College Essay - MPA/Tabs situation

[Lvshorty610]

Hey guys, not trying to make another MPA bash thread (well kinda), but I just figured I would share this with you all. I was sitting here contemplating ideas for topics on what to write about for one of my college application essays, and all of a sudden it struck me.

"Discuss an issue of local, national, or international concern. Why is this issue important to you? How do you think it should be addressed?"

Perfect. All I have to do is talk about it and come up with a solution.

So let me know what you guys think. It is long, so don't post in this thread going "Too long to read...". If you don't want to read it, then don't. Dont waste your time posting that sh!t. The essay had to be like 500ish words, so it is kind of lengthy. Enjoy for those of you who have the couple minutes to read it, some of it actually has some pretty cool insight:



My hands were shaking. My palms were dripping with sweat. The video cameras started rolling. My voice faltered. I grabbed the acoustic guitar from the stand and turned to face the crowd.

My first live performance.

Through experience and practice, I have learned to convert my jittery energy into a powerful intensity. I am now a zealous musician of over five years with fervor for both creation and performance.

Unfortunately, it will soon be over.

The copyright war has finally been taken too far.

The driving force that fuels potential musicians lies in the ability to acquire free tablature: simple musical notation that can be accessed, generally via the internet. Although such method of notation has been in use since the Renaissance, only now is it being arrested under the claim that it offers illegal and unlicensed song scores. The president of the National Music Publishers’ Association notes that “unauthorized use of lyrics and tablature deprives the songwriter of the ability to make a living, and is no different than stealing.”

Perhaps my ignorance prevents me from comprehending how a collection of numbers and dashes, representing merely one writer’s interpretation of a song, can so severely affect a musician’s income. Shall we copyright interpretations of great works of literature as well? Does my interpretation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness deprive him of earning a living? It would be only fair to do so.

Sister company Performing Rights Society (PRS) further fuels the copyright battle by advocating that all music shops pay for a license should any customer wish to examine and test an instrument. Shop owners were informed that anyone playing an identifiable piece of music was in breach of copyright, and thus breaking the law. PRS had the audacity to claim that such an act constituted a public performance.

What both companies fail to realize is that their campaigning against piracy and copyright infringement will have long term and unexpected effects. They will succeed in aborting many potentially great musicians, never given the chance to properly master an instrument. It is ludicrous to expect one to pick up an instrument for the first time and compose a Für Elise. Under such provisions, the effect could be the cessation of copyrighted music altogether.

Perhaps a reasonable resolution is to mimic the system now utilized to prevent illegal file-sharing. Few individuals wish to purchase an entire album at a cost of $20 to acquire only one or two familiar melodies. Most consumers, however, do not object to being able to legally download music for only 99 cents per song. Allowing individuals to do the same with sheet music is equally logical. Finally, the legal acquiescence to perform another’s song not only encourages development, but also promotes the original artist’s work.

Currently, music is no longer an unrestrained freedom of expression, for it can now only be expressed under certain circumstances while upholding certain manners. And it is this power of music -- the pounding of the speakers, the smashing of the drums, the hundreds of watts of tube-driven distorted harmonies in which I have found my artistic outlet.

I will fight for my passion.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

They're going to say, "WTF? We let him talk about any issue at all, and he chose guitar tabs? What a bitch nigga"

[Jharaski]

First person = bad grade.

[Mad Malik]

yeah all live music is over now

[the pie.]

try and work some dragons into your story.

[Lvshorty610]

They're going to say, "WTF? We let him talk about any issue at all, and he chose guitar tabs? What a bitch nigga"

Keep in mind its a college essay, and the college has to read 50,000 of these exact same essays. I wonder how many people picked abortion to write about? 3,000? Don't you think they get tired of reading about the same old sh!t? I tried to be a little creative, let them read something they don't see everyday, try to stand out a little from the crowd. With 50,000 applicants, and them only choosing like 5,000 total, its highly competitive, and anything that makes you stand out is good. Its something personally important to me, and its something unique.

