Publishing a song/piano piece?

[VenalWinfrey]

Dear all

I am writing some piano compositions, nothing fancy, but I am seriously going to try to get them printed and published. Does anyone know what I need to do, once they are all written up? Do I just send them off to music companies to see if anyone wants them? Do I need to copyright them first so nobody steals my idea to pass off as their own?

Basically I'm a bit fick on this question and so any help would be greatly appreciated. I am guessing from little snippets I've picked up from others that I should try to protect my work, just in the event that I do manage to get it published somehow!

Oh, and the other thing related to this that I wanted to ask was, I was considering setting up a website. If I do make one, and manage to make, say, a CD recording of my own pieces, am I allowed to sell this? Do I need to have my works properly published, or could I just advertise these items? I know that sounds like a stupid question, but I'm really just wondering, do I have complete ownership over what I compose (and can I therefore sell it if people are interested) - or do I need some formal legally binding agreement first?

thanks anyone for reading, and helping me out!!

[pb100191]

You can copyright it, but if you want to make sure no-one steals them you need to actually do it by the law. File it, copyright etc so that the government (woteva!) have it somewhere. I'm not sure how you do that :S

Check somewhere on the web to where u can send it off.

Hope that helps, x (And make sure u do send it! I bet there great!)