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“Take Your Music Further with Garritan” Contest Announced

by Scott Yoho 19. January 2012 04:52

This week instead of shivering in Minnesota, I’m enjoying the California sun at the annual NAMM Show, the music industry trade convention.

If you’re thinking that you’d like to be traveling somewhere yourself, I have good news: MakeMusic just announced the “Take Your Music Further with Garritan” composition contest.

Contestants are asked to develop a provided musical theme to create a piece of music – using Garritan sounds – that evokes their dream travel destination. The grand prize is a $2,000 United Airlines gift card and $500 in spending money. Two runner-up prizes of $700 United Airlines gift cards will also be awarded.

Whether you’re dreaming of palm trees, or of ice fishing contests in central Minnesota, this could be your chance. Check out complete details here and get your entry in before Wednesday, March 15, 2012.

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Tags: contest, garritan, finale, composition, further

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Comments

1/13/2012 7:23:32 PM #

Interesting concept. Keep me posted.

Ric Flauding

1/13/2012 7:28:57 PM #

it would be kind of nice if there was more information.. like restrictions, etc.. I think it would be a nasty surprise to start work on something, only to realize that you're ineligible for some reason.

Mike Edward

1/16/2012 10:03:57 AM #

Hi Mike,

The full contest details are posted now. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

1/16/2012 11:33:35 AM #

It sounds as if people who don't (and don't want to) belong to Facebook are out of luck.

derek

1/20/2012 2:10:16 AM #

Hi Derek,

We chose to use Facebook for the contest because it offered pre-made solutions for
submitting, hearing, and voting on the contest entries.

I'd ask anyone who'd like to enter the contest but wants to avoid facebook to let us know so we can take that into consideration should we plan a similar contest in the future.

Thanks,

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

1/20/2012 3:02:50 AM #

Hi Scott and Derek:

You can add me to that list – I was thinking of entering the contest myself, but the whole Facebook-only thing is definitely what deterred me.

And then, when I read that the contest starts out as a popularity contest before the composition even gets reviewed (get your friends to visit and vote for your contest entry. Then, a panel of judges at MakeMusic will review the top 10 most popular by public vote here on Facebook) that definitely deterred me even more. So basically, the most active users of Facebook with the most "friends" have the highest chances of winning, and those who rarely use Facebook and have few "friends" have less of a chance of getting their composition heard by the judges...

Anyways, I'm not complaining – it's your contest and you can run it however you like. Regardless of my own reasons for not wanting to use Facebook as extensively as I once did, I can understand why you'd choose to use it for this contest.

Best of luck to you both,

DM

Daniel Menjivar

1/22/2012 5:00:25 PM #

I agree with Daniel. I followed the links, only to find out it was a Facebook event. I leave that to my son and daughter!

David Benson

1/22/2012 5:56:02 PM #

+1 on Daniel Menjivar's comment! I'm not joining for the exact same reasons, but I would be extremely interested if ever you decide to post a competition that is more fair for those entering. Please keep me posted at the email address I included. I don't use facebook anymore and will not join any competitions that require Facebook, but I also understand your reasons, and it is your competition: run it the way you wish.

Thank you for hearing our voices, and the best of luck to those entering!

Jonathan

Jonathan

1/22/2012 6:03:37 PM #

Well, I may be stating the obvious here, but it seems to be a preliminary requisite that contestants buy the software. And of course, if you don't already have it, that means that it costs $149 to enter the contest. Any way around this? Thousands of people putting out this kind of dough is a great approach for you in selling your product - and yet, there is something a little weird about it. I am a composer and long time Finale user but had not planned on buying new software at this time. Am I just out of luck here?

Stephanie

1/24/2012 3:46:23 AM #

I have to agree with Daniel in that it seems more like a Facebook popularity contest than the best composition to win. I have a Facebook account, but I rarely use it and I don't want to use it if I can help it.

Jim

Jim Stover

1/25/2012 3:17:19 AM #

Is there any way to have a chance to win if you don't have a facebook?

Gregory Strader

1/28/2012 4:10:09 PM #

Can the Garritan sounds be from Finale 2009? That is only one I have...

