Music composition contests are typically solitary affairs. Traditionally, composers work independently to write a piece using paper or desktop software tools, submit it, and hope for the best. With the availability of Web 2.0 music composition tools, compositions contests have evolved. They’re now fun to watch, and include music notation tools directly in the contestant’s web browser.

Noteflight, a free online music notation tool and community with more than 20,000 members, just launched its very first contest of this kind. Contestants are writing variations of the tune “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” just as Mozart did back in 1781, but with an important twist. Rather than writing their pieces alone, participants in the contest can watch other contestants write their entries and they can revise their own pieces for the entire duration of the contest.

“We created Noteflight to transform the way people approach written music”, stated Joseph Berkovitz, inventor and CEO of Noteflight. “Now that musicians have free notation tools that allow notated music to be easily shared on the web, professional composers and enthusiasts alike can harness the power of a community to the creative process” stated Berkovitz. And that’s exactly what makes this contest so interesting to follow. Contestants aren’t just competing for the $500 grand prize gift certificate from Sweetwater Sound. They’re competing for community recognition of their work both during and after the contest.

The Noteflight community will also produce something tangible – a large and fascinating collection of variations on Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star that people can view and listen to on http://www.Noteflight.com. For the community, it’s a true pleasure because members can both learn from watching and enjoy the product of the contest, which makes everyone a winner.

Participation in the contest costs nothing. Anyone can sign up for a free account at Noteflight.com, compose an original variation using Noteflight’s free, award winning online notation editor, and then submit an entry before August 31, 2009. The $500 Grand Prize winner will be able to use the gift certificate for anything in the Sweetwater online catalog. To learn more and sign up for the contest visit http://contests.noteflight.com

The contest will be judged by two noted composers and professors: Alex Ruthmann, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell and Donald Byrd, Ph.D. Adjunct Associate Professor of Music at Indiana University. Entries are due on or before August 31, 2009.

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