Music itself poses the most questions, and the least agreement as to what to do and how to do it.

For the purposes given here, I will assume:

  • Your Chapter has paid legitimate ASCAP fees for music in question (See message below)

  • You have a member-only site with a password-protected login that allows only members of your chapter into the site

    • In my opinion it is not enough to use the same password for all chapter members - that is not secure enough. You can use the free script for logging in using the BHS database (Clicc on Utilities above) or you can program our own database.

  • You have Music Notation software - examples (there are more)

    • From GVox (www.gvox.com)

      • MusicTimeOnline - free at Notationstation (in GVox)

      • MusicTime Deluxe - Offline Notation software: $99

      • Encore: $399

    • From Coda Music: www.codamusic.com

      • Printmusic 2001 $69.00

      • Allegro

      • Finale Allegro 2000: $175

      • Finale: $540 - Many SPEBSQSA arrangers now using Finale

  • If you bought the sheet music and paid ASCAP fees for learner distribution, you can scan the sheet music in, place one sheet on each Microsoft Word page, and print it to the PDFWriter. Members can then get their sheet music from your site.

  • Now suppose you are using MusicTimeOnline. You can ENTER your sheet music using the software. It will look very professional.

    • When it comes time to print it, select the PDF Writer Printer and create a PDF file. Place it on your website for download.

    • Save it also in MusicTimeOnline MUS or MTO format, and allow your men to download that version. This will be playable, so that men can connect to Notationstation, load MusicTImeOnline for free, and hear the music note- and pitch-perfect (still not as good as a quartet, but better than nothing). From the MUS or MTO file, the user can play one voice, or with a little training, any combination of voices to hear their parts in relation to other parts.

Regarding Downloads of music, we have the following communication:

Greetings-

Since we already have people talking about singing only "legal" music in contests and shows, it seems like a good time for those of you talking about this issue to mention that chapters and quartets that have their own websites need to make sure that the have the appropriate clearances/licenses to use performances of their respective performing units on their websites. Some music publishers absolutely refuse permission for any of the music to which they own rights to be published on any website. This would additionally apply to chapters that have their own "members only" section of a website where they put learning tapes/cds for their members.

So if you wish to mention this, that would be a good thing. If they start asking questions like "what type of permission or license do we need to obtain", tell them to proceed in the same manner as they would if they wanted to contact the copyright owner and seek a website (media) license. If it gets more detailed than that, have them call the Society office and talk either to Joe Liles or Colleen Theobold.
 

Thanx to all.

John Schneider