DEMTA Composes

A Keyband! USA Federation supported project

Motivating students to compose is part of the music making process. 

During a recent radio interview on KCME, a former member of the US Air Force Academy Band stated, “Composing keeps me aware of all the subtlety in my performance life, thus enhancing how I perform and create for an audience.”

Composing allows all musicians to create, a skill that allows them to perform other individuals’ music with a more artistic approach.

DEMTA will be starting a new program Fall 2024 to allow our members and their students to learn, create and imagine ways to make their music personal and rewarding. Check out previous students’ works here.

The project will  provide the following:

  • Online instructional videos teach principles and provide a theme for students and teachers to use in their creation journey.

  • Access to a Noteflight account gives teachers, students and project mentors the chance to view, compose and share creations from the comfort of home and music studio. Noteflight allows teachers and mentors to check student progress both in lessons and outside of lessons. Students can also share their pieces and ask for feedback from peers in the project.

  • Mentors guide students on their composition journey. These mentors are from various backgrounds and give additional guidance to young composers.

  • Students can receive awards for each compositional module. There will be five compositional modules.

  • Joining the program offers the chance to make social connections with composers in the project through special composer salons, Noteflight sharing and Zoom conferences.

  • Teacher encouragement from both the project manager and our mentors helps students in their creative journey.

How does it work?

After registering and paying the fee ($50 Novice; $75 Intermediate/Advanced) students will receive a password to log on to the “Member Sign-In” section at the top. Students and their teachers will also receive a full year’s access to a “Noteflight Learns” account. (See “Composing Software” above for more details.)

Once logged into the members section, students have access to a video taught by professional composers and educators with years of experience working with all levels of young composers. 

Students will learn how to use tools and tricks available to composers such as notation software, Digital Audio Work Spaces and Soundcloud.

Small creative modules with a theme are offered for those who need a jumpstart for ideas. Those modules with their tentative dates are listed below.

Each participant receives encouragement from teachers, mentors and peers in their composing journey. No young composer is left to fumble around without assistance. 

After the 3rd or 4th module, a student should have at least one composition complete! There are some wonderful opportunities for young composers of DEMTA to showcase their compositions. Students can also enter their compositions in the DEMTA Spring Festival in spring 2025.

“Composing keeps me aware of all the subtlety in my performance life, thus enhancing how I perform and create for an audience.”

~ a former member of the US Air Force Academy Band