How Far Do You Think The Music Of Fellow Yc-Composers That We Hear In Yc (I.e. The Music Of Yc) Influences The Music Of Each One Of Us Yc Composers?

I would suspect that unconsciously at least we are all influencing each other.

For me, this site is mostly giving me an experience how NOT to compose, especially for my students. We analyse the pieces and we point out positive and promising things and especially flaws.

For me, this site is mostly giving me an experience how NOT to compose, especially for my students. We analyse the pieces and we point out positive and promising things and especially flaws.

Well, if you are finding so many "flaws" I think it would be a discourtesy not to post specifically what you mean in a review.

For me, this site is mostly giving me an experience how NOT to compose, especially for my students. We analyse the pieces and we point out positive and promising things and especially flaws.

I'm afraid, this seems to be a rather typical comment from you, Sojar. May I also join P7rv in requesting you share any useful feedback, either positive or negative, about our works on YC?

I recall reading that you identify yourself as one of the better-known composers in your country, yet you rarely offer criticism, preferring, instead, to post these types of comments in which, often, the only point you raise is a perceived badly chosen category of submission. Yet, this is a site for, wait for it, young composers, who have more to learn and would much rather hear these constructive thoughts from you and your students instead of those which I have already described.

At the moment, YC members seem to benefit your students by showing them "hot NOT to compose". I'd like to see the rest of us on YC feel some of this benefit.

To be fair, I've received my fair share of useful reviews (along with not-so-useful and even bashful ones from a few other members).

I can tell YC's influence in my own compositions by the way I have been increasingly willing to try new things in music. Perhaps someone might say I don't really know what I'm doing in terms of musical theory or the "common practice language", yet I've felt that my works have taken greater risks since they began to be exposed to YC. Also, I've heard a few quality works by several other members which in turn have opened my eyes to things I barely deemed possible. Granted, we have no major, estabilished composers in our ranks (Sojar being perhaps the best known, at least in his home Slovenia) - but yet we have been able to influence each other to some degree.

Hopefully I'm not influencing anyone into mediocrity.

I'd also be very gratefull to hear more when it comes to "how NOT to compose"

All this talk about "How NOT to compose" has reminded me of a book I remember I had long ago read called "How NOT to play chess"! I wonder whether that negative approach is really effective by the way. I would think one actually learns from positive examples, rather than from identifying and avoiding negative ones.

Constructive criticism is mostly negative AND positive on itself lol. 

I can speak for myself that the music I listen here does have influenced me somehow. And yes, most of them are by Sojar Voglar. I really liked Sarastro's compositions, but I haven't seen him here any more...

Most of influences here are from stimulus for composing (for a competition, a challenge or just to share), and from the inspiration that comes after listening to some posted music.

For me the most interesting thing about this site is seeing composing through a different (more academic) lens.  Primarily for financial reasons, I am a self taught musician/composer.  When I work on a piece it feels very visceral and in the moment.  Sometimes I 'feel' why something works or doesn't but I don't always have the terminology or theory to explain it well or even maybe understand it as well as others here.  Ergo, being able to listen to pieces and hear thought from people who are classically trained and have advanced degrees in music gives me an opportunity to learn and grow in ways I might not be able to otherwise.  This is the power of the internet at work. 

And hopefully it is working to add to my education a little at a time.  :)

Like Christian, I often get inspired by the competitions, challenges, and listening opportunities provided.  I don't ever expect to win but the trying in and of itself is enough for me, sometimes even after a challenge has closed I will continues to play with ideas and instruments I might not have otherwise.  

So yes, I find I am influenced by other composers here to try things outside of my comfort zone.   

Edited July 30, 201411 yr by Nocturnal Adagio

For me, this site is mostly giving me an experience how NOT to compose, especially for my students. We analyse the pieces and we point out positive and promising things and especially flaws.

That's pretty exploitive. You owe these people royalties.