My compositions for piano

[nedgerhart]

I have a modest little website where 15 of my complete piano pieces can be downloaded for free, both as PDF documents or MP3 audio. I am languishing in obscurity as an unpublished composer. For a long time, I have been trying to convince a long list of music publishers (without success) that my music would be fantastic "supplemental" material for piano lessons. You are all piano students and teachers...what do you think?

https://www.nedgerhart.com

My compositions for piano are really "standard songs": usually 32 bars in length and AABA in form. I am not selling my music through this website...it is a completely non-commercial site. I have composed more than seventy-five pieces like these, and I am working on new ones all the time. Please have a look and listen!

Ned

[pianistimo]

you're a very creative composer.  unfortunately, for both of us, we like the sound of open chords.  maybe the fact that beginners have smaller hands, it would behoove us to reign in the chords?  what did your publishers say?  maybe that is not the problem to them at all.  what came to mind for me is that several of the pieces grew tiring rhythmically, too.  maybe a few more rests in some - and more 'voices' in others.  but, don't feel bad.  you can always rework and come up with a similar idea that is publishable.  or, if you feel it already is ready - just do what you did and put only the first page of your works on the internet.  if people like it, they'll order it (either by score or book) and you might not have to publish it via professional book, but rather by print-out ability of internet user.  you're already 90% ready!

ps.  i think because of the basic layout of your pieces, they are well suited to seniors learning piano for the first time.  i will print these pieces out and try them over at the local assisted living center.  these adults have large enough hands to easily reach the lh passages and some right hand held notes (with thirds in other fingers).  this would be fun and challenging - and not too terribly hard.  plus, there's lots of humor.  and, an astute sense of how to introduce flats and sharps for a beginner.

'when roses bloom' has some great ideas - but i think, too, you could write in a quarter or eighth rest (half note changed to dotted quarter /dotted quarter changed to quarter + eighth rest) and that you should try more contrary motion of the hands (instead of playing octaves together going down) and no 'chunk' harmony (rh chords) *possibly changed to rolled chord?  if i were you, i'd hone my theory skills to reign in the chords.  that's my biggest criticism to keep your music from too much repetitiveness occasionally.

[Derek]

I dunno, seniors might have trouble remembering the complex jazz chords he has in his pieces!

I've already posted about your pieces on another site, but why don't you post these in the Audition room, that's where we share most of our works. You might get a few more views that way.

[nedgerhart]

...or, if you feel it already is ready - just do what you did and put only the first page of your works on the internet.  if people like it, they'll order it (either by score or book) and you might not have to publish it via professional book, but rather by print-out ability of internet user.  you're already 90% ready!

I am actually contemplating self-publishing at this point, after years of rejections. You probably have already noticed, but publishers, if they agree to look at music at all, never comment on it in rejection notices.  I was always more interested in being a musician than a businessman, but I guess there is really no choice.

Maybe I should find some sort of composition contest to enter (ha) or get some piano publication to write a nice review (any journal spring to mind?), or find endorsments from star players if I can (miracles happen).

Altogether I have 80 of this type of "song" for piano...just 15 are available right now at my website. I plan to continue to make these 15 freely downloadable. I think most actually are rather unique, but the format and style has remained consistant.

So I have some options. Would it be better to produce one giant book containing all 80, which might end up with a price tag of $30, or split them in to 4 volumes of 20 pieces each, and asking 12-15 bucks for them?  The large single volume would be more convenient for me, but the price I'd need might be off-putting for a lot of people. 

For the remaining 65 not currently on display, should I provide full-length mp3 audios for each? It would have to be done with Finale, since I really can't play piano all that well. Finale-generated performances always sound a bit stiff, and I couldn't afford to have a quality pianist make professional recordings.  Concerning sample notation via PDF, wouldn't first 8 bars or so of each piece be enough of a sample?

I have also had the suggestion that I offer all the pieces "a la carte", at maybe 3 bucks a pop. I would have them all listed on-line with a "shopping cart" sort of package.  Is that a crazy idea?

Ned

[instromp]

I like your music alot! It definetly sounds as words could be added to it,while i was listening i was kinda singing a few words to it,lol . I am going to try and learn a few of them.I really like "October in Paris" and "Hopeful Waltz".

[alwaystheangel]

the recordings are very good for computer generated! Thank you for sharing this website!  My students are unfortunately not at the level of you rmusic but my mothers students are so I'll definately show her these pieces.  Thank you and excellent! Good luck publishing them!  (I like the idea of a big book for 20) Considering most music is 35-50 these days 20 isn't a big deal,  If thas USD it's a bit more for us Canucks but it would be worth it.

[nedgerhart]

Thanks. I makes a difference to hear some approval after so many polite rejections in the past. I should have stepped into these music forums ages ago.

Glad you like the single volume approach. Anyone else have an opinion?

Another question: What do you think about online shops that don't accept credit cards? It is expensive to do this, especially for small time operators, and I am never certain how many books per month people would buy. You would need to be a little more motivated if you had to print a form and mail a check.  There is a definite convenience factor to making a credit card purchase online. But at the same time, it can be disquieting to divulge this information to small web-stores. So, some folks would actually prefer to send a check. I have been reading about PayPal too. Anyone use this regularly?

Ned

[alwaystheangel]

I hear paypal is really the way to go, It's very safe, when I buy stuff on e-bay, I walwas use paypal.  You should think of having a staore on e-bay instead of just off your website,  I think that people feel more comfortable with a company that is really good about making sure there are no scams.  It also broadens your possible clientele, to people that are just surfing and not just people that find out through forums as there is really a limited number.