First person = bad grade.

First person is bad for a high school paper. The difference is, these essays are called "Personal Statements." Many college essays I've written before this one ask you to tell a story about yourself, why does the university want you instead of other people, whats something you are passionate about... etc, etc. If you read the topic carefully, it asks "How is it important to you? What do you suggest?". The topic specifically asks for my intervention. These types of papers are actually meant to be written in first person. First person is only bad for high school papers that are usually meant to be fictional or factual, most high school papers dont ask for personal statements like this. My literature teacher used to work as an admissions officer for Notre Dame, and he proofreads all of the papers I write... so if that tells you anything... :lol:

[Jharaski]

Ah, personal statements. But a persuasive should never be in first person. Good essay though.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

try and work some dragons into your story.

123

[Lvshorty610]

Ah, personal statements. But a persuasive should never be in first person. Good essay though.

Can you honestly imagine trying to write that in the third person though? Granted, I agree, persuasives should not be in the first person, but with a topic that says "you" in it? It'd be near impossible to do that kind of essay in third person, while still making emphasis that it is important to me. Thank you for the compliment though =)

[the pie.]

123


Then Rhapsody could come and save the day,



with Luca turillie wielding his mighty DRAGONSLAYER +4!!!

[Relmar]

try and work some dragons into your story.
yes and yes.

[Lvshorty610]

I agree with your opinion. However, I thought the essay offered nothing new.

BTW, purchasing songs online for 99 cents is not beneficial for the artist. In the past, royalty is divided between the record company and the artist with the former gaining more. Now, add Apple into the mix. The artist gets close to nothing.

Does it offer nothing new to MX? Or nothing new to the college admissions? And yeah, the artist gets close to nothing on downloading music for 99 cents apiece, but honestly... how much do you think artists get for actual tabbooks? Even less.

[Rrrrrrr]

What university are you applying to, that the admissions officers lack any imagination whatsoever?

[holy_roller99]

that is something you should put into your essay. it does stress the point even more.

[JausmetalJ]

I enjoyed that, Very well written (easy to read aswell).

Good luck with getting in aswell man.

[Mr. Pennywhistle]

That was factually inaccurate in parts.

[Chaindrive]

That was factually inaccurate in parts.

Hey, Plex. What's shakin'.

What parts of that did you find inaccurate? I've not been keeping up on this, really.

[Mr. Pennywhistle]

What parts of that did you find inaccurate? I've not been keeping up on this, really.

I've bolded the untruths or exaggerations or are just downright crap or unreasonable assumptions etc.
My hands were shaking. My palms were dripping with sweat. The video cameras started rolling. My voice faltered. I grabbed the acoustic guitar from the stand and turned to face the crowd.

My first live performance.

Through experience and practice, I have learned to convert my jittery energy into a powerful intensity. I am now a zealous musician of over five years with fervor for both creation and performance.

Unfortunately, it will soon be over.

The copyright war has finally been taken too far.

The driving force that fuels potential musicians lies in the ability to acquire free tablature: simple musical notation that can be accessed, generally via the internet. Although such method of notation has been in use since the Renaissance, only now is it being arrested under the claim that it offers illegal and unlicensed song scores. The president of the National Music Publishers’ Association notes that “unauthorized use of lyrics and tablature deprives the songwriter of the ability to make a living, and is no different than stealing.”

Perhaps my ignorance prevents me from comprehending how a collection of numbers and dashes, representing merely one writer’s interpretation of a song, can so severely affect a musician’s income. Shall we copyright interpretations of great works of literature as well? Does my interpretation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness deprive him of earning a living? It would be only fair to do so.

Sister company Performing Rights Society (PRS) further fuels the copyright battle by advocating that all music shops pay for a license should any customer wish to examine and test an instrument. Shop owners were informed that anyone playing an identifiable piece of music was in breach of copyright, and thus breaking the law. PRS had the audacity to claim that such an act constituted a public performance.

