Wordpress Database for a Music Composer

Ruth Hamberg

Web Developer

Database Administrator

Database Specialist

Adobe Photoshop

Google Sheets

WordPress

Advanced Custom Fields (plugin) with Field Groups. Each Field Group has details for items in that category.

The Sheets Editor plugin provides a spreadsheet interface inside the Wordpress back-end.

An example of front-end design drawing on the database content. Titles, images and song details are drawn in as dynamic data. Note: Images are placeholders for sheet music covers.

STARTING POINT

A prolific composer required a redesign of their website's CMS (Content Management System). The end result would be easy to edit and easy to incorporate into the front end of a freshly redesigned website.

Constraints: The composer was more at home using MuseScore or Finale than a CMS. They would need a foolproof, simple way to edit songs. This should also be specific to the nuances of their music practice, which covered multiple genres and dozens of instruments. For this reason, an out-of-the-box solution was not an option.

Opportunities: Save time and effort spent entering details into a website editor one line at a time; minimize the chance of errors; equip the composer to spend more time creating music; enhance the middle-of-funnel marketing journey; increase revenues from sheet music sales.

SERVICES

Requirements discovery and research of backend solutions from best selling sheet music publisher websites; compilation, synthesis and organization of music content from current website; data cleaning and preparation for export; creation of post types, field groups and taxonomies using Advanced Custom Fields; implementation of file organization plugin; implementation of live-edit spreadsheet capacity integrated into the Wordpress admin panel; quality assurance; UI/UX and human-centered design of form fields and formats; testing and implementation in front-end platform using Bricks and Wordpress.

RESULT

The final CMS went above and beyond the composer's requirements. With multiple ways to input data, the friction of making content updates was greatly reduced. The composer was able to make edits at the moment of realizing they needed to be made, which enabled minimal interruption to their creative flow. The existing content was transferred with additional benefits of proofreading and copyedits thanks to the detailed level of attention given to each data point.

With an eye to futureproofing and future expansion, the variety of fields and options allowed for both simple and complex display on the front end.

Integration with a new blog and other ACF field groups will allow for development of an interconnected content strategy in the future.

IN DEPTH

Users:

End user (composer)

Audience (conductors, publishers, community groups and other purchasers of sheet music)

Web designer

Channels & Tools:

Advanced Custom Files

HappyFiles

Sheet Editor

Wordpress.org

Training and Documentation:

Video Explainers

Animation Explainers

Live Training

Taxonomies in Advanced Custom Fields. These make up the unique facets of each song. Set up this way, the website's visitors can filter and search the terms.

The "Publisher" edit screen used by the composer. The screen includes guidance and formatting to minimize errors. It also uses similar approaches to third party tools the composer already uses and likes.

Part of the "Song" edit screen used by the composer. Link and media fields are specific to the formats and needs most commonly available for this composer's particular suite of compositions, and the options expected by website visitors in this industry.

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Posted Jun 6, 2024

Designed and implemented a custom CMS compiling sheet music data for a composer's redesigned website.

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