It would be nice to exchange views.........

[Boneman]

with more people.

I always pop in to see who is around and what they have had to say about this and that and the weather, but there does not seem to be much happening.

Where are the musical opinions about anything, the guidance when we seek help.

Come on people "SPEAK!"

[stevel]

Originally Posted by Boneman

with more people.

I always pop in to see who is around and what they have had to say about this and that and the weather, but there does not seem to be much happening.

Where are the musical opinions about anything, the guidance when we seek help.

Come on people "SPEAK!"

Kevin, forums are an interesting phenomenon. There are millions of them.

I have to say (and I don't mean this to be derogatory) that most people who come across forums like this are younger people - teenagers - after all, Maestro was in high school when he started this one.

As such, in most cases, they want to take part in the "person 2 person" fad that is sweeping the internet of late. And what they find is, chatting online in a forum is less interactive than say, using something like a chat room. Obviously, there are also all the dangers communicating with people you don't know. Furthermore, we're dealing with a specialized field here - despite our love of music, the general public is more into sports. Those that are interested in music are interesting in listening to music, not composing or analyzing it. And now, those young people who are interested, are into it largely because of video games. We have a youth culture (which includes many adults as well) who are heavy into the escapist/fantasy thing - so you notice, you see posts about that stuff.

When some kid comes on and says "Short Fat Fanny" is the bestist band ever", they're just wanting attention. That's the kind of stuff you see scrolling on MTV's TRL. I think people are looking for people with common interests, and this forum is not the place to find others who are into "pop" music in the same way most people are.

I will add, I have been curious about how people discovered this site. I noticed that initially, it was largely a British community, with a fair amount of posters from a few far flung places (you have to understand, I have the typical American mentality that we're the center of the universe :-) - actually, though, I mean because it's an English language site). I also noticed, at least initially, that most of the posters were also younger (or seemed younger by their tastes, writing style, experience, etc.)

Vic has begun posting on KVR's forums. That forum has a totally different population (I've been there for about a year).

TTW (Tony) has been posting on rec.music.theory (which I've been active on for over 12 years).

I've got to say that this forum has the most conducive layout to the kinds of things that we seem to enjoy, but others seem to be drawn to other forums.

Rec.music.theory used to be well populated, but a few stinkers have chased other posters away. Plus, younger kids don't like the format of newsgroups - you can't post images, etc. - so it's really old-fashioned.

And I think people are interested in You Tube and things like that. Again, we have an attention-seeking culture that's all me me me, so they want to put their videos up on YT.

So just like when you go into Barnes and Nobles and find one single lowly music theory book in the entire store, but a million Danielle Steele books, you're going to only find a few people in music forums dealing with composition and theory (I realize there are other categories here of course, but they don't appeal to the people who it seems like they should appeal to) versus a "chat about your favorite flavor of the month band".

I have to say, I love forums. Each seems to have one or a few resident experts. I had a problem with my car's AC, so I look up Honda Civic forums, and whaddya know - they have one (actually, there were a couple due to the popularity of hot-rodding civics a la Fast and Furious). Someone answered my questions and I was able to spend 60 bucks instead of 300 to get it fixed.

I also frequent a guitar forum where I've had a lot of questions answered and where I feel like I've been able to help people out as well.

I'll close with, you're getting some performances. Great! But when that starts happening, I think people figure, well there's no point in commenting on your stuff because it's already a done deal. And then what do you say? I hate it. I like it? Big whoop. The opinion of a couple of cats on a small online forum don't really matter if your audience loves it and someone has commissioned you to write something else!

And like all things, I think people tire of it, or find other stuff to do, or have more important things to do, etc. It's summer, and many kids are out riding their bikes, or on vacation, and not sitting at the computer like they do during the school year. Having done this for years, I always see a big influx of posts on music theory around final exam time! So it waxes and wanes.

I like this forum, but I check out others as well. Maybe you should do some hunting around as well.

Best,
Steve

[PeterG]

Well Steve,

Isn't it a pity that this happens, for whatever reasons you can think of?

I loved his forum (yes, it's past tense as it seems soo unbelievably quiet these days and I, like Boneman, am checking in very regularly, almost every day, to see what's new) as it was open, honest, not really a showoff forum, interesting, deep (at times), and, most importantly, HELPING me develop a skill that was hidden.

I have no one to play / perform my music, no other resources than Finale's GPO to play for me and the internet to learn the tricks of composing. But that was compensated by this forum; it enabled me to show work and get insights from experienced people, listen with other ears to other work and comment which was a learning experience too.

I'll be off for 3 weeks of holidays now.. Let's see how we're doing then.

I miss it, really...

Peter

P.S. obviously I'm not a youngster

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by stevel

It's summer, and many kids are out riding their bikes, or on vacation, and not sitting at the computer like they do during the school year. Having done this for years, I always see a big influx of posts on music theory around final exam time! So it waxes and wanes.

I like this forum, but I check out others as well. Maybe you should do some hunting around as well.

Best,
Steve

I could understand this if it wasn't for he fact that everytime I pop in there are at least 15 guests! Surely we need to provide these guests with something that would make them want to register. I have noticed that there are quite a few new members that are not posting.

As Peter G said, this site should be used to help budding composers to sharpen their skills. There are/have been, some experienced musicians that have certainly helped me (including yourself) and I feel that new people come here for some of that help.