Introduction to Computer Composition (Studies on New Music Research)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • One of the best newer books on algorithmic composition
      • Algorithmic Composition
      • A must-have book for computer-assisted music composers
      Notes from the Metalevel: An Introduction to Computer Composition (Studies on New Music Research)
      Heinrich Taube
      Manufacturer: Routledge
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      1. Musimathics, Volume 1: The Mathematical Foundations of Music Musimathics, Volume 1: The Mathematical Foundations of Music
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      3. Computer Models of Musical Creativity Computer Models of Musical Creativity
      4. An Open Design for Computer-Aided Algorithmic Music Composition: athenaCL An Open Design for Computer-Aided Algorithmic Music Composition: athenaCL
      5. Composing Music with Computers (Music Technology) Composing Music with Computers (Music Technology)

      ASIN: 9026519753

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars One of the best newer books on algorithmic composition.......2007-07-07

      This book is a practical introduction to computer composition. Its intended audience is student composers interested in learning how computation can provide them with a new paradigm for musical composition. The book therefore uses an accessible example-based approach to explain essential concepts and techniques, showing how these techniques can be integrated into the composer's own creative work. One of the most exciting aspects of computer-based composition is that it does not require years of formal music theory training to understand. Thus if you have a high-school math background and are interested in experimenting with music composition using MIDI and audio synthesis programs, this book is for you. This book will also be of use to computer science and engineering students who are interested in the artistic applications of object-oriented programming techniques and music software design. The book is full of examples and exercises for the reader to perform, study, modify, and adapt to their own musical purposes. All of the examples are available on the accompanying CD. In addition to the many short examples, the book contains a nmber of "Etudes" chapters that appear at regular intervals throughout the book. These are large structured projects that explore some particular technique or topic in detail.

      This book is divided into two parts. The first nine chapters comprise an introduction to music programming in the Lisp language. Chapter 1 is introductory, but chapters 2 through 9 give a good selective introduction to computer programming techniques in Lisp. By selective I mean that these chapters are specifically relevant to the material presented in the second part of the book and to musical programming in general. The second half of the book, chapters 10 through 24, provide an introduction to the essential concepts and techniques of computer composition. The first few chapters of this part of the book discuss the representation of sound, musical structure, algorithms, and processes. The material in the remaining chapters can be grouped into four areas of discussion: algorithmic design, mapping and transformations, aleatoric composition, and pattern-based composition. An appendix to the book contains pointers to Lisp documentation that can be found online. Highly recommended to the reader interested in algorithmic composition from a non-application specific point of view.

      5 out of 5 stars Algorithmic Composition.......2007-01-10

      A very well written text on using algorithmic techniques in Lisp for compositional elements. Excellent for class and individual study.

      5 out of 5 stars A must-have book for computer-assisted music composers.......2005-12-29

      I reviewed this book for the Computer Music Journal, giving it an overwhelmingly positive review. Since then I've re-read the book in its entirety, and my opinion has changed somewhat: If Amazon had six stars to give then I'd give it all six. :)

      This is a first-class book for anyone interested in using the computer for music composition. Be forewarned though, it is not a guide to GarageBand or any other MIDI sequencer or hard-disk recorder. The author uses his own Common Music progamming language as the basis for an exploration into techniques and methods of making music that would be most unlikely without the assistance of the computer. Btw, the Common Music software is included with the book, in packages for Windows, Linux, and the Mac, so you can work with the book's examples immediately.

      The text is clear and easy to understand, reflecting the author's experience as an educator. The examples are helpful and open-ended, lending themselves to further explorations. In addition to the regular examples the book includes a number of more extended projects based on work by composers such as Steve Reich and Gyorgy Ligeti.

      No previous experience with a music progamming language is necessary, but if you have a background in Lisp or another object-oriented language you'll feel right at home with this book's Lisp-based example code. If you know nothing about programming the book's first chapters will bring you quickly up to speed on the basics needed to work with the rest of it.

      The cost is a bit high, but the paperback edition is sturdy and well-printed, so I'll echo my CMJ review and state again that this book is worth every penny of its purchase price.
      Music for New Media: Composing for Videogames, Web Sites, Presentations and Other Interactive Media (Book & CD)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Easy to read with examples
      Music for New Media: Composing for Videogames, Web Sites, Presentations and Other Interactive Media (Book & CD)
      Paul Hoffert
      Manufacturer: Berklee Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      Instruction & StudyInstruction & Study | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      MIDI, Mixers, etc.MIDI, Mixers, etc. | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      SongwritingSongwriting | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      InternetInternet | Home Computing | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books | Internet & Education | Online Searching | Web Browsers | Web for Kids
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      ASIN: 0876390645

      Book Description

      Videogames, web sites, and other new media are creating more opportunities for contemporary music writers than have ever existed before. In this book, you will learn to write effectively for these new forms, mastering the devices, sounds, and techniques for supporting stories and responding to user actions. It details the technical and dramatic requirements necessary for each type of new media. In engaging language, illustrated by countless real-world examples and practical workshops, writers at all levels will find ways to create music for new markets, and find new opportunities for creative expression. Guided hands-on projects will help you create music in all these forms. A CD of examples and practice files illustrates all concepts and lets you practice the techniques. Readers will learn to: * Score videogames, developing music for different characters, addressing the standard types of scenes and cues, and the formats required by game publishers * Develop music for web sites, including HTML and Flash code * Use sound technologies within mobile devices to create distinctive ringtones and other sounds * Create demos and portfolios for getting clients.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Easy to read with examples.......2007-02-15

      This book is a wonderful, easy-to-read book that takes something that I thought was going to be complicated and make it simple. I had music of my own and wanted to make it available on the web and this book showed me how! It was so easy and the CD that comes along with the book has some wonderful examples! The table of contents is also a huge help if you need a quick answer...that will break the book down so you can find your answer quickly!
      A Singing Ambivalence: American Immigrants Between Old World and New, 1830-1930
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Drawing important connections between themes, immigrant group concerns, and how immigrants expressed themselves
      A Singing Ambivalence: American Immigrants Between Old World and New, 1830-1930
      Victor R. Greene
      Manufacturer: Kent State University Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      VoiceVoice | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      PopularPopular | Songbooks | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      CompositionComposition | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      TheoryTheory | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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      ASIN: 0873387945

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Drawing important connections between themes, immigrant group concerns, and how immigrants expressed themselves.......2006-01-06

      Nine key immigrant groups from Irish and Eastern Europeans to Chinese and Mexicans responded to their new lives in America through music, expressing the sorrow of leaving homeland and loved ones and the troubles experienced in fitting into a new society. Historian Victor Greene's A Singing Ambivalence: American Immigrants Between Old World And New, 1830-1930 surveys the music associated with these immigrants, drawing important connections between themes, immigrant group concerns, and how immigrants expressed themselves. From common sentiments to differing musical approaches, A Singing Ambivalence holds college-level information and insights suitable not just for music libraries, but for collections strong in immigrant issues and American history.

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