I'm just fishing for other's experiences here - to share the load etc.
I've recently started writing music on the stave (over 20 years after I first took up an instrument and over 30 years since I was in a garage band). Three things stopped me so long: first that I never had a PC score writing program and midi which added a listen-as-you-go dimension to the equation, Second that I never learned to play from music, only by ear; Third, and a little more song related, that I had a real problem taking a song from my head and getting it down in notation which apparently bore little relation to the actual rhythm I'd sing or play (unless I used an impossible number of tied and double dotted notes.) KNowing just how to simplify what was in my head was a real problem.
I have now made a start by not writing *songs* at all, but actually developing the music 'on the page' as I go along rather than trying to get down something which is all in my head. I'm still not sure I could transcribe a melody line as I'd actually sing it, but I'm managing to write pseudo-classical miniature pieces with some practical success (ie. they're not great, but they work in midi well enough for me to imagine what real instruments might do with them).
Anyone else had similar initial problems, or different problems, tackling notation / score-based writing for the first time? Any similar, or very different solutions? Also, has anyone who does 'sight read' experienced problems writing things down etc. Don't know if this topic has any general interest, but I'm sure there's quite a lot to be exchanged between budding (and expert) 'dot writers'.
Cheers Frank.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/amateurfrank_music.htm 'Pre-demo workfiles' of some of the songs I've done since I started this songwriting hobby in 1984.
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