I help musicians of all ages connect with their music and community in fresh, fun, and ever more meaningful ways.
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Benjamin Dean Taylor is a composer of contemporary concert music. His energetic, adventurous music provides a uniquely refreshing sonic experience for performers and audiences alike. Trained as a trumpet player and pianist, he performs with and writes music for chamber ensembles, jazz combos and big bands, wind bands, orchestras, choirs, and experimental ensembles. As a sought-after composer for wind band, Taylor has been commissioned by over 100 band directors of players at all educational levels. Much of his music includes electronic elements - from prerecorded sounds to live, interactive electronics and video.
Passionate about inspiring the rising generation of composers, he is the founder and executive director of Music Creators Academy, a yearly summer program that teaches musical creativity in a virtual setting. He also serves as the Program Director for the Indiana University Jacobs Composition Academy and is a member of the Blue Dot Collective.
Passionate about inspiring the rising generation of composers, he is the founder and executive director of Music Creators Academy, a yearly summer program that teaches musical creativity in a virtual setting. He also serves as the Program Director for the Indiana University Jacobs Composition Academy and is a member of the Blue Dot Collective.
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RECENT NEWS and UPDATES!
Fall 2024 Update -International Events!
Dr. Benjamin Taylor enjoyed the recent Asia Premiere of his Saxophone Quartet Concerto Aurum Tetra in Hong Kong as well as performances of other works in Thailand, Portugal, Australia, Puerto Rico, and the UK. At home, he has enjoyed recent premieres of newly commissioned works all over the USA; Living on Rock and Roll, a concerto for rock band soloists, Sunset Highway, for wind band and audio track, Player Two Press Start, another work for wind band and audio track, and Forever Falcons, a fanfare for wind ensemble. In July 2024, Dr. Taylor directed a special Video Game Scoring Workshop through the Music Creators Academy which was a tremendous success. Recent commissions include a new work for flute and audio track for the Utah Flute Association and his first Symphony for Wind Ensemble commissioned by a consortium jointly led by directors Lauren Reynolds (U of Delaware), Trae Blanco (Butler), and Shawn Smith (Brigham Young University).
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Consortium Premiere
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Player One Press Start official Release!
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Consortium members have been enjoying this piece in performances around the world. Now available to the general public!
Standard Concert Band plus electronic audio track 4 minutes Grade 2.5 Hear recordings, view perusal score, and purchase options HERE |
My first Video Game SoundtrackThis summer, along side my students in the MCA Video Game Scoring Workshop, I wrote my own title track to a hypothetical, modern warfare game called, "Detroit Underground". It was SO rewarding to feel like a student again soaking up learning from my colleague and fellow composer, Jeff Broadbent. Here is my track!
Be sure to check out next summer's workshop if you want to learn how to write your own music for video games!
https://www.musiccreatorsacademy.com/ |
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Music now distributed by Matt Klohs Music in Australia!
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I'm so excited to have my music more readily available to Australian band directors! Thanks Matt!
https://mattklohs.com/collections/all/benjamin-taylor |
Music now distributed by Long and McQuade in Canada!
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I'm so excited to have my music more readily available to Canadian band directors! Thanks to Tricia and Bob for the warm welcome they have given me at Long and McQuade.
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Presentation for Ultimate Music Business Summit 1/6/2023
How did I go from full-time student to full-time freelance composer? I graduated in 2014 with a doctorate degree in music composition from Indiana University. You would think that I’d be a university professor of composition somewhere. Wrong. I have chosen not to pursue a full-time academic job and I did not inherit wealth. So how in the world do I provide a living for my family (wife and six kids) only doing music? I am happy to share my experience with you of what has worked for me and what has not worked for me. My story includes busting a few common myths about starting a musical career, how I make my living writing music, performing, and teaching, and the steps I took to create a stable career doing what I love! Interested? I will show you how you can take the leap, too!
Click here to see my notes
Click here to see my notes
NEW works for wind band!
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The Excitement of Fear (grade 3.5) band and flexible audio track, inspired by the adrenaline rush we get from activities that scare us like cliff jumping, rollercoasters, and horror movies.
And May We Always Cherish (grade 3) Reflective, lyrical work with solos in alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone (or euphonium), tuba, flute, oboe (or clarinet), horn (or saxophone)
Party Potatoes - tuba concerto (professional level) with band (grade 3). Designed for small band programs with a visiting professional soloist. SUPER fun, groovy piece!
Mile a Minute (grade 4) energetic, moto perpetuo, driving piece.
And May We Always Cherish (grade 3) Reflective, lyrical work with solos in alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone (or euphonium), tuba, flute, oboe (or clarinet), horn (or saxophone)
Party Potatoes - tuba concerto (professional level) with band (grade 3). Designed for small band programs with a visiting professional soloist. SUPER fun, groovy piece!
Mile a Minute (grade 4) energetic, moto perpetuo, driving piece.
Flex/Adaptable works for ensemble (Band or Orchestra)
Each of these works is written or arranged specifically for our unprecedented times surrounding the COVID19 pandemic. It is my hope that we can empower the rising generation to make meaningful and engaging music together, whether that be virtually or in small groups in-person. My work with Music Creators Academy has shown me that this is not only possible but offers many benefits and advantages not previously available. All of these works are for flexible instrumentation with electronic audio track. They are ideal for students to put together using a platform like bandlab.com or soundtrap.com. I sincerely hope you and your students enjoy them!
Intermountain Underground NEW VIDEO
Techno Blade featured in Scotland
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Techno Blade (for concert band and audio track) was featured at the Scottish Learning Festival at the Scottish Exhibition Centre. An incredibly talented young dancer named Ellie Fergusson choreographed a solo to go along with the music! Ellie recently won The Greatest Dancer which is a popular televised dance program in the U.K. Thank you Ellie, and all the students in the West Calder High School Senior Wind Band and their director, Camille Mason. So fun! Video of the performance is here:
https://youtu.be/aCcke5s2Kw4 |
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The Hope Within - Indiana University
Copyright Benjamin Taylor. All Rights Reserved.