Composer-Educator Site, Built from Zero with a Clean Shop and Support
Dayung Sampan Music is the home of composer-pianist-educator Chee-Hwa Tan. The site frames “Dayung Sampan” as both a Southeast Asian folk reference and a metaphor for the creative journey, and it introduces Tan’s work as sharing “the joy of the entire music-making process.” The catalog features original and educational works for piano and other instruments, with a “Shop” section showcasing books and scores, including A Child’s Garden of Verses (2nd ed.), Circus Sonatinas (2nd ed.), and Once Upon a Journey.
The Problem
There was no modern, consolidated home for the composer’s biography, catalog, and purchasing. The site needed to communicate its identity and philosophy without overshadowing the music, let visitors preview and purchase scores easily, and maintain spam-free inbound inquiries. As usual, speed, reliability, and low-maintenance workflows were non-negotiable.
Our Approach
We designed the site from scratch around a simple idea: lead with the composer’s voice, then make discovery and purchase effortless. The build uses a mobile-first layout that surfaces bio context and values on the homepage, with direct paths to the catalog and featured titles. We implemented a lightweight shop so visitors can browse collections and purchase books/scores without friction. We added forms protected by Cloudflare Turnstile to curb bot spam and set up managed hosting, ensuring SSL, backups, updates, and uptime don’t become a side gig. Ongoing support encompasses content updates, new releases, and catalog maintenance as titles are added or reissued.
