Selling actual sheet music online

[baton999]

I'm an experienced arranger/composer. I've got several (15+) pops symphonic orchestral arrangements of Public Domain songs I'd like to sell online. I'm not, financially, in the same league as Hal Lenoard, etc., but feel there is a place for me. I need advice on getting my arrangements into the proper format. Presently, they're on my iBook G3, in MIDI, and are being put through a Kurz 2500 R for sounds. I like the sounds coming from the Kurz, though I do have Finale 2007. However, I'd have to update my iBook to a better, faster computer. Also, I'm using Performer (not DP). I know I have to expand this set up, but am not sure which road to take. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance-
Bo
baton999@comcast.net

[Grilled_Cheese]

I'm not real familiar with mac...

What exactly are you trying to do? Convert your MIDI file into something that sounds good?

Some good symphony/orchestra plug-ins are:

Garritan Personal Orchestra
MOTU Symphonic Instrument

I'd take a look at those and see if your computer could handle them.

I'm pretty sure they have a MAC version.

[DavidK]

I am not sure what you are saying. You certainly dont want to put a midi file up. If you are putting samples up, make it an mp3 of the recorded Kurzweill or Finale sounds.

<-------------- Symphony Violinist.

[cmhansen]

Are you thinking of selling your sheet music over the internet? If that's the question you're asking, I'd say do it digitally in PDF form.

To get it into that form though, you're going to need a music notation program, or other music program (my Logic program has a score writer), to change the midi file into notation. Then you'll need a PDF writer ( like Adobe=Big Bucks ) or PDF virtual printer (there are some free ones on the internet but most of them are for personal use only. You can buy a license from them for very little money though and use it commercially).

[DavidK]

Originally Posted by cmhansen

Are you thinking of selling your sheet music over the internet? If that's the question you're asking, I'd say do it digitally in PDF form.

Maybe, but not for Symphonic Pops arrangements. No symphony in the world will deal with anything like that, they want normal sheet music and fear technology. Not even the score, conductors need a real score in their hands. I am amazed that many of my symphony geek colleagues dont even OWN computers.

The only thing I can think of would be having an mp3 of the arrangements so that they could be heard. I just made a CD for Ludwig music (publisher), we ( a small orchestra) recorded arrangements geared for high school orchestras. The CD will be sent to the schools and the teachers can order the ones they like. Something like that is the way to go, or the internet version of having mp3 samples to listen to.

[cmhansen]

Originally Posted by DavidK

Maybe, but not for Symphonic Pops arrangements. No symphony in the world will deal with anything like that, they want normal sheet music and fear technology. Not even the score, conductors need a real score in their hands. I am amazed that many of my symphony geek colleagues dont even OWN computers.

Guess I should have read the post a little better. Symphonic scores are much more involved then the guitar tabs and sheet music that I'm converting into PDF's. Yeah, if you're shopping them to orchestra's or symphonies you'll need more than a PDF.

The MP3 music is probably the way to go.

[TuoKaerf]

If you are setting up a website, the best thing to have would be at least MP3 download samples (or some form of streaming audio) along with maybe a PDF or JPEG sample of the score.

One trick that was sort of mentioned is to send out sample CDs of your works to high school band directors. I work with high school music programs, and many directors "discover" new music this way.

Also, if you want a super cheap way to make those recordings, debut your music with high school or small college groups. Give a local director a call and ask if they'd be interested in playing some of your work. Record the concert, or in a rehearsal.