"Time has turned into space, and there will be no time" - Samuel Beckett (1) Pulsating through the mind of the concertgoer exists an unconscious metronome directing focus on set elements of the musical experience. A certain sequence of events characterizes the orchestral concert. The darkened hall dictates the patron's actions, commanding silence and propriety. Contrasting luminescence silhouettes the orchestra and directs the eye towards the stage. The houselights come up, and applause rewards the musician's hard work. Time dictates all, and the audience and musicians play their parts well. The spatial dimension remains largely the same, (though many composers have distorted this relationship by encircling the audience with instrumentalists). Yet, even in these cases, time and space remain stagnant with little variation. Enters the second millennium, teaming with electronic innovation and technological wonders.  Multimedia, a phenomenon birthed by Futurism,...

5 Quick Music Insider Tips on Video, Animation and Technology Be realistic with your time. Do yourself, and the performers or project manager , a favor by being honest with how much time it will take to complete the project. I used to overshoot my deadlines by two or three months, leaving a very frustrated performer behind, and sometimes even jeopardizing any chances of a performance or adequate rehearsal time. Now, I try to be as realistic as possible. Give regular updates on the project Whether it is a music or video project, or a music video project, keep in constant communication with the people that you are writing for. While e-mail may be easy, a call on the phone, video chat, or a live visit, is much appreciated and clears up many communication issues. Know your music, video, and/or animation software . Do not embark on a new project with video or music technology that you are not familiar with yet. Try a few test pieces, if you have to, so your time (and theirs) is...

Having just completed two major works for percussion and multimedia, I decided to take this extra time to begin working on an opera for multimedia. Being an avid bibliophile, and thus an avid Internet-file, I have compiled a list of articles that can help a composer begin the journey of creating an opera of the third millennium. (Okay, and a few not so helpful, but definitely interesting, looks at this great classical tradition.) Below are some tips on writing musicals and operas.  Tips Writing a new opera by Robert Hugill Writing an Opera a Composer's Challenge Composition Tips from Pete Thomas Something Out of Nothing: 21 Songwriting Tips by Ken Hill How to Write an Opera How to Write a Musical by John Kenrick A word in your ear (but not too many) Online database of libretti (public domain) Karadar Classical Musical Online Library of Libretti Description of Libretto Design and Implementation of a Multimedia Opera 6 Things every producer should know when working with a composer Yo...