Because I have always felt that part of my ministry was encouraging other composers and arrangers, I’d rather not even have to include an area like this on my website, and am doing so reluctantly. However, family and friends have suggested that I develop some sort of realistic guidelines to protect my own time for writing and arranging. Every year I am sent or given several manuscripts to read through and make comments or suggestions about improvements that might need to be made in the choral score, accompaniment, or arrangement. Sometimes I am sent original choral anthems, other times, arrangements, and occasionally I am sent a complete musical. Because I am a full-time minister of music, my work in the studio usually is done on my "free" (not at church) nights during the week -- and I never seem to be able to get to the bottom of my own "to-do" list. As much as I enjoy making suggestions and encouraging aspiring writers and arrangers, I've found that responding in-depth cuts into what little time I have for personal projects and studio sessions -- along with being a husband, dad, and grandfather!
Because of this, I have implemented the following guidelines::
As always, I will be happy to read through anything that is sent to me and send it back with general comments at no charge. However, if there are sections that need time-consuming, specific “rewrites” of the choral score, accompaniment, or arrangement, there will be a $40.00 per hour charge, whether this service is provided by mail or one-on-one here in the studio. I really don't want this to come across as mercenary, but am afraid it may. I hope you understand. If you send a manuscript is sent to me, I will assume it is just for me to make general comments. I will read through it as time allows and get it back to you. If you want in-depth analysis or details, please let me know up front. Like taking a car in for an estimate, I will read through your manuscript, consider what might need to be done and get back with you email or phone before I do anything. It has been very rewarding for me to see some of these composers and arrangers has been very rewarding for me to see some of the composers and arrangers I have worked with finally become "published." However, please understand that following my suggestions does not guarantee that the work will be published! I still have several things of my own that are unpublished.
Also, for those who are interested in learning how to use Finale notation software, I will be happy to teach hands-on, one-on-one instructional sessions in my studio for $40.00 per hour, or on-site sessions for $40.00 per hour plus travel expenses. Before I "took the plunge" and jumped in to computer notation, I kept telling my wife that I would just like to go watch someone who was actually using Finale -- and would pay them if they would just to explain to me (in simple language) what they were doing! While I have not had any experience with advanced, complex notation, I do feel very comfortable with basic to moderately advanced Finale notation. I did all of the Finale "engraving" and editing on In Celebration, a piano collection of mine published by Shawnee Press in 2000. I also have taught group classes in computer notation and MIDI sessions at keyboard conferences. I currently use Finale 2006, but have reference discs available for earlier versions.
For those interested in sequencing, I am available to teach beginning to moderately-advanced sessions on computer-based sequencing using Cakewalk, Cakewalk Sonar, or similar programs for $40.00 per hour here in the studio, or on-site sessions for $40.00 per hour plus travel expenses.
If you have any questions not answered above, or would just like to discuss a possible project, please feel free to contact me by phone or email (see "contact me" on website).
