Dilettante Music

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Members' Profiles: General
Members' Profiles: Music
Members' Profiles: mp3s
Events Calendar
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Music

Browsing

  1. Do I need to be a member to browse the site?

    Anyone can browse the Dilettante site, view member profiles, and buy music. But you need to be a member in order to communicate with members, and in order to create fingerprints of the music you love.

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Sign Up

  1. How much does membership cost?

    Nothing. Joining Dilettante is free; the only qualification to join is curiosity.

  2. Can I have more than one profile?

    You can have several Dilettante profiles, as long as you use a different email address for each one.

  3. What if I don't play an instrument?

    You don't need to play an instrument to join the Dilettante community. The only thing you need is curiosity about classical music.

  4. How do I determine my membership type?

    On Dilettante there are three categories of member types: *listeners *musicians (including ensembles and orchestras) and *organisations. Your membership type is a way of telling other users about your relationship with music.

    • Listeners (novice listener, listener, serious listener)

      Calling yourself a listener means that listening - rather than playing - is your primary relationship with music. You might play an instrument, but you don't regard yourself as a musician. You're not looking for gigs or ensembles to play with, and you're not interested in discussing issues in performance or technique.

    • Musicians (dabbler, serious amateur, music student, young professional, professional, composer; Ensembles (duo, trio, quartet, ensemble, youth/amateur/professional orchestra)

      You don't need to be a professional in order to call yourself a 'musician' on Dilettante. A dabbler might bring great passion but less skill to their playing, and lots of amateur orchestras play to professional standard. Choosing 'musician' is a way of telling other users about your relationship to classical music. But it's also a practical matter. If you're available for performances or are looking to join an ensemble, you should be easy to find through a Dilettante musician search.

    • Organisations (organisations, venues)

      Identifying yourself as an organisation means you're an arts venue, an educational institution or summer school, a festival, or some other administrative structure related to learning, performing or presenting classical music.

  5. Now that I've signed up how can I get to my profile?

    You will need to activate your account first. Shortly after you register, you will receive an email message to the account you're using for Dilettante, containing the activation link. Follow that link.

  6. How do I activate my account?

    You will receive an email message containing the activation link.

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Log in

  1. How do I log in?

    Log in using your email address and your password. You can log in to Dilettante from anywhere on the site. There's always a link on the top corner of the page.

  2. How do I log out?

    You can log out from anywhere on the site. Just click on the 'log out' link at the top of the page.

  3. What if I forget my password?

    We will send you a password reminder. Just click on the 'forgotten password' link on the top of the page, enter your email address in the form and your password will be sent to you via email.

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Members' Profiles: General

  1. How do I edit my profile?

    You need to be logged in to edit your profile. Once you've done so, click on the 'edit profile' link on the right.

  2. How can I change or crop my profile photo?

    3. To change your profile photo you need to log into your account. Once you've done so, follow the 'edit profile' link on the top right side of your profile page. Then click 'Choose file' to browse your hard drive for a new image, and click 'Upload'. You do not need to delete your existing picture first.
    To crop a profile photo, you need to upload it to the Dilettante site first, following the instructions above. Click on the photo to open the cropping tool.
    The square box where the image is clearest shows the correct size of the profile photo, and the portion of the image that will be visible. To select a different portion of the picture, simply click on the photo and drag it to move the portion you want into the square box. The slider allows you to zoom in and out of the photo. Click 'Save' when you're finished making these adjustments.

  3. Can I change my member type?

    You can use the 'edit profile' function to change your member type at any time. You'll find the 'edit profile' link on the right side of your profile page.

  4. What is my username for?

    When you set up your Dilettante profile, you'll be asked to create a unique username. This username becomes part of the Dilettante web address in your browser's address bar whenever you're logged into your profile. You can add this username to your CV or profiles on other websites to take users directly to your own Dilettante profile.

  5. Privacy Settings

    Users should be very careful about the personal information they share in their profile. Contact details, including address and telephone numbers, should only be shared with trusted contacts. Still, Dilettante is a public website, and is not intended to be a means for users only to communicate with people they already know. For this reason, it is not possible to make profiles visible only to friends.

  6. Notifications

    If another Dilettante sends you a message or a friends request, or comments on your blog, you will receive an email alert to your personal email address. If you do not want to receive these alerts, log into your profile and click on 'edit profile'. Scroll down to the 'email notification' option and select 'No'. When you're logged in, all new messages, including pending friends requests, will appear on the top right corner of your Dilettante web page.

  7. How do I get to my profile page?

    When you log in you will automatically be taken to your profile page. If you leave your profile to visit the music pages or another user's profile, you can return to your profile by simply clicking on your name at the top right corner of the Dilettante web page.

    If you are browsing anywhere on the Dilettante site you will always see a link at the top of each page for easy access to your profile. Just click on your name and you're there.

    Another way of getting to your profile is by typing your profile url, for instance: http://www.dilettantemusic.com/member/ plus your member id. To change your member id to something more rememberable visit your edit profile page.

  8. What is my profile page?

    Your profile home page is a summary of all the content you enter in your profile pages.

  9. Can I control what information appears on my profile page?

    The only way to control what information other users see on your profile page is by deciding whether or not to include it in your profile. If you don't want other users to know things about you, do not include this information in your Dilettante profile.

  10. Why is some information missing from other members' profiles?

    If a user hasn't added information to a section of their profile, that section isn't visible to other users. Only the profile owner can see the sections that need information.

  11. What is a blog?

    A blog is an online journal. You can use it to express your feelings or views about anything from a concert you attended to the Classical Stars results. It's also the place to post news you wish to share, from what you ate for breakfast to the fact that you won a music competition.
    You update your blog by adding 'posts' to it, on which other members can comment. Anyone can read blogs, but in order to write or comment on one, you must be logged in.

  12. How do I add friends to my profile?

    In order to add a friend to your profile, you need to be logged in. Then you can visit their profile page where you'll see a link that says 'add to friends' on the right side. If your friendship request is accepted, you'll receive a notification message and your new friends will appear immediately in your friends list.

  13. Can I remove friends?

    As long as you're logged in, you can always remove someone from your friends list. You can do this either from the 'friends' section of your own profile, or from the other member's profile page.

  14. How can I upload a photo?

    All photos need to be in an album, so in order to upload a photo the first step it create an album. You can do this by logging into your profile and opening the 'photos' section. Create an album with a title of your choice. Add photos to your album by browsing your hard drive, choosing the photos you want, and selecting 'upload'.

  15. Can I delete a photo?

    You can easily delete a photo by clicking the 'remove' button underneath it.

  16. Can I delete a photo album?

    You can easily delete a photo album by clicking on the 'delete album' link next to the album's title. Remember that whe n you delete an album you also delete all the photos in that album.

  17. What is 'small talk'?

    Small talk is an easy, fun and public way for members to communicate. You can use the message box that says 'talk to me' to leave a short message in your own or another user's small talk section Only profile owners can delete comments from their own small talk sections.

  18. Sending messages

    You can send a message to any registered Dilettante through our internal messaging system. (For now, you cannot use the Dilettante system to send a message to an external email address.) There are two ways to send a message through Dilettante. To send a message to anyone, you need to be logged in. Then find the profile of the person you want to send a message to and click 'send a message'. To send a message to a friend or multiple recipients from your friends list, log into your profile and then click 'messages' next to your name at the top right corner of your browser window. Select 'compose' from the sub-menu that appears. Whe you click inside the 'recipients' box and start typing, the names of your friends will appear. Select one or more of those people to receive the message.

  19. Making a CV request

    If you find a musician or ensemble on Dilettante whom you would like to hire or work with, you can make a CV request. In order to do so, you need to be logged in. Then visit the profile of the Dilettante whose CV you would like to see, and click 'request CV'. Please note that you will need to supply an email address to which the CV should be sent, since Dilettante messages do not permit attachments, so be sure that it is an email address you are comfortable sharing.

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Members' Profiles: Music

  1. What is the music section for?

    Musicians can use the music section of their profile to showcase their repertoire, influences, and even their own recordings. Listeners can use this section to detail favourite composers, works or albums.

  2. Instruments

    Users will find a comprehensive drop-down list of instruments from which to choose. You can select the instruments as 'primary' or 'secondary', and can include notes. If you don't play an instrument you can still use the rest of the music section of your profile to tell others about your favourite music.

  3. Skills

    Skills includes anything you know how to do that enhances your profile. For instance, musicians might be skilled at accompaniment, teaching, or arranging. Listeners might be good writers who produce good CD reviews or be expert concert promoters.

  4. Using the Dilettante Music Pages

    The Music Pages of the Dilettante site provide a library of information about composers, works, and albums, with links to Amazon where users can buy the music they're reading about. Listeners can enhance their profiles by linking the music they like in the Music Pages to the 'favourites' section of their profile. Musicians can use the Music Pages to create links to their repertoire, influences, and even their own recordings in their Dilettante profile.

  5. Recommendations

    You can only recommend music to other Dilettantes who are already in your friends list. Simply find the work in our Music pages, and choose 'recommend'. A message will open containing our standard recommendation message, however you can add a personal message if you like.

  6. Favourites

    You can enhance your profile by revealing your favourite composers and works. To add music or people to your favourites, you need to visit the Dilettante music pages. Find a composer you want to add, and click on 'add to my favourites'. It will then appear in the favourites section of your profile./p>

  7. What is a fingerprint?

    A fingerprint is what some websites call a 'tag': your own word to describe a piece of music. How does it make you feel? Where did you hear it? What does it make you think of? We like the word 'fingerprint' because it creates a personal connection between you and the music you identify.

  8. Influences

    You can enhance your profile by telling other users about the composers, performers and works that influence you. To add information to your list of influences, you need to visit the Dilettante music pages. Find a composer you want to add, and click on 'add to my influences'. It will then appear in the 'influences' section of your profile.

  9. Repertoire

    You can enhance your profile by telling other users about the works you play at performance level. To add information to the repertoire in your profile, you need to visit the Dilettante music pages. Find a composer you want to add, and click on 'add to my repertoire'. It will then appear in the repertoire section of your profile.

  10. What is 'recordings' for?

    If you've taken part in an album recording, this is the place to say so. To add an album to 'my recordings' visit the Dilettante music pages. Find the album on which you appear, and click on the option 'add to my recordings. This will open a dialogue box that offers the option of adding some comments about the recording.

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Members' Profiles: mp3s

  1. How do I upload an mp3

    To upload an mp3, you need to be logged into your profile. When your main profile page opens, click 'upload mp3' on the right side of the page.

  2. Creating a playlist: all mp3s need to be organised into playlists

    • If you've never created a playlist you will be asked to do so by giving it a name and clicking 'Go'.

    • If you've already created a playlist you will see it on your playlist drop-down menu when you click 'upload mp3' from your profile page. Select the playlist to which you'd like to add your mp3.

    • If you've already created a playlist but want to create a new one, choose 'upload mp3' from your profile page, and then click on the pink 'create a new playlist' link on the right side of the screen.

  3. Selecting an mp3

    Once your playlist has been created, click 'upload mp3'. Browse the files on your computer to find and select the mp3 you'd like to upload.

  4. About this mp3

    • You need to give the work title and composer for your mp3.

    • If the work is included in the Dilettante music pages, select that option. Begin typing the title and composer, and select the work from the list that appears. By doing this, vistors to your mp3 page can click through to information about the work and composer information in the Dilettante Music Pages. Also, your mp3 will automatically appear on the relevant 'work' page in the music section.

    • If the mp3 is a performance of a new work and is not yet included in the Dilettante Music Pages, select 'this is a performance of a new work' and manually type the title and composer. Add the part/movement and other details in the space provided. These fields are optional.

    • Click 'Upload'. When your mp3 has been uploaded, you will automatically be redirected to your playlists page.

  5. Reordering a playlist

    You can change the order of the tracks in your playlist. To do so, open the playlist that you want to reorder and click on 'reorder' in the pink text on the right side of the screen. This will prompt each work's Play button to change into an arrow button. Click on the arrow button of the mp3 that you want to move and drag it to where you would like it to go. When you've finished reordering your playlist, click 'done reordering'.

  6. Editing a playlist

    • To change the name of a playlist, click 'edit' on that playlist's pink submenu.
    • To remove a playlist, select the playlist that you wish to delete and select 'delete playlist' on its pink submenu to the right side of the screen. Please note that this will delete the entire playlist including all the mp3s in it.
    • To edit the information about an mp3, select the pink 'edit' link that appears under the mp3 that you want to change. Once you have finished, click 'Update'.
    • To remove an individual mp3, select the pink 'delete' link that appears under the mp3 that you want to remove. To delete the mp3 click on the "tick", if you don't want to delete the mp3 click the "cross".

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Events Calendar

  1. Can anyone upload an event?

    Yes, as long as you're a Dilettante member and logged into your account. Any events you upload will automatically appear in the Events section of your Dilettante profile.

  2. Where do I upload an event?

    Once you've logged in, there are two ways to upload an event. First, you can click 'upload event' on your Dilettante profile. Alternatively, click 'upload an event' on the homepage of the Events section.

  3. What details do I need to include?

    Artist, event name, location venue, date and time are compulsory fields. It is also useful to include ticket prices and where people can get tickets from, which can be a link to an online booking form or website. You can use the 'Description' box to include extra information abou the programme or artists.

  4. Uploading a photo for your event

    Any photo you'd like to associate with your event wll appear next to it in the Events Calendar.

  5. How do I crop my event photo?

    You need to upload the photo and save the event first. Then choose 'edit this event' and click on the photo. This enables the cropping tool which allows you to select the portion of the image that will be visible, and zoom in or out.

  6. Google maps

    If you want to include a map showing your venue's location in your listing, click 'find map' when uploading your event.

  7. Why does my map not appear?

    In most cases, a map can be found using the venue address. However, in some instances, Google Maps cannot find a map for addresses it considers 'ambiguous'. If no map appears when you click 'find map' try entering the address in an alternative way such as postcode, town, or street, town, country, and then click 'find map' again.

  8. What if my event is on more than one day?

    For events that run over several dates or form part of a series or festival, upload the first date as an event, and save it. Then click 'duplicate this event' on the top right-hand side of the page and change the date, the name of the artist, or any other relevant details. You can also choose a different event photo.

  9. Your involvement in an event

    When uploading an event, you can indicate your relationship with it - for instance, that you're attending, organising or performing in it. But you do not need to be connected to an event to upload it. You can also indicate your relationship to events posted by other users; see No. 11 'Add to my events' .

  10. Finding events

    Dilettante members who are logged in will automatically see events close to where they live. Non-members see the default Events homepage which features events in London. To find events that have been listed on the Dilettante calendar in any other city or country, you can change locations manually by clicking 'change city'. You can also search for specific events using the simple or advanced search in the Events homepage.

  11. 'Add to my events'

    If you see an event in which you're performing or which you plan to attend, you can link it to the Events section of your Dilettante profile. Click 'add to my events' on the listing for that event. You'll then be given the option of choosing your relationship with the event (performing or attending), and it will appear in that submenu of your own Events section.

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Groups

  1. Who can create a group?

    Any registered Dilettante can create a group. Groups you create and belong to automatically appear on your Dilettante profile.

  2. How do I create a group?

    Visit the Groups area of the Dilettante site, and click on 'create a group'.

  3. How do I upload and edit a photo to my group profile?

    Click 'browse' to find the image you want to associate with your group on your computer then click 'upload'. Please note that you can only modify the photo after your group profile has been saved. Once you've saved the information about your group, click 'edit this group' to make any changes to the group photo, description or access status.

  4. What does 'access' mean?

    Your group can be 'open' or 'closed'. If your group is 'open' anyone can join it. If a group is 'closed', the person who created the group must accept new members. To join a closed group you need to request membership from the group's creator. To do so, visit the group's page and click 'join this group' to send a message to the group owner.

  5. Who can delete a group?

    Only the person who created a group can delete it.

  6. Who can post to a group's blog?

    Only group members can post a message on its blog.

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Advertising

  1. How can I advertise on the Dilettante website?

    Please contact us at info@dilettantemusic.com to enquire about advertising rates and technical specifications.

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Music

  1. I have a profile in the AMG database. Can I link it to my Dilettante member profile page?

    To do so please contact us, as we will need to verify your identity first.

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