A (not so) brief introduction for myself

Hello everyone...

I just joined the community last night. I found about your site the day before yesterday, and was instantly impressed - this is a great way to get feedback for our creative proccesses, esp. when our self-confidence is a bit shaky. This community is full of talented and knowledgeable people who can provide valuable guidance, advice and feedback for amateurs like me. I wish I'd find this way earlier in my career, but nevertheless, the time for it was now and I'm very glad of joining.

At 33 I'm not exactly a 'young' composer, but have been in love with music since childhood, and I began composing at my early teens (I intend to post some of this early works here in the following weeks). I couldn't pull myself into formal musical studies but for a few scattered classes, however, so I'm almost completely and utterly self-taught.

Sadly, my country (Costa Rica) has very little to offer in terms of opportunities for artists, esp. for classical-styled composers. So I've had to make my living as a lawyer and political scientist (nothing to be ashamed about, Tchaikovsky was also a lawyer, Borodin a chemist and Charles Ives an insurance manager). Hence I'm just a part-time composer who actually plays no instrument besides the guitar (but then again, so was Berlioz).

But a few people have taken my musical works seriously at times. My Second Symphony made it to the finals of an international composition contest in 1997 (sorry to say it didn't win), and the next year one of my orchestal Suites was privately performed (albeit only once) by the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica. But as by then I had no access to neither feedback nor composing software, I virtually ceased composing for a while (the aforementioned pieces, along with a First Symphony composed at the age of 16 and a few short piano pieces, were completely hand-written).

Some years later (around 2003), a friend of mine managed to get Finale 2001a for me. Of course it's way obsolete by today's standards, but at least it allowed me to get back into composing, as well as revising my early works (so don't expect high quality sound files from me). However, and despite the availability of this software, I can't devote as much of my time to composing as I'd wish, so my output has been rather slow, especially from 2007 to 2010.

In fact I would have dropped my musical dreams altogether, if not for the continued support of my family plus one or two friends (including the guy who got the Finale for me).

My preferred style is a late Romantic approach (which you can easily tell from my fav composers), although I also feel capable of doing Neoclassical; I have not quite grasped the avant-garde idioms of middle-to-late 20th century. As of my output, it is mainly intended for full orchestra or large ensambles, as well as solo piano. I've also tried my hand at a few different ensembles (one string quartet, one piano trio, one string serenade, one short piece for flute and strings).

But this is enough for an introduction. Thanks in advance...

Robert F. Beers

PD. Might wonder why did I pick 'Austenite' as my username...

Hello! It's nice to meet you! Definitely don't give up on your music!! :) It's always nice to meet new people here on YC.

Age is just a number. I'm 31 and turn 32 this may... it's nice to see more people in my age group :)

Liz: your encouragement is very, very welcome! Thanks a lot for your support.

JA Woodruff: like you say, "age is just a number". I haven't shaken away the feeling that I'm still a "beginner", and will always have a lot to learn, so I guess that makes me a (figuratively) "young" composer. Anyway, it's nice to see I'm not the only thirty-something around.

Well, we're all part of the same generation (with the exception of those members who are over 40 and those younger than 12 or so). You and I, just happen to be part of the cooler end of the generation ;)

Great story! Seems like eventually real life hits everyone and you have to start making money. Good to have you here!

Great story! Seems like eventually real life hits everyone and you have to start making money. Good to have you here!

Thanks for your encouragement, sir!