First forward, feeling grateful

[OstinDrais]

I received my first forward today and feel tremendously grateful. I want to briefly tell my story. I don't know what topic to put this under, but since it involves a forward I figured this would have to do.

I first joined TAXI five or six years ago but didn't take it seriously. By "take it seriously", I mean that I rarely submitted for any listings (less than five times throughout my first year), and when I did they were returned. At the time it was really discouraging. Plus there was that nagging little voice inside me wondering whether making a living making music was even possible. In short, I had--and still have--insecurity in spades. I didn't renew my membership.

Fast-forward to 2011. I'd upgraded my sound libraries and felt ready to try TAXI again. I continued submitting rarely. This time I invested in a trip to Road Rally 2011. I was absolutely gobsmacked when one of my tracks was played for a listening panel. While everything else had been well received, my particular track (a collage of styles, "Mercy" from my TAXI page) wasn't. As an introvert, I didn't make the effort to connect with other composers or producers. I was both terrifically inspired and disheartened by the experience.

In the last few months I made what is both a courageous and a foolhardy decision: I will make my living from music and sound, be it post-production sound or scoring for films, or writing choral music. As part of that process, I renewed my TAXI membership in mid-August. One of the listings asked for New Age solo piano instrumentals. For the last year I've been making piano improvs and posting them to my YouTube channel. While they haven't been seen much, I figured doing them anyway was good for me musically--and, to be honest, psychologically. I felt that I had learned about the New Age form through hours and hours of playing, so I improvised my way to something I liked, edited it, and sent it off. Tonight I learned that the piece I submitted, Warm Summer Walk, had been forwarded.

That one little bit of encouragement means a lot to me. So thank you, screener 352, and thank you to the TAXI team.


NEW AGE SOLO PIANO INSTRUMENTALS in the stylistic ballpark of Michelle McLaughlin, Philip Wesley, Brian Crain, etc., are needed by the Owner of a Music Library with lots of TAXI member placements to his credit. Your moods can range from romantic and charming, to more melancholy or somber. Keep your melody forward moving, and keep it interesting. He is NOT looking for meditation music. Your arrangements should have a sophisticated, passionate, dreamy and calming feel to them. MINIMAL accompaniment is okay (strings, etc.) but it’s not necessary. He needs tracks where the piano is definitely the main attraction. Down-to-Mid Tempo pieces will work best for this pitch. Please be sure your tracks sound like they’re being played on a real piano. If you’re using samples, make sure they’re indistinguishable from the real deal, and not a stiff, MIDI-driven track.

[eeoo]

Beautiful piece Ostin, way to hang in there, many more to come I have a feeling!

Good luck!

eo

[bamtone]

Great track Ostin!
dig the percs!!!!
See ya at the 2013 Rally!!

[jdstamper]

Congrats Ostin!

Jim

[gklosner]

nice composition! And congrats on the first fwd! That's always a great feeling!

[PeterD]

Congrats Ostin!!

Welcome to the party!
It's a great feeling!

[roberthamilton]

Really cool, Ostin. Congrats!

[lucky711]

Congrats on your first forward, Ostin! I just listened to Warm Summer Walk....good one. I can hear why it was forwarded. Here's to many more.

[ScottFree4All]

Congrats Ostin,

Just keep 'em coming. I'm very happy for you.

Cheers,
Scott

[funsongs]

and...getting to tell your story...is telling, in its own good way.
feeling grateful is one positive step towards greater things, imho.
congrats, and cheers;
"fun".
(now...where can I go listen to it?!...)