Christopher

1/29/2012 3:09:12 PM #

It peeves me to discover the requirement to get information and/or enter the contest through Facebook! What Hype! I started out very interested when I received the email from Finale publicizing the contest until I came up against the Facebook wall. I shall continue to boycott Facebook.-Ray Downey

Ray Downey

1/30/2012 7:30:31 PM #

Hi Scott,

I also would like to enter the contest but the Facebook-only platform is going to be problematic for me to do this. Firstly, I don't have Facebook. Also, as Daniel pointed out, the contest seems slightly biased to those with more friends than those with less. Anyway, just thought I would voice my opinion.

Thank you very much!

The Very Best

JK

Jehshua Karunakaran

2/1/2012 3:17:05 AM #

Finale Blog: Travel the World with Garritan Sounds

Finale Blog: Travel the World with Garritan Sounds

Finale

2/1/2012 3:26:30 AM #

<<I agree with Daniel. I followed the links, only to find out it was a Facebook event. I leave that to my son and daughter!>>

Hi David,

Thanks for the comment -- and good luck to your son and daughter! <g>

Best wishes,

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

2/1/2012 3:28:02 AM #

<<I'm not joining for the exact same reasons, but I would be extremely interested if ever you decide to post a competition that is more fair for those entering.>>

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for your comment. I understand that some people don't wish to use Facebook, but I'd be interested to hear what you view as unfair about the contest.

Thanks,

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

2/1/2012 3:31:03 AM #

<<I am a composer and long time Finale user but had not planned on buying new software at this time. Am I just out of luck here?>>

Hi Stephanie,

If you are using Finale 2006 or later, you have Garritan sounds. Create your submission using those sounds and you're good to go.

Best wishes,

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

2/1/2012 3:34:40 AM #

<<Is there any way to have a chance to win if you don't have a facebook?>>

Hi Gregory,

I appologize, but no. Again, using Facebook allows us to let everyone hear every submission and vote for their favorite. This is the first time we've used Facebook in a music composition contest, and it will be interesting to see how many people participate and comment, one way or another.

Thanks!

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

2/1/2012 3:35:36 AM #

<<Can the Garritan sounds be from Finale 2009? That is only one I have...>>

Hi Christopher,

You bet. You are good to go, sir!

Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

2/1/2012 3:36:34 AM #

<<It peeves me to discover the requirement to get information and/or enter the contest through Facebook! What Hype! I started out very interested when I received the email from Finale publicizing the contest until I came up against the Facebook wall. I shall continue to boycott Facebook.>>

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the feedback.

Best wishes,
Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

2/1/2012 3:40:26 AM #

<<I also would like to enter the contest but the Facebook-only platform is going to be problematic for me to do this. Firstly, I don't have Facebook. Also, as Daniel pointed out, the contest seems slightly biased to those with more friends than those with less. Anyway, just thought I would voice my opinion.>>

Hi Jehshua,

That you for your feedback as well.

Best wishes,
Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

2/10/2012 6:53:01 PM #

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techmywish.com

2/15/2012 7:49:44 AM #

Wow--what a bunch of whiners some of you are! No one is forcing you to write anything. It's MakeMusic's contest--so they make the rules. If you don't like them, don't enter. If you're not on facebook and still want to enter bad enough, take 2 minutes and create a facebook account (it's free!). If you don't have any friends to vote for you, either go out this weekend and meet some, or write something good enough that strangers might vote for. Spend less time complaining, and more time writing.

Scott--thanks to MM for setting up an intriguing competition for everyone. The prizes are great, the 90 sec. max is perfect, and the funky little motif provides a nice challenge. The whole facebook/voting thing could maybe be tweaked if you do it again, but for a first go, you guys did a nice job. This has been the perfect incentive for me to dig deeper into Finale/Garritan and to spend some extra time writing. I hope you do it again.

WimpPolice

2/16/2012 1:53:42 PM #

Hi WimpPolice,

Thanks for the comments and the positive feedback. I agree it's a cool opportunity -- I wish I could enter!

That said, I'm very interested in hearing from anyone with ideas of how we might do this even better next time.

Best wishes,
Scott at MakeMusic

Scott Yoho

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“Take Your Music Further with Garritan” Contest Announced

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