With Christmas around the corner, I wanted to give back by sharing with you the MIDI transcriptions that I've made over the past few years on my Composing Live! streams. I've been quietly building a collection of transcriptions that I've done for personal study from scores like Harry Potter, How To Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Elf, Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain and more. Each of these come with a reference video and a free midi download file, no strings attached. With these MIDI files, you can plug them into your DAW and reassign expression maps to them to fit your orchestral sample libraries, or test out new sample libraries that you've bought over the Black Friday weekend. Some of the sample libraries I've used for these include CSS, CSW, Spitfire Symphony Orchestra, EW Hollywood Opus, Pacific Ensemble Strings, Tina Guo Solo Cello, CS Cineperc, CS Dulcimer, CS Randy's Celeste, Omnisphere, Zebra, Diva, and more. Here's a sample of Hedwig's Theme: https://www.sohncompositions.com/store/free/hedwigs-theme-hp For the whole collection (28 with more coming in the future): https://www.sohncompositions.com/store/free Happy Holidays & Happy Studying!

Hey Audio Artist Academy fam, I need to talk to you about something that's been on my mind. When I introduced the monthly cash prizes for our top members, my intention was to reward your dedication and activity. But honestly? It backfired. I've noticed the energy shift. It feels like some of you have been chasing the money rather than genuinely connecting and helping each other grow. It got to a point where some members even created fake accounts to reward their own posts and climb the rankings faster. That's a huge red flag and completely goes against what we're building here. (Yes, I have proof for this!) I've also seen members leave, and I can't help but think the competitive prize structure and this kind of behavior played a role in that. That's not what this community is about, and I take responsibility for creating a system that encouraged the wrong kind of engagement. So we're making a change - effective immediately. The money prizes are gone. Instead, here's the new monthly recognition for our top 3 most active members: 🥇 1st Place: 30-minute 1-on-1 call with me (feedback session, Q&A, whatever you need) 🥈 2nd Place: Written feedback or voice note on one of your tracks 🥉 3rd Place: Community spotlight - I'll feature your work in a Skool post here and give you some exposure These rewards are about learning, growth, and visibility - not cash. I want this to feel like recognition, not a competition that divides us. Thanks for understanding, and let's get back to what matters: supporting each other and making great music together.

Something special is happening this November. 👀 To celebrate Black Friday, I’m launching the Black Box Mystery Giveaway - a four-week event filled with hidden rewards for composers and creatives. Each week, one Black Box will unlock … and inside could be anything from production tools and creative resourcesto personal mentorship opportunities and more. It’s completely free to join - just answer a few short questions to enter the draw: 👉 Join the mystery here 👈 The first box unlocks Monday, November 10th,with new surprises every week leading up to Black Friday weekend. Get in before the first reveal - and let the mystery begin. 🖤

Everybody’s different, so take this list as inspiration rather than hard rules. Some things might click for you, others not so much — and that’s totally fine. ☕ Coffee One or two cups are usually enough. If you need more and still don’t feel awake, the issue probably isn’t “not enough coffee.” Also, caffeine hangs around in your system for hours — so if you’re waking up in the middle of the night (and it’s not the kids), your late coffee might be the real culprit. 🍳 Breakfast Choices Starting the day with protein instead of just carbs helps avoid that blood sugar rollercoaster. A carb-heavy breakfast can make you crash, leaving you tired or dizzy… and then we reach for more coffee. And while fruit juice often sounds “healthy,” the sugar spike is usually higher than you’d expect. To put it into perspective: a Coke Zero plus a Vitamin C supplement would probably be the healthier option — not as an actual breakfast choice, but just as a comparison. And for the record, sweeteners are among the most researched food ingredients out there, and no, they don’t cause cancer. ☀️ Vitamin D3 For me, this is the ultimate mood booster. Most of us don’t get enough sun (especially in winter), and Vitamin D is tied to energy, immune system, and yes — your mood. Feels like turning the light switch back on. 💪 Creatine Not just for gym rats. Creatine is one of the most researched supplements out there, and it supports your brain just as much as your muscles. It can help with energy, focus, and even long-term cognitive health. Pretty crazy that almost everyone could benefit from it. 🌬 Breathing Most of the time we breathe shallow without even noticing. A couple of slow, deep breaths during the day can reset your nervous system and bring you back into the moment. Simple, free, and surprisingly effective. 🚶 Walk, Don’t Run You don’t have to run marathons to stay in shape. Running burns through glycogen (your quick energy stores) first, and yes, it can also dip into muscle if those stores are low. Walking, on the other hand, keeps you in a lower intensity “fat-burning zone” and is much easier on your body. Sure, running burns more calories in less time, but for long-term health and consistency, a simple 20-minute walk a day is more than enough — and something most people can actually stick with.

Congratulations to the founder of this group for welcoming Lientje Elowen into this world! Your pedagogy, patience & thoughtfulness will ensure that this tiny new human will be a wonderful addition to your family & the world!