The bottom-up path
It is possible that the Klavar scenario could be replicated today by a single dedicated designer, promoter, and financier who is not necessarily driven only by profit motives. But it's akin to waiting for Godot. In today’s profit-driven world, entrepreneurs may find that bucking Tradition is just too big of a risk in order to make an unpredictable buck on a notation that is not simply a game. In my view, it us more likely that a small and dedicated group of enthusiastic volunteers implement a low-cost, low-risk project on the internet that may or may not aim for profits. But even when motivated mostly by altruistic reasons, the biggest risk is time and energy. However, the pay-off would be immensely satisfying if it got into the mainstream (or even just viral on the internet).
As demonstrated by the Klavar project, it is necessary to satisfy three essential elements for success. Here is how these could be satisfied in today’s internet-connected world.
A new notation must be discovered by students and promoted. Thanks to the internet, this is what a well-designed website and a strong social media presence can provide.
There must be sheet music. It is highly unlikely that a large inventory of paper (or even digital PDF) sheet music in the new notation could be easily produced because it is too time consuming and expensive. It is more likely that with modern technology, device display apps will be written that will format and display the new sheet music from digitally encoded music score files. The most widely available of these files are in the MusicXML or MIDI formats. These are available for download from the internet today.
There must be instructional materials that explain the new notation and how to play music with it. These can be made available on a website.
To implement the elements for success, the bottom-up path includes these components:
development project team
website that attracts and promotes
social media that permits feedback to the project and other students
student community
music schools and instructors
