Submitting tuba compositions

[Hank74]

My question to anyone here is how should I submit simple compositions that I wrote for beginning tuba students? These are songs that I came up with two years ago that I now want to submit to publishers in the hopes they would use these in future books. I presume the best way is to reach them directly.

Hank74

[TonyZ]

I've only done a handful of tuba arrangements over the years (no compositions...just not very creative), but if I ever got enthusiastic about doing a bunch of arrangements, I might consider desktop publishing with a website...

Yes, yes, yes!! Do your own publishing. You'll give away hundreds of copies, and then you'll start selling them if they're good. I have great friends in the publishing business, and they do get you distribution, but they also get your money. The internet is the way to go! A composition professor once told me that composition is 5% composing, and 95% marketing.

Get to work!!

[BVD Press]

Yes, yes, yes!! Do your own publishing. You'll give away hundreds of copies, and then you'll start selling them if they're good. I have great friends in the publishing business, and they do get you distribution, but they also get your money. The internet is the way to go! A composition professor once told me that composition is 5% composing, and 95% marketing.

Get to work!!

Although publishing is my everday job and living, I do agree with Tony to a degree.

What I find, is it really depends upon what one wants to get out of it. Do you want to make a living at it or just get some of your charts out to the public? If the latter, it will not take too much time to build a site, etc., but if you want to make a living at it you will need more time than you can imagine. I spend 10-15 hours a day working with the Cimarron Music Press and BVD Press catalog. Re-engraving and editing old titles, addiing new titles, answering emails, returning phone calls, networking, dealing with dealers, distibutors, ASCAP, Harry Fox, copyright permissions, printing, arranging, proofing, etc.

If anyone is curious, I re-engraved or created app. 8000 pages of music in 2005. No clue how much time that adds up to, but I also had spend time doing the other things listed above.

Also be patient. The internet moves fast, but a catalog takes time to develop. It also takes a great deal of time to create relationships with dealers and individuals.

Many people go to a publisher because they do not have the time to do all of the above. If you have the time, go for it!

If anyone has any queestions, please feel free to email me, PM or ask questions here. I am a very open person and will let you know my own personal experiences.

[BVD Press]

My question to anyone here is how should I submit simple compositions that I wrote for beginning tuba students? These are songs that I came up with two years ago that I now want to submit to publishers in the hopes they would use these in future books. I presume the best way is to reach them directly.

Hank74

I never addressed this part! Call or email first. Direct is the best method. Do not send something unless ou let the publisher know it is coming. If I get something in the mail and was not told it was on the way, I find it difficult to find them time to look it over.

If it is in the computer that is a great step. If not, some publisher will not even look at it. I am opposite. If it is a good chart, I will take the time engrave it for you.

Don't be offended by rejection. Rejection can happen for many reasons:

Publisher didn't like the music (another publisher may like the music)
Publisher is not going in the direction
Publisher is too busy currently
Publisher dows not publish that type music (do not submit a Tuba piece to a publisher that inly publishers Oboe music)
etc.

In my post above I forgot another item that takes up part of the: evaluating submissions. Not sure if all publishers do, but I DO take the time to listen to CD's follow along with the score etc. I may find pieces I will publish from a composer or arranger and others I will not, but I will always listen!

That's it for now because I need to go make some parts for Tim Olt!! Look for more of his charts on the Cimarron site very soon!!!

[Tim Olt]

Many thanks to Bryan for the plug on my arrangements!

I tried the self-publishing route a number of years ago, but found it was too time consuming and took me away from what I was trying to accomplish in the first place. Having a solid relationship with people like Bryan at Cimarron and David at Tuba-Euphonium Press has proven very fruitful, as they are much more attuned to the business. They have more time to put into the effort, and therefore do a more complete job than I ever could have. Also, with a larger catalog, they are able to do more with advertising.

To return the favor, if you look on the Sounds page of the All the King's Tubas website you can find mp3s of several pieces published by these gentlemen. We are constantly adding more, so check back periodically. All of the recordings are live performances. http://www.timolt.com/atkt/

Thanks again!

Tim

[BVD Press]

If anyone is interested in Tim's music, I just posted 4 more pieces along with .pdf samples for tuba quartet.

These can be found on the homepage:

http://www.cimarronmusic.com

The pieces include:

Sonata I - Daniel Speer

Bouree from "Music for the Royal Fireworks" - G F Handel

Ricercar del primo tuono - Palestrina

Canzon Cornetto - Samuel Scheidt

Wishing everyone well,

[TonyZ]

I, of course, respect withoout a doubt the work that professional publishers do. Bryan is one of the hardest working guys I know, and his work is the best. He is a publisher I would trust with anything of mine!

CHEERS!