1. Use Cope-events which are like (0 0 1000 1 127) where element 1. is ontime in 1000s of second 2. is midi note (60 = middle C) 3. is duration in 1000s of second 4. is channel (1-16) 5. is loudness (0-127)

2.  Begins at time zero  Middle C on piano  Lasts a quarter note when tempo set to 60 beats per minute  Channel 1 (can be any instrument you want) 16 in all though 10 to be avoided  As loud as possible (0 – silence – useless?) rests not necessary

3.  Cope-events come in lists as in  ‘((0 60 1000 1 127) (1000 62 1000 1 127) (2000 64 1000 1 127)(3000 65 1000 1 127) (4000 67 4000 1 127)) equals:

4.  Musical Instrument Digital Interface  Watch it: “MIDI interface” is redundant  Does not create sound  Like a musical score  Channels tell sequencers (Finale, iTunes, etc.) when to turn on a channel, turn off a channel, etc.  Set the instrument in any channel you want

5.  Ontime: 0; Duration:500 = an eighth-note in music notation  Ontime: 845; Duration:260 = gibberish in music notation  Result: keep your cope-events in logical ontimes and logical durations  Triplets, etc. = 333, 333, 334 durations, etc.  If you want good notation-be careful!!!

6.  Performed MIDI files  Must quantize to a given duration that often alters the music severely  Non-performed MIDI files  Works best for analyzing music

7.  Music notation is an algorithm  Music notation is an algorithm created by other people  Music notation is an algorithm created by other people that severely limits expression  Ledger lines, rhythm, pitch, etc.  MIDI need not have such limitations  Only if you wish to see your music represented

8.  Sells the most?  Performed the most?  Listened to the most?  Talked about the most?  Differing arrangements the most?  Quoted the most?  Lasts the longest?

9.  The best restaurant would be Burger King  The best film would be Titanic  The best author would be Stephen King  The best hotel would Best Western  The best music would be the Star Spangled Banner

10.  Best: music that does the most with the least  Worst: music that does the least with the most Or  Best: music that gets better the more you listen to it  Worst: music that you listen to once.

11.  Keep peeling off the layers and continue to discover something new.

12.  There is no such thing as good music.  There is no such thing as bad music.  There is only music you like or don’t like.