I have been writing and doing arrangements for about 15 years (never seriously until I decided to go back to school and persue this "hobby" in 1997) Since 1997 I have written several pieces some for piano, some for wind ensemble, and some for orchestra. I am very comfortable doing wind ensemble arrengements of pop music for high school bands (marching/pep primarily). Virtually all the plays I shall post are computer playback (thus some instruments may sound "non-characteristic."
No, I prefer to simply write, "as the mood strikes me."
Self taught mostly as far as compositions go- tonal and somewhat romantic in nature. While persuing my B.M. Ed. the comp teacher was at a loss except in demanding the visual edits of the score (which I despise doing- I generally toss the notes on the page and hope Finale will straighten it out to be legible).
I use Finale 2007 currently to compose - though I have used earlier versions.
I am a life long resident of the North Georgia Mountians (yes I am somewhat of a redneck by nature), in the early years I was influenced in part from church choirs, and in my teen years I listened primarily to the "hair bands" of the 80s. Neither of those influences seem to me to predominite my writing however, I really do not know from whence the music (stylistically comes) as I never was truly a fan of classical music. "The muse sings as she will, and I write it down.." that the simplest way I know how to put it.