Archive for the ‘For Musicians’ Category
Tips for a basic songwriting
Tips for a basic songwriting
INTRO: Approximately 4-8 measures of instrumental music that contains part or all of “the hook” (a part of the melody that is easy to remember).
VERSE: Each verse needs to be written in a way as to “set up” the chorus. Try to keep the meter of your song even by matching the syllables of your words. Be consistent with the sentences that rhyme. Verses should create an anticipation of fulfillfment.
CHORUS: This is where you make your statement. Stress the most important part of your song and make it tastful. Think of your chorus or “hook”. You want your words to keep people remembering.
VERSE: Continue to follow the idea of your song all the way through, don’t get side-tracked!
CHORUS: This is where you have the opportunity to repeat your “hook” which should continue to emphasize your songs theme.
BRIDGE: This is where you can create some interest and tension by changing your melody line, modulating to a different key, or adding an instrumental guitar part, etc. Don’t make it too long, approximately 8 measures or so. It should build or crescendo to the final chorus.
FADE CHORUS: This is usually the same as your first chorus, but you will end by repeating it over and over, then gradually fade out to end your song. Use your “hook” generously, but don’t overdo!
Growing career opportunities in the music industry
1. Music Teaching in Elementary and Secondary Schools
Candidates trained at an Audio Recording School can seek excellent career opportunities in Elementary and Secondary schools as music teachers. With a renewed focus on the importance of music and art in today’s schools, the demand for music teachers at these learning facilities is huge. Hence a well-trained professional from the very best Audio Recording School should have no problem finding a tension-free career as a music teacher.
2. Music Therapist
Music therapy is slowing gaining popularity among people worldwide for stress relief and relaxation. Music therapy is widely used to improve mental health. Music therapy is also proven to cure certain physical illnesses too. The added advantage of a career in music therapy is that the therapist also gets great peace of mind as he or she helps the patient. Music therapists can seek career opportunities in hospitals – general or psychiatric, schools, outpatient clinics, mental health centers, nursing homes, correctional facilities and private practices.
3. Music Engineers
There are professional music careers too. Candidates trained in advanced music courses can opt for careers as music engineers. However, becoming a successful music engineer depends on the music school where you are trained. There are some unique music training programs like “Master Recording Program II” which covers the topic in depth. These music-training programs cover one thing and one thing only – MUSIC!
Being that this unique music-training program totally concentrates on music, students acquire a wide knowledge of the art and science of music. Covering all the basic principles of sound and the most sophisticated concepts of audio engineering – the Master Recording Program II is the best training on the planet. The program completes in just 42 weeks with 30 weeks of on campus lecture and hands-on training and 12 weeks of internships. Successfully completing the program can be the graduate’s fast track to becoming a successful audio engineer.
Bottom Line
In addition to the careers in music mentioned above, there are many other career opportunities that exist today. In the publishing industry, most large newspapers and magazines and many smaller periodicals hire a music reporter or critic who combines knowledge and enjoyment of music with writing or editing career. Just another reason why training at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences can lead to a prosperous career in the music industry.
Production music
Production music libraries first came about when producers were looking to make up scores to their movies or commercials, but has since evolved into being useful to an individual who is in need of royalty free music for school projects, such as a video yearbook, or a motivational looking to make their speech memorable through the use of emotional music.
Production music libraries range from libraries that have only a few hundred tracks to those that have thousands upon thousands of tracks available to producers and consumers looking for the right music for their purposes. By providing so many different music tracks in one place that is royalty free, producers and individuals can be assured that all of their music needs will be met in a single production music library.
By providing so many music tracks, producers and individuals have the option of purchasing only a handful of tracks, for a small project, or by purchasing several tracks for a larger production. By providing varying packages of music, producers and individuals can be assured that they will only be paying for the music that they need and will use, rather than being forced to buy a pre-made package of tracks in order to only use a couple of the tracks within the package.
Production music libraries have evolved with the need of producers and individuals needing royalty free music for their productions. Music can be utilized in a variety of ways and with the strict licensing laws around music these days; it is becoming harder for producers and individuals to find legal ways of obtaining music for their productions. This is where production music libraries come in, because they provide royalty free music to their consumers, providing an assurance that their consumers are purchasing legal music for their productions. With the popularity of production music libraries by both producers and individuals, they have realized that they can meet the needs of more consumers by providing packages that suit both large productions that need several music tracks as well as small packages that work well for individuals who only need a couple music tracks.
Insight into Music Schools
Musicians institute of music offers excellent degree and certificate courses in bass lesson, vocal lesson, guitar lesson, keyboard lesson, percussion, audio engineering, music recording, music video production and setting up of music business. Students choose the music program they wish from the wide range of music course curriculum. Those who are aspiring for music engineering can join in the music production school where topics related to it are taught like music mixing, digital signal processing, practical recording, track programming, etc. The student should carefully study the available music programs, facilities, career opportunities, fees, etc of an audio engineering school before taking in the admission.
Music video production is also another career option for music lovers. There are various aspects related to this concept, like- editing, directing, producing, filming, cinematography, etc. A good music production school would cover all essential topics that go in designing state of the art music course. Are you searching for a good music recording school? Then your search ends at Musicians Institute. Song analysis, visual media, recording, etc are taught here in a professional manner. This institute offers degree program, certificate, majors and non-certificate in many music programs.
Musical instrument stores
There are around 4,500 musical instrument stores in the US. Some of the store names include Guitar Center, Sweetwater Sound, and Sam Ash Music among others. Many musical instrument establishments are full-line stores that offer pianos, guitars, sound equipments, instrument accessories, school music products as well as parts of any instrument. Some large music instrument stores are independent. This means that they usually sell most of their so-called “indie” labels. In addition to this, independent musical stores do not promote any major record labels or brands.
Listed below are the top 7 largest musical instrument store in the United States of America:
Mally’s Traditional Music Instrument Store: This music instrument store is located at # 3 East Moorside Cleckheaton, USA. It sells different kinds of musical instruments ranging from the smallest up to the biggest variety.
To give you a detailed list of some of the items in this store, they have the following:
- bass guitars
- acoustic guitars
- electric guitars
- drums set
- accessories
- pianos
- music book
- and anything that is connected to music
This musical store has many branches in and outside of the US. It also offers drum lessons as well as violin lessons. It also has its own production outlet.
American Musical Store: This store is noted as the store with the most excellent musical equipments. It is situated at #65 Greenwood Avenue Minland Park, USA. It offers huge choices of in-stock instruments such as keyboards, drums, guitars, recording equipments, electric guitars, bass guitars, effects, accessories, parts and many more. It even has payment terms and it accepts installment charges that can be settled between 3 up to 5 months. Its customers or buyers can order via phone, mail or fax.
SIC 5736 Musical Instrument Store: This musical store has a total of 7,285 stores. Aside from this, it is eventually listed as one of the largest musical stores in the US. The exact location of this store is at # 1324 Boulevard Avenue California, USA. The store sells pianos, drums, percussion instruments, string instruments, keyboards, organs, electric guitars as well as brass instruments. This musical store insists that buyers opt for electric musical instruments. Thus, this store also has branches in Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, New York, Indiana and Ohio.
Allegro-Music Store: This independent music store is located in North America. It has a store catalog. Some of their catalogs include instruments such as classical, pop, jazz and world. It also sells other products such as electric guitars, drums, cleaning instruments and many more. Thus, customers and buyers can order via email or fax, online, phone (toll free). Their store is open for 24 hours everyday.
Metronome Music Store: This independent music store that’s owned by a musician/businessman sells amps, basses, drums, guitars, flute, recoding paraphernalia as well as PA equipment. This music store offers a huge line of musical instruments and accessories. They can also provide rentals for any type of musical instrument.
The Metronome Music Store is also well equipped with a spy cam, alarm and security guards. It also offers lessons for bass, piano, banjo, keyboards, trumpet, flute, alto sax, guitars as well as drums.
KTJ Musical Instrumental Store: This music store sells used as well as new music equipments and supplies for a very low price. It sells acoustic and electric guitars, cymbals, drums, basses, amps, pianos, keyboards, processors and effects pedals. This is along speakers, and studio equipment. It is located in Arizona, USA. It also offers professional lessons for those who want to study guitars, pedals and flutes. This music store has support facilities for school band supplies and fund raising supplies. It also serves their buyers or customers 24 hours. Clients can order via email or fax, either by phone or online.
Marshall Music Instrumental Store: This music store has seven braches located at Allen Park, Troy, Grand Rapids, Traverse, Kalamazoo and West Bloomfield. It has professional music instrument technicians that handle the repair of any string, percussion, woodwind, electronic equipment, brass, and related instruments. It even has a “School Service Department” that can accommodate a full range of musical needs. In addition, it also has an organ and piano department, which usually houses classrooms for keyboard and piano lessons, including auditoriums that house an amp and guitar department. It also offers complete guitar lessons.
Studying music – Music theory
Music theory can be an important attribute in a person’s life, for many reasons. People often ask, “Is music theory necessary?” “Why do we need it?”
First of all, even though you don’t have to understand how to read sheet music to perform as a musician, you will need an understanding of music theory. It opens so many other doors for you in the world of music. Music theory will not show you how to understand music, but with music theory you will be able to communicate musical ideas, explore music in whole new ways, and redefine the tremendous scope that entails the magical world of music.
Music theory allows you to voice your opinion with others in the field, expand your musical horizon. Give a little input to a fellow musician and you’ll get something in return.
Notations And Communicating With Other Musicians
Music lovers all develop a keen sense of awareness, musically speaking. Sometimes, musicians explain that if they study music theory, then it’ll stunt their creativity. Wrong! The world’s greatest composers were all masters of music theory: Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, J.S. Bach. These experts composed a keen understanding of the theoretical concepts. Years were spent studying the concept, down to some of the smallest details.
Music can be played by ear, picking out tunes without the aid of written music. Your ears can be your guide. The reason this is brought to light is that some musicians with strong theoretical training often disregard the art of playing by ear.
Think of playing music by ear this way: We’re all born as non-verbal creations. Communication begins with crying, making sounds, displaying body language. Parents quickly become experts on baby talk. It’s an innate sense. Over time, language develops by mimicking sounds. Toddlers don’t learn nouns and verbs; they learn to speak by example. Music can be the same way. Hence, the reason so many people pay top dollar for live performances. It’s invigorating, magical.
Understanding Harmony And Chord Progression
Chord progression and harmony, two features of music theory, help broaden any musician, regardless of their genre of study. Chord progression is a series of chords that are used to harmonize music. All compositions use chord progression. Those that improvise – which, as already mentioned, adds charm and magic to the environment of music – invent brand new melodies that blend in with an existing chord. It’s a musical transition, something that must be practiced, repeatedly. The great composers and musicians develop chord progressions and transitions until it becomes natural, a second-natured maneuver.
If a musician improvises in a more interconnected manner, these new melodies show the musician the progression as one whole unit, and not a series of bumpy transitions. The more practice that goes into this aspect of music learning theory, the more interesting substitutions they will develop along the way. Once the concept of chord progression and its structure is understood, it will be easier to remember. Jazz musicians, therefore, show a keen interest in the study and analysis of chord progression.
The study of music theory will show musicians and musical scholars that the objective, initially, is not to consider an entire composition in one sitting. Instead, musicians, students and teachers alike, view a chord progression in segments, or units. These units correspond to musical sections known as stanzas.
A stanza is the complete statement and development of a single musical idea. It’s a fairly simple act of dividing pieces into small manageable sections, with the melody itself forming, or suggesting the boundaries for sound.
Tonