Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What does it take to write performable, publishable concert band music in today’s market? In this J.W. Pepper & My Score interview, we sit down with Dr. Robert Sheldon—one of the most performed concert band composers in the world—to talk shop on everything from publishing and royalties to engraving, percussion logistics, and notation clarity. Robert Sheldon’s music is performed worldwide and appears on international concert and contest programs. With 4+ million copies of his compositions and books sold, he continues to accept commissions and release new works through Alfred Music, Belwin, Make Music Publications, Excelsia, Wingert-Jones, Randall Standridge Music, FJH, C.L. Barnhouse, Robert Sheldon Music, and J.W. Pepper.
#RobertSheldon #ConcertBand #BandComposer #MusicComposition #MusicPublishing #Engraving #Notation #PercussionWriting #BandDirector #MusicEducator #Orchestration #JWpepper #MyScore #AlfredMusic #ConcertBandMusic
Explore the My Score Page jwpepper.com/myscore?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=my-score&utm_content=my-score-robert-sheldon-video-interview-2025
Shop All Music by Robert Sheldon jwpepper.com/myscore/robertsheldonmusic?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=my-score&utm_content=my-score-robert-sheldon-video-interview-2025
Shop All My Score Music jwpepper.com/my-score-music?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=my-score&utm_content=my-score-robert-sheldon-video-interview-2025
0:00 Intro
1:13 How Did Robert Start Composing?
6:59 What Are Publishers Looking For?
13:19 What Can Make a Composition More Interesting?
21:14 What Guidelines Should a Composer Follow?
26:15 What Not to Do as a Composer
36:00 Say What You Need to Say — Without Cluttering the Page
38:02 Tips for Self-Published Composers Without Editorial Resources
41:43 How Do You Decide What Instruments Should Double?
46:24 Why Did You Start Self-Publishing?
59:11 Concluding Thoughts
What does it take to write performable, publishable concert band music in today’s market? In this J.W. Pepper & My Score interview, we sit down with Dr. Robert Sheldon—one of the most performed concert band composers in the world—to talk shop on everything from publishing and royalties to engraving, percussion logistics, and notation clarity. Robert Sheldon’s music is performed worldwide and appears on international concert and contest programs. With 4+ million copies of his compositions and books sold, he continues to accept commissions and release new works through Alfred Music, Belwin, Make Music Publications, Excelsia, Wingert-Jones, Randall Standridge Music, FJH, C.L. Barnhouse, Robert Sheldon Music, and J.W. Pepper.
#RobertSheldon #ConcertBand #BandComposer #MusicComposition #MusicPublishing #Engraving #Notation #PercussionWriting #BandDirector #MusicEducator #Orchestration #JWpepper #MyScore #AlfredMusic #ConcertBandMusic
Explore the My Score Page jwpepper.com/myscore?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=my-score&utm_content=my-score-robert-sheldon-video-interview-2025
Shop All Music by Robert Sheldon jwpepper.com/myscore/robertsheldonmusic?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=my-score&utm_content=my-score-robert-sheldon-video-interview-2025
Shop All My Score Music jwpepper.com/my-score-music?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=my-score&utm_content=my-score-robert-sheldon-video-interview-2025
0:00 Intro
1:13 How Did Robert Start Composing?
6:59 What Are Publishers Looking For?
13:19 What Can Make a Composition More Interesting?
21:14 What Guidelines Should a Composer Follow?
26:15 What Not to Do as a Composer
36:00 Say What You Need to Say — Without Cluttering the Page
38:02 Tips for Self-Published Composers Without Editorial Resources
41:43 How Do You Decide What Instruments Should Double?
46:24 Why Did You Start Self-Publishing?
59:11 Concluding Thoughts
