To Helen: I searched for QuickTime, as you suggested. It seem to be a program for Apple computers. Do you think it would work on my IBM clone with Windows 98?

Ivan B: I've been the route you suggested. Funny thing it, the file associated with MIDI is Noteworthy Player, but when I click on a MIDI file on a really cool web site such as http://www.albany.net/~dowland/sound.html#ensemble, then Windows Media Player appears and starts playing the bransle, courante or whatever. And despite what some people think, Windows Media Player has no Save or Save As feature no matter how you click it.

The advice to remove MIDI from the list of file types sounds dangerous to me. How would I get at all my accumulated work?

To Don: You say "there are **MANY** ways to play midis without dealing with Micro$oft...WinAmp is one of the best, and is free..as is FoxPlay, which will allow you to set up playlists of most sound files you have..."

Do you understand the problem? I don't want just to listen to MIDI sounds. Any kid can play MIDI's. I want to save the notes, bring them in again with Noteworthy Composer, change the key, zap whole staffs, write new parts, print the piece and then play it with my friends. We do this in the living room and the computer CAN EVEN BE TURNED OFF. Will WinAmp make this possible? I hesitate to download it and generate even more mix-ups.