From: silver.e@zooid.guild.org (Eric Silver)
Newsgroups: rec.music.bluenote
Subject: Request For A Survey.
Date: 16 Nov 92 07:34:17 GMT

 
I was wondering if I could ask what the PROPER method is, to introduce
a survey to this newsgroup. I have two suggestions I would like to 
discuss within this newsgroup. Perhaps I'm being too presumptuous
and they have already been asked and aswered many times over. I 
hope not. In any event ...
 
First, I was wondering if the moderator of this newgroup, or
perhaps in his/her absence, a more seasoned member, would be willing 
to take a survey over a one month period. One month to ensure that
everyone gets a 'kick at the ball'.
 
The topic of the survey would be;
DO YOU REGULARLY PLAY OR PRACTICE AN INSTRUMENT OR INSTRUMENTS?
REGULARLY would infer at least three times weekly.
 
For simplicity, I would suggest that the respondant limit his/her
responses to three instruments.
FOR EXAMPLE a respondent would answer with ONE of the following;
A.) No instruments.
B.) Yes, my primary instrument is tenor saxophone.
C.) Yes, my primary instrument is tenor saxophone.
    My secondary instrument is keyboards.
D.) Yes, my primary instrument is tenor saxophone.
    My secondary instrument is keyboards.
    My tertiary instument is vocals.
 
This information could be posted publically and a designated
member would tally and post the results (perhaps weekly?) for
the benefit of the group.
I would hope that this information would provide helpful information
in perhaps fostering closer working relationships in the future as well as 
to help all of us 'network' a little better.
This information would also help in the second of these suggestions.
 
The Infamous Second Suggestion!
A working group could be assembled by interested participants
in the instrument survey to assemble a VERY SIMPLY AND VERY SHORT guideline 
document descibing a method to transmit musical phrases using pure 
ASCII text. I mean something that goes beyond the simple lead sheet;
ESP - Wayne Shorter  F# 4/4 
F#7 (alt) | % | GMA7 | % | 
F#7 (alt) | % | FMA7(#11) | % |
E7 | FMA7(#11) | F#7 | GMA7 FMA7 |
Emi9 | A7 | Ami7 | AbMA9 | etc ...
 
Some if my suggestions for the following brief outline document would
be;
This document would actually describe A VERY SIMPLE translation of the
actual notes in a musical phrase or melody. The developed method would use 
simple non extended ASCII text characters. It could easily be printed 
out on an ordinary dot matrix printer and transcribed VERY SIMPLY either
in real-time or by jotting down on 'staffed paper' the outline sketch.
Possibly, the note description would be identified by a positive number
identifying the note position above middle C and a negative number for a
note lying below middle C. '#', 'b' and 'nat.' could be used for accidental
markings SHARP, FLAT and NATURAL respectively. Middle 'C' could be identified
by itself without a prefix number. 'D' above middle 'C' would be designated
1D, E above middle C would be designated 2E, F above middle C would be
designated 3F, etc. Lower case letters like 'h','q' 'e' and 'e.' could be 
used to describe note durations HALF, QUARTER, EIGHTH and DOTTED EIGHTH 
respectively. The letter 'R' could be used to designate a rest, and used 
in conjunction with note durations above, one might use 'q.R', 'q' or 'e' 
for DOTTED QUARTER REST, QUARTER REST, or EIGHTH REST respectively. Musical 
events would be separtated by commas ',' in phrases and periods '.' in parts.
triplets could be contained in parenthesis, prhasing marks by 'SP' for
start phrase and 'EP' for end phrase, 'T' for tied notes, etc.
FOR EXAMPLE;
THREE BLIND MICE  4/4 Concert C MAJOR
| 8Cq,8Cq,8Cq,qR | % | 10Eq,9Dq,9Cq,qR | % | etc...
OR
On Green Dolphin Street  2/2 D Major Bb TENOR SAX Part
|: 9Dh,T9Dh | T9Dq,qR,3(8Cq,6Aq,4Fq) | nat.T8Cw | T8Cw | etc.
 
The document could be given to any site for FREE to facilitate ftp, 
telnet or email to any Internet, Usenet, BITNET, etc. user.
This VERY SHORT AND SIMPLE document could be used by readers to discuss, 
technical merits of musical passages, relate musical ideas, or simply 
introduce musical ideas for discussion or ...
 
OBVIOUSLY, I do not have all of the answers here. 
I welcome comments, feedback, suggestions and/or volunteers.
Please post publically for the benefit of all.
Regards,
 
Eric Silver - York, Upper Canada.
 
Newsgroups: rec.music.bluenote