What both companies fail to realize is that their campaigning against piracy and copyright infringement will have long term and unexpected effects. They will succeed in aborting many potentially great musicians, never given the chance to properly master an instrument. It is ludicrous to expect one to pick up an instrument for the first time and compose a Für Elise. Under such provisions, the effect could be the cessation of copyrighted music altogether.

Perhaps a reasonable resolution is to mimic the system now utilized to prevent illegal file-sharing. Few individuals wish to purchase an entire album at a cost of $20 to acquire only one or two familiar melodies. Most consumers, however, do not object to being able to legally download music for only 99 cents per song. Allowing individuals to do the same with sheet music is equally logical. Finally, the legal acquiescence to perform another’s song not only encourages development, but also promotes the original artist’s work.

Currently, music is no longer an unrestrained freedom of expression, for it can now only be expressed under certain circumstances while upholding certain manners. And it is this power of music -- the pounding of the speakers, the smashing of the drums, the hundreds of watts of tube-driven distorted harmonies in which I have found my artistic outlet.

I will fight for my passion.

[Leukeh]

I wish I had your essay writing ability :upset:

I wonder what would happen if we all lodged formal complaints to the MPA...

GL on getting in:thumb:

[Chaindrive]

Okay, thanks.

Only cover bands should be thwarted with this. Anyone composing original material, of course, won't.

"Potentially great musicians" need to learn not by tabs, but by ear and theory.

IMHO, that is.

[Patrick O)))]

I'm going to take the opposite stand, and point out that the lack of tablature will discourage all the shit guitarists, and in a few years time we'll see a talent renaissance

[Chaindrive]

Good thing for that. I'm serious.

Ear? Anyone ever heard of it? It's what tells you YOU'RE PLAYING IT WRONG.

In case you didn't happen to notice...

[JausmetalJ]

Wait, Ear?

All this time, depending on my Wang :upset:

[Dinosawesome]

He should've written a song instead.

[Leukeh]

Wait, Ear?

All this time, depending on my Wang :upset:

Works for me... =\

[JausmetalJ]

Your wang has ears?

[rbv]

I don't really like the whole narrative thing, seems a bit to non-essay-ee to me.

[Patrick O)))]

EDIT: to chaindrive and possibly TS

As am I, dude.

With a tab I can get almost any riff down in a few minutes and then sit around for a while playing it, and that's it. If you have to work it out for yourself, first of all it's a more satisfying process, swecond you'll develop a better understanding of key and the scales used, and third it'll excercise your brain.

That's why most of the really highly thought of guitarists these days are technique monsters (Vai, Satch, Malmsteem), whereas the old school guitar gods are respected and admired because of their songwriting abilities; something you can't get just by sitting in a room with a metronome doing chromatics for 10 hours a day.

[nowitzki]

You think 500 words is lengthy, most of my essays have to be between 2500-3000 :upset:

[Chaindrive]

EDIT: to chaindrive and possibly TS

As am I, dude.

With a tab I can get almost any riff down in a few minutes and then sit around for a while playing it, and that's it. If you have to work it out for yourself, first of all it's a more satisfying process, swecond you'll develop a better understanding of key and the scales used, and third it'll excercise your brain.

That's why most of the really highly thought of guitarists these days are technique monsters (Vai, Satch, Malmsteem), whereas the old school guitar gods are respected and admired because of their songwriting abilities; something you can't get just by sitting in a room with a metronome doing chromatics for 10 hours a day.

All I know is that I play bass. Which means that tabs are not abundant, and ear is required. And if you're familiar with some theory that makes it easier to figure it out.

I've only come across a couple bass tabs in my life that made it quicker to learn it than just my ear. Out of all the songs I play.

[Leukeh]

Your wang has ears?

No. I guides me. Does yours?

[rbv]

imho being an aspiring guitarist (although somewhat mediocre) I find that tabs aren't the best thing. I mean all the tabs were good for to me was when someone asked me to play a song. And that was half a year ago. It became pretty boring for me to play a song or riff just because it's a song or riff you like. I do acknowledge the fact that I used tabs to get into guitar and I do acknowledge that it is a great way to lead someone down a road simliar to that of many musicians before but playing tabs is downright boring. Just messing around, playing around with scales, and jamming is way better than copying someone else's work.

[Chaindrive]

imho being an aspiring guitarist (although somewhat mediocre) I find that tabs aren't the best thing. I mean all the tabs were good for to me was when someone asked me to play a song. And that was half a year ago. It became pretty boring for me to play a song or riff just because it's a song or riff you like. I do acknowledge the fact that I used tabs to get into guitar and I do acknowledge that it is a great way to lead someone down a road simliar to that of many musicians before but playing tabs is downright boring. Just messing around, playing around with scales, and jamming is way better than copying someone else's work.

Unless, you're in a cover band; then you need to copy someone else's work.

[Mr. Pennywhistle]

imho being an aspiring guitarist (although somewhat mediocre) I find that tabs aren't the best thing. I mean all the tabs were good for to me was when someone asked me to play a song. And that was half a year ago. It became pretty boring for me to play a song or riff just because it's a song or riff you like. I do acknowledge the fact that I used tabs to get into guitar and I do acknowledge that it is a great way to lead someone down a road simliar to that of many musicians before but playing tabs is downright boring. Just messing around, playing around with scales, and jamming is way better than copying someone else's work.
Who says they have to be mutually exclusive?

I'm currently involved with numerous musical commitments.On the one extreme I need to be able to play the sheet music exactly as written without any improvisation. On the other side of the scale some commitments need to be completely ab-libbed.

I don't have a problem with people spending most of their practice playing other peoples work, my problem solely lies with tablature notations weaknesses.

I don't like rehearsing, which is a good thing as alot of professional or semi professional session commitments are done with minimal rehearsing. I've worked my 'playing at sight' skills up to an exceptionally high standard because of this. I am unsure how familiar mxers are with professional musical productions, but often the band/orechestra members have had 2 or 3 full rehearsals before opening night. Sheet music is so exact that it allows the first rehearsal to be almost exactly how it will sound on the night.

However, with tab nothing is this smooth. While many guitarists can play chords at sight, as soon as we come to a tricky run or moving appegios they crash and burn. Guitarists generally need time to practice alone with tabs before performing. Guitarists who spend most of their time playing tabs must have an aspiration to do nothing more than play in coverbands or play along with a CD. That is the only situation tabs are used in these days. No professional commitment (that requires reading) will use tabs unless there is no sheet music availible or the guitarist cannot read sheet (and if he can't read sheet he'll have had a hard time getting the spot).

Most guitarists who really will become great musicians, or at very least well rounded musicians, do not use tabs as they are an inefficient method for learnign pieces of music quickly and accurately.

[Po0sH]

boobs...talk about boobs...enclose some pics of boobs...you're in.

[Mr. Pennywhistle]

boobs...talk about boobs...enclose some pics of boobs...you're in.
Liberi showed me some 11 year old asian girls boobs earlier today :-X

[Po0sH]

Liberi showed me some 11 year old asian girls boobs earlier today :-X
kewl dud...i take it they were just plain nipples

[Mr. Pennywhistle]

No there was some lumppage happening that's why he was all excited and aimed me :-X

[Po0sH]

No there was some lumpaghe happening that's why he was all excited and aimed me :-X
:eek: kewl i like molest children

[Leukeh]

kewl dud...i take it they were just plain nipples

Mosquito bites.

[Midnight]

You think 500 words is lengthy, most of my essays have to be between 2500-3000 :upset:
I went 2500 over my word limit in a short story in grade 8 - this year (grade 10) I struggled to do 500 on a boring and pointless commerce assignment

How long it feels depends upon how interested your are.

