Alan Brown (musical transcription) is a former member of the Scottish National Orchestra. He now works as a freelance musician, with several leading UK orchestras, and as a consultant in music and IT. Alan has had several compositions published, developed a set of music theory CD-Roms, co-written a series of Bass Guitar Examination Handbooks and worked on over 100 further titles. Scott Joplin was an American composer and pianist, known as the "king of ragtime" due to his incredible influence in the development of this style of music. As a pioneer composer and performer, he helped pave the way for young black artists to reach American audiences of all races.