Music Outside The Box

Q. Why do you call it Music Outside The Box?
A. There are several reasons for this name:
1. It refers to taking ensembles outside the rehearsal room and concert hall to perform and volunteer in the local community.
2. It refers to thinking outside the box by providing sheet music in exchange for community service.
3. It refers to thinking outside the box in terms of a common-sense approach to copyright – the right to make as many copies as you need or to rewrite a part for a different instrument.
4. It refers to providing Primer™ resources like scales, chorales, arpeggios, composite melody, basic solo ideas, and the like for directors and students to enrich their educational experience.

Community Service

Q. What is required for Community Service?
A. Anything that serves the community is acceptable. Many ensembles already serve their community with performances at local senior centers or senior living facilities. Participating in a local community parade could also be community service as long as you are not compensated for your performance. Please see Ways To Contribute->Community Service->Ideas for more.

Q. How does MOTB confirm Community Service?
A. All it takes is a complete application that fulfills community service. MOTB will not contact anyone to confirm your community service. MOTB’s intent is to thank and encourage ensembles for community service.

Q. We participate in numerous Community Service events throughout the year. Can we apply for music for each event?
A. Absolutely! That is the intent – to thank and encourage you and your ensemble for all they contribute to the community.

Q. You keep referring to the local community, what if we contribute community service that is not local?
A. Community Service is Community Service! MOTB emphasizes local but does not limit community service to local organizations.

Nonprofit Donations

Q. You request a copy of our donation receipt – does it have to show MOTB on the receipt?
A. We would prefer it show MOTB on the receipt but it is not required.

Q. Can I use a donation we made three years ago for our donation?
A. Your donation should be recent. For school ensembles, within the current semester. If you are applying in the summer, it would be the previous semester. Within the last three months for non-school ensembles.

Applications

Q. How long does it take from submitting an application to receiving our music?
A. You should receive your music PDF’s within 24 hours. Make sure you check your spam folder since the emails will contain attachments.

Q. How detailed does the Community Service application need to be?
A. As brief or as detailed as you like. Sorry, no extra credit for long essays.

Music Offerings

Q. Why do most of your compositions have foreign word titles?
A. These words or phrases are selected to reflect the music as well as to serve as a reminder that we are all part of a global community.

Q. Why are most of your offerings limited to Jazz?
A. Jazz is what I enjoy writing. There are a few band pieces and some vocal offerings and they may expand in the future. The current offering is where I decided to launch the concept.

Q. Why don’t you offer Jazz standards?
A. MOTB only offers original and public domain arrangements. An abundance of arrangements of standards for both Jazz and Band is already available online.

Q. Why don’t you offer printed copies of the music?
A. MOTB does not have the financial resources or staff to offer printed copies. The process of printing copies is expensive and this is one way to change the emphasis from paying for paper, ink, labor, and shipping, to supporting local communities.

Primers

Q. Do Primers require additional Community Service/Nonprofit Donations?
A. No, Primers are included as part of your title selection.

Q. The primer looks like a lot of rehearsing before we even get to the music we want to perform.
A. The Primer is intended to be used in part or whole, depending on the experience level of the ensemble and the preference of the director. Some may choose to use the entire score, others may only use it for playing tests or to provide the chord progression for an alternate soloist. The choice is yours.

Recordings

Q. Why do your recordings sound computer generated?
A. Sadly, that is what they are. That will change as we are able to record live performances.

501(c)3

Q. MOTB is a 501(c)3, why can’t we simply donate to MOTB?
A. The purpose of MOTB is to encourage support of local community service so we prefer your donation stay local.

Q. Why is MOTB a 501(c)3?
A. We want you to know that we are a reputable nonprofit organization and being a 501(c)3 is one way to establish this. We are also a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation to again establish that we are a reputable nonprofit organization. None of this is required but we feel it is well worth the time, effort, and expense.

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