(ARA) - A software program invented by Professor Tod Machover at MIT's Media Lab as a way to teach kids about composing music has taken on a new life as the backbone of a popular new music Web site for young budding musicians.
The site, www.H-Lounge.com, is a hybrid of social networking, music and commerce. "We provide an online community where kids can share their music, get feedback from other members and even make money," says Richard Resnick, CEO of H-Lounge.com.
Kids download Hyperscore, the music composition software, for free and use it to compose songs. "The software lets users sketch out a piece of music visually, so even kids who can't read music can compose interesting and complex songs using the software," says Professor Machover.
Once a member has composed a piece of music, they can upload it to the Web site, making it available to the entire H-Lounge community. Other members can then offer opinions, suggestions and constructive criticism.
"The site has become a sensation among many indie bands, so our members get to rub elbows with and get feedback from serious, professional musicians as well as other members who also have strong opinions," says Resnick.
Members are able to buy and sell these compositions as cell phone ring tones on the site. Once a song is uploaded into the H-Lounge community, members can purchase the song for a ring tone and the composer receives 30 percent of the $2 cost. "Lots of kids get checks from us every month," says Resnick. He points out that while 30 percent of $2 may not seem like a lot of money, percentage-wise, it's more than most signed artists make on their ring tone royalties. Members can buy a monthly ring tone subscription that entitles them to five ring tones a month. Skype ring tones are also available.
While Hyperscore allows anyone to compose music, as H-Lounge has increased its visibility among musicians, many of them upload their traditionally-composed songs on the Web site as well. "What first drew us to H-Lounge was that it was a simple way to create ringtones and sell them. But the icing on the cake is getting to connect with other musicians and make connections with fans, which is huge for underground hiphop being that it's such a grassroots, street-level form of music," said DJ Dainja of Psyche Origami, an Indie group signed by the Atlanta-based Indie label ATF.
In addition to sharing critiques of songs, H-Lounge members share everything from tips on breaking into the music scene to information on hot new bands. It's also a place to get and give ideas, inspiration and encouragement.
Hyperscore maintains its core business as a learning and teaching tool for schools, cultural institutions, and museums, but creator Tod Machover is thrilled by its new incarnation as part of H-Lounge, introducing hundreds of thousands of young people to the joys of composing music.
For more information or to become a member, visit www.h-lounge.com.
