Background information for Composers/Songwriters
Introduction
The aim of the Chart is to champion composition/songwriting by encouraging students to listen to, enjoy and perhaps learn from the work of others. The most important aspect of the exercise is in the sharing. Rating the composition/song is intended to help give a listening focus.
Submissions
- welcome at all times
- open to composers/writers within or outwith a school or educational establishment *
* A submission could be part of a composition folder and may have been discussed with a tutor, thereby you should ensure that s/he is comfortable with the sharing of that information.
A checklist is available in the Submit your Composition section to guide you.
Programme Notes
- why you chose to write for the selected voice(s)/instrument(s).
- what influenced you? A particular composer/writer? Performer? Style? Event?
- should any of your compositions have lyrics (to be sung or spoken), send these also and an acknowledgement of the writer.
Copyright
Copyrights of all compositions are retained by the composers/ songwriters.
The Scottish Music Centre's Composition Chart can and will serve as evidence of copyright ownership should an individual attempt to pass music from this site as their own.
Performances of Compositions
The Centre is committed to organising public performances of original work as funds allow. The first performance was held in The Arches, Glasgow in November 2005. A second is planned for September in The Hub, Edinburgh.
Anyone interested in supporting future events in any way should contact the Centre.
0141 552 5222
Additional information for teachers
Exemplars
The Composition Chart was launched using a range of exemplars originally created by students as part of their coursework and of an acceptable national standard. In addition, they gave some indication of the wide-ranging nature of creative work across Scotland.
The exemplars were offered for a number of reasons:
- to illustrate work written by young composers/writers at different stages in their development and which have enjoyed different levels of success
- to illustrate a certain range of styles
The Scottish Music Centre remains grateful to the musicians for allowing these compositions to be shared. The copyright for each composition remains with the musician with appropriate permissions in place.
Archive
For reasons of space, an archive of compositions including the exemplar compositions referred to above, has been created on CD with the agreement of the composers writers. These may be listened to by visitors to the Centre. Copyright for the compositions remain with the composer.
CD of Compositions
Given the finite space in both the Composition Chart and the Archive, compositions will be backed-up on CD and stored within the Centre so that they are available to be heard by those visiting. This applies in particular, to the more substantial compositions, to allow them to be heard in their entirety. Depending on entries, these will be rotated accordingly.
Any such arrangement would be subject to the musician's agreement. The copyright for the composition will remain with the composer.