[Amit]

First person = bad grade.

uhh it's a college essay

[MPA = Communism]

First person = bad grade.

Most college application essays, or personal statements, ARE personal. The topic asks for opinon.

The essay was well written but it seemed exaggerated in some parts.

My first live performance.

Through experience and practice, I have learned to convert my jittery energy into a powerful intensity. I am now a zealous musician of over five years with fervor for both creation and performance.

Unfortunately, it will soon be over.

The copyright war has finally been taken too far.

That spacing really doesn't work. Colleges would much rather see paragraphs.

So far I'm 4 for 4 with college acceptances. Good luck!

[Hollywood Rose]

That's a great idea actually.

[Lvshorty610]

That was factually inaccurate in parts.

Certain parts you bolded I question your base for saying they are incorrect. You bolded that I am a musician of 5 years who likes to play and write songs to be incorrect? With what merit??

Certain parts I will agree with you upon, but it is imaginative and done for effect. Naturally, music will not come to an end, but its moreso to make a point than anything. All of the terms used were open-ended, leaving room for debate. "it could be the cessation of music...". It's a hypothetical situation, that while extremely unlikely, is possible. And its just to show and make a point that this should stop, for fear things really could get that bad.

Other parts you bolded, I actually researched, and tab has been in use since the Renaissance, and is being stopped due to it being unlicensed song scores. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4508158.stm . Read the main subtitle. Most of the other bolded sections were mere interpretations. Like I said, they may be hypothetical and unlikely, but its certainly a possibility to be considered, all done so in order to convey a possible idea.


You think 500 words is lengthy, most of my essays have to be between 2500-3000 :upset:

For people browsing an internet forum, just glancing at random topics to read? Heh heh, yeah, 500 words is lengthy :lol:

I suppose the artists make more from tabbooks than Internet download because the guitar/bass/drums/whatever parts are owned by them.

BTW, I think the essay showed little critical thinking. That's why it brought nothing new to the topic. You proof how much the issue meant to you but that's about it.

You may very well be right, but I really don't know what other critical thinking/personal opinion I could have put into it than what I did. I mean, I came up with a plausible solution, I offered actually a fair amount of interpretation, I'm not sure what else I can put in. Suggestions?

That spacing really doesn't work. Colleges would much rather see paragraphs.

So far I'm 4 for 4 with college acceptances. Good luck!

Honestly, it's just a style of writing. 5ish word paragraphs, if done correctly, actually often tend to be really strong even with the most simple of words. And it is later justified, if you will, by more lengthy paragraphs. Alot of the way I write is done for effect -- the one line paragraphs, the hypothetical situations of possibilities... its all just a style. Like I said though, my Literature teacher who discusses and proofreads all of these essays with me used to work as an admissions officer for Notre Dame, so if he's cool with it... :lol:

[Mr. Pennywhistle]

"Certain parts you bolded I question your base for saying they are incorrect. "You bolded that I am a musician of 5 years who likes to play and write songs to be incorrect? With what merit??""

You said you were a creative, zealous musician, but your performing days were coming to an end. Both can't be true.

"Other parts you bolded, I actually researched, and tab has been in use since the Renaissance, and is being stopped due to it being unlicensed song scores. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4508158.stm ."

Music in the form of tablature is not being banned, just unlicensed reproductuctins or 'interpretations'.

"Read the main subtitle. Most of the other bolded sections were mere interpretations. Like I said, they may be hypothetical and unlikely, but its certainly a possibility to be considered, all done so in order to convey a possible idea."

Incorrect interpretaions but w/e.

[MPA = Communism]

Honestly, it's just a style of writing. 5ish word paragraphs, if done correctly, actually often tend to be really strong even with the most simple of words.

I know that it's a style - one that's not used correctly here. Apart from the first line, it does absolutely nothing for the essay.

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

First person = bad grade.
:thumb:

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

uhh it's a college essay
Whoops.