Music Media resources

[MikeKD]

Hi Folks,

On my ToDo list is the need to catalogue music resources in my department. My initial thought was that it would be quite straightforward, but after a morning pondering the factors, I wanted some advice on the structure before I spent time running around in circles!

Here's what I need to consider:

Resources could be in a variety of media:

• Orchestra parts (for individual players - but they'd always(?) be a full set or not worth keeping)
• Orchestral scores
• Choir scores
• CDs
• pdfs of parts or scores.

They would always consist of at least one movement, but a work will often have more than one movement.

• A symphony would normally have 4 movements, but we might only have the music of one of them.
• A pop song will only have one movement.

They could exist in different arrangements, e.g.

• For orchestra
• Soul Band
• choir
• for 2 clarinets and broken kazoo

A piece could have more than one composer and arranger e.g.

• composed by Ringo, Paul and George
• arranged for SATB choir by Fred and arranged for SATTB choir by Burt

The media could be filed in different locations

• orchestra cupboard, iTunes etc

I hope this all makes sense.

The end result:

1. Labels for resources with serial numbers and details.
2. Easy to search so I can find what we've got and where it's stored.
3. Easy to add resources so I can autocomplete composers
4. printable A-Z (etc) list.

I hope this makes sense - sorry it's so long!!!

Best wishes,

Mike

 

 

[MikeKD]

I'm getting close to knowing what I want.

One issue I'm struggling with is the relationship between movements and works.

I had thought that I'd put them in two separate tables, but I think that they're often similar ( - e.g. A gospel song is a movement AND a work), that I mark their category with different checkboxes in the same table. I can then use filters and relationships to show only the ones I want.

The more I think about it, the more I'm sure this is the right solution to that particular quandary.

Incidentally, one of my tables is of composers - it's going to be quite comprehensive in a week or two - would it help anyone if I posted it as a CSV when it's done?

Cheers,

Mike