My I have your opinion on this post?

[flyinpianoman]

I have just posted this on a yahoo group, sheet music sharing message board in response to the group being dissolved because of copyright and file-sharing issues. 

What is your opinion?

Good evening, everyone.

I just wanted to speak from a composer/songwriter point of view.

For those that don't know me, my name is Jerry A. Greene. I am a
composer/songwriter/producer living and working in San Antonio, TX USA.

I have been writing for about 11 years and pursued a degree in music
theory/composition from Montclair State U. in NJ.

I have been watching the internet technology from the first days of
email and browsers. I have always used and embraced the technology in
the best way that I could. I have seen file sharing communities come
and go with mixed emotions. As everyone here, I like having the
ability to get sheet music (and mp3s) IMMEDIATELY, without leaving
home! This world revolves around the concepts of "Speed and ease".
Unfortuntely, it also has a "If I don't have to pay for it...all the
better!" attitude.

Yes, it's great to save money. Who doesn't want to???

But think about it....

If you don't pay for the music, you end up hurting someone that
created the music you adore. This person creates music, from their
heart, with the hope of somehow being able to make a living doing so.
This comes very close to home for me...and I'm sure you understand why.

Now some of you, that already know me, may be saying..."But you give
your sheet music out for FREE on your site!!!"

This is true. But the reason I do so, is to be able to share what I
do, through my music, with others that may not otherwise give me the
chance to do so. Hopefully, if the like my music enough, they may
help me later, by purchasing music I put up for sale at a later date.

If you enjoy a composer's/songwriter's music, then you should purchase
it from them. It is SUPPORTING what they do and allowing them to make
a living, and gives them a major reason to keep creating.

Basically...stop allowing writers to make a living from their
music...and they will stop creating. It's a simple as that. I'm sure
you all know of people that have pursued the music business and have
decided to go a different direction. Life in the music business is
not easy...as in many other things.

I hope that you do not take my words as "preaching". I just want you
to see it from the point of view that I see it...and understanding why
respecting copyright is so important.

All the best,

Jerry A. Greene
JAG Music, Multimedia & Publishing
Come Listen to and Get Free Sheet Music!!!
by: Composer, Songwriter & Producer Jerry A. Greene
https://FreeSheetMusic.JAGMMP.COM

[ted]

Strangely enough, I don't think I have any CDs or scores I haven't paid for. I don't use scores very much but when I do get one it's much the same as buying a book I really like - I enjoy having a fine edition of it to keep for life rather than a messy collection of copied sheets. It's the same with recordings. I like a well presented CD and everything that goes with it. On occasions people have given me tapes of things but if I like them I buy the CDs anyway. Unfortunately I cannot honestly claim this is entirely a correct or moral decision, but more a personal preference which happens to coincide with the right thing.

As far as my own music is concerned I have taken considerable pains over the years to earn my living in other ways to support my musical independence. The fact is that I do dish out any of my recordings and scores (my own creations I mean) for free to anybody who wants them. Do you think this is morally reprehensible ? I suppose in some ways it could be construed as such. Suppose I were to start teaching people for nothing. I'm sure many local teachers would take a decidedly dim view of me !

I know you meant the question the other way around and in that sense I have no worries, but do you think I am morally free to give away my own music and services ?

My own internet technique is to contact the composer directly and ask him how much he wants for a recording or a score. Over the past few years everyone I have approached in this way has been most generous and helpful for only marginally greater sums than I would pay in the shops. So the answer, I guess,  is that I respect other people's professionalism while giving away anything of my own. I'm not sure whether this is right or wrong - never really stopped to think about it - too idealistic I suppose !

[Phillip]

I sympathise with your views.  I feel that a lot of living composers are let down by their publishers not apparently making any effort to police unauthorised free distribution of their works via the web.  For those (like me) who want to fill gaps in their collections of out-of-copyright scores, the web remains a fabulous resource.

Phillip

[Dazzer]

well for me i do download lots of scores. why? because its simply just too hard when i have to order something from overseas to get to here, especially when it comes to hard to find pieces.

Over here its quite hard to actually BUY scores that you want. the only other option is to  go to a library and? photocopy! which is basically the same thing

though that said, i only download public source material. if its copyrighted i stay away.

and since i only play classical... i'm doing okay

i aspire to be a song writer and a pianist one day... so i definately understand your view.

[flyinpianoman]

Hello Everyone,

First I want to thank everyone that has read my post and those that have posted a reply to this thread.

Speaking for myself, I enjoy making music and being able to share it with others.  As "oneofmany", in another piano forum had stated about classical composers, I am truly honored to be able to even have someone want to play/listen to my music to begin with.

As of this writing I have 369 people, all over the world, that have raised their hand and told me they enjoy my music (by signing up for my free sheet music program since January 12, 2005).  This is simply amazing to me!  If I died today, I would feel that I had "made it" a successful composer/songwriter.

The internet has given me the ability to do this.  I enjoy corresponding with people that have joined my program.

Let me share a message I received from one of my members:

----Last night I gave my son the music for "As My Baby Sleeps". Well actually, I just left it on the piano hoping that he would find it :-) He did and he kept going back to it then coming in and telling me what a 'really nice' piece of music he had found.

Today he had 3 friends over, all from his class at school (all play the piano well). As I passed through the music room I noticed each child playing it. Then I heard two of them playing it together on the 2 pianos in there. A lovely moment.

After lunch, my son played the piece to me by heart. It's beautiful.

Now I can hear him play Among the Stars. Ahhhh.

Thanks, Jerry

Helen
------------------------------------------------

Receiving messages like this one is what it is all about for me.  The money is secondary.

Unfortunately, we all have to make a living somehow.  I teach music privately, and tune pianos for my main income.  I do, someday, hope to make most of my living directly from my music.  I do write commercial songs and hope to get them on major labels.  Mainly, I want to do my own music for my fans.

As far as my free program goes...I will continue to do it for as long as I can.  People enjoy my music and that is all that matters to me. 

Have a nice afternoon,

Jerry A. Greene
JAG Music, Multimedia & Publishing
Come Listen to and Get Free Sheet Music!!!
by: Composer, Songwriter & Producer Jerry A. Greene
https://FreeSheetMusic.JAGMMP.COM

[etudes]

normally i do find only the score i cant find in the book shop like hamelin volodos horowitz transcriptions or something like you have to pay for 20 euros per one piece and wait 3 or 4 weeks
thanks