Music Composition Directory
We are very excited to introduce Composersnewpencil’s music composition link directory. 
If you are a composer, songwriter, etc., please feel free to submit your site(s) or your favorite music composition related website(s). Our intention is to build a targeted and quality content directory. All links will be personally reviewed for consideration. The main categories include: classical composition, electronic art music, film scoring, jazz composition & arranging, songwriting, experimental pop & rock, music technology and finally stores & products. Subcategories include: composer and artist sites, resources, communities and organizations among others. New categories can also be suggested.
The directory is brand new, so some categories do not contain links yet. All feedback is welcome.
Create Digital Music Giveaway
The guys at Create Digital Music (a great blog and community site on digital music making) are having a big giveaway with over US$4,000 of hardware and software. All you have to do is fill out an online form with your information for a chance to win (unfortunately only US residents are eligible to win, but international folks can also enter to get other stuff as well).
These are some of the things they are giving away:
- Akai MPC500 mobile music workstation
- Ableton Live 6 music production software
- Alesis ControlPad drum pad controller
- Glyph GT 050Q 250GB eSATA/USB/FW400/FW800 hard drive
- Moog Music Moogerfooger FreqBox VCO effects box
- Native Instruments Absynth 4 soft synth
- Native Instruments Elektrik Piano soft synth
- Numark Total Control DJ control surface
- PreSonus FaderPort
Sounds great right? The contest ends Monday, June 11, 11:59 P.M. NYC (US-Eastern) time. Enter here. Check out and bookmark their site while you are there, “Create Digital Music” provides great information on digital technology.
New Music Radio
I found a new music radio station online the other day, and I thought some of
you would be interested in having the link:
Quoting from the BBC website:
“Hear and Now is the main contemporary music programme on Radio 3. It features live concerts and studio sessions from the best new music groups, and premieres of BBC commissioned works.”
You can listen to their programs online. Some of the previous programs have been:
- 19 May 07 The Dutch school 1/2
- 12 May 07 Simon Bainbridge
- 05 May 07 Geoffrey Poole
- 28 Apr 07 British composers
- 21 Apr 07 Ligeti Remembered
- 14 Apr 07 Plus Minus
- 07 Apr 07 Music & Politics
When: Saturdays 22:30 - 24:00. I will definitely be tunning in everytime I can. If you now of any other stations please feel free to post a link on the comments section.
The Audiopad
New Instruments / Machines: (video)
The Audiopad is a performance instrument for electronic music that tracks the positions of objects on a tabletop surface and converts their motion into music. 
One can pull sounds from a giant set of samples or juxtapose archived recordings against other samples and apply digital processing all at the same time. The interface is more expressive than a laptop screen, and gives the possibility of a physical performance that is usually absent from electronic music concerts. Perhaps the only feature missing from this interface is a strap button, which would make it the best interface out there to jam with your buddies (just like the Keytar from the 80’s!). MIT graduate students James Patten and Ben Recht developed the Audiopad. Read more