Writing and Publishing

[JiggeryPokery]

I have written a small number of accordion songs in my time - not just "tunes" but full orchestrations and occasionally some lyrics. Some are basic, some are formulaic, some have hooks and some (in my own biased humble opinion) are pretty good. Are there are combinations of all those attributes in them too. Specifically for accordion I've done waltzes, reels, jigs, marches etc.

I don't think I am prolific enough to ever make a living from the royalties and I may not be talented enough (that's for others to decide) for anyone to ever want to play or record one of mine. But, I've always fancied at least trying to get some of them picked up by recording artists.

I've had half a look at copyrighting - that's all very doable. What I don't know is how to go about getting noticed or how to get people to even consider my compositions.

Has anyone ever tried anything similar? Has anyone been successful at it?

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Jiggery,

You could try a music producer. Failing that, contact your nearest College/University to see if their faculty of music may know of a route into the music industry.

Sorry, that's about all I've got.

 

[debra]

There are three separate issues: publishing, getting noticed and earning money.
I have decided long ago that I would like publishing and getting noticed but I dont need the money. That led me to do two things:
1) I set up a webpage with my arrangements and compositions. Whether this gets noticed at all depends on whether people know you a little bit in the music scene or not. A webpage can go unnoticed for a long time. You have to be careful about copyright when you make arrangements of stuff when the original composer has not died at least 50 years ago (and in many countries 70 years). With your own compositions no such problem exists. Some of the original compositions still have copyright but the rights holders do not often complain about an arrangement being published (so they can make money from the performances of the arrangements). I have so far only had one complaint. Apparently the publisher of the orchestra score did not want to earn money from performances by an accordion orchestra.
My webpage is http://www.de-bra.nl/arrangements.html
2) I registered as arranger and composer on imslp.org (the Petrucci Music Library) and submit arrangements and compositions there. The administrators are critical about quality (never been a problem for me) and extremely cautious about copyright. They will not accept an arrangement of something that still has copyright on it.
To publish without making money it is best to put a notice on the sheet music that you publish it under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
My page on imslp is http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:De_Bra,_Paul

 

[JiggeryPokery]

Thanks for the tips guys. Some avenues to follow there.

 

[TomBR]

George Garside of this forum has experience of selling self-published material, hopefully he'll be along before long.

In the UK copyright is inherent, you don't have to do anything apart from proving it's "yours" when needed. There are various ways people use of being able to prove the date they wrote something so that others can't come along and claim they wrote it first! (The old fashioned method of registered post to yourself in an unopened envelope doesn't seem to be approved of.)
Paul's suggestion of a website seems like the way to go. Include "taster" parts of works so people can choose, but have to pay for the whole thing?

Assuming your stuff is good (of course is is!) I guess it's a trade off of effort vs return.

Send demos to the performing artists who you think are most likely to use your material? (Though a well known English folk singer of my acquaintance reckons recorded music is dead as an income source, its only real function is in support of live gigs. So there may not be much money in it, just glory!)
Good luck!
Tom

 

[JiggeryPokery]

Thanks Tom; I'm not really looking to make money but I think I would about burst with pride if I ever received a royalties cheque.

I enjoy writing so that in itself is a pleasure; but the glory has an appeal. I've written some non-accordion stuff too, at the time I was really enjoying The Proclaimers so it definitely has their feel to it but I didn't write it with them specifically in mind. Once I get some time I will pop some of it on here and see what you guys think.

 

[Soulsaver]

Charnwood Publishing is a recognised route for publishing accordion music in the UK. http://www.musicforaccordion.com/search.aspx?t=2&p=Charnwood

Its owned & run by an amazing family of accordionists headed by Raymond & Anna Bodell.

I dont actually know the process but an email to them or a call may enlighten you... and subsequently us?