Young Composers Music Forum - View Single Post

Abracadabra · #17 (**permalink**) Aug 13 2007, 12:12 PM

What made you join this site?
I became interesting in composing and searched for a composer’s forum. This one appealed to me the most, mainly because it’s easy to navigate and I like the way it’s laid out on the screen. I find the earthy colors to be peaceful and uncluttered.
What made you stay?
This forum seems to offer what I was originally looking for, and I haven’t really seen anything better for my purposes.
Are you looking for different music forum solutions? If so, why?
I’m not actively searching, but if I came across something better I’d probably spend more time there. But so far I haven’t seen anything that has a better feel to it. The people here seem to be pretty decent, helpful, and give honest constructive criticism on pieces.
If applicable, why are you thinking about leaving?
n/a
What makes this site different than other music sites, such as Sound Click?
I haven’t really been to that many other sites. But I like the direct feedback with other composers of all levels, whether they are experts, or just starting out. All ideas are interesting.
How long are your visits here on average?
I typically leave my computer online all day. So it may appear that I’m logged in here almost 24 hours. But that doesn’t mean I’m here. I could be out mowing the lawn. I never shut the computer off and seldom log off sites. I just walk by every once in a while to see if there are any new pieces posted, or new feedback in threads I’ve posted to.
How is the communication factor on this site? Is it easy to contact and make new friends?
I didn’t really come here to socialize. I came to exchange ideas. I treat everyone I meet as a friendly as I possibly can. I’m a pantheist and to me the world is one.
Is YC fun?
When I want to have fun I’d take my motorcycle for a ride.
Is YC boring?
I didn’t come here for entertainment. I came to use this forum as a serious workshop to improve my composition skills. It was my impression that this is supposed to be the purpose of this site.
Suggestions on improvement?
Someone already posted to encourage people to post more midi when possible. I certainly second that. I think they are better tools for learning and sharing composition ideas.

I would like to see people discouraged from using this site as a showcase to showoff completely finished polished pieces that they really don’t even want feedback on other than praise. It seems to me there are plenty of sites on the Internet for that purpose.

I think the midi files are a more useful “tool” for learning and sharing the actual music. So I would like to see their use encouraged. I’m not saying that mp3 files should be discourage, but I feel that midi files should be encouraged to be posted along side them and the purpose of this site as a workshop for composers should be emphasized.

If the site turns into nothing more than a showcase for finished pieces then I’ll lose interest in it for sure. That’s just not what I had set out looking for. I’m looking for a “workshop” atmosphere. So far this site has provided that. But I see things leaning toward a “showcase” atmosphere which would cause me to leave.

So I would like to see the administration take steps to encourage the workshop atmosphere and discourage the showcase atmosphere. I don't think this needs to be done with mandatory rules, but rather just by the use of reminder statements and requests to keep people thinking in terms of it being a workshop for exchanging ideas and helping each other out rather than just a place to show off finished polished pieces in search of praise. I think there are plenty of sites on the Internet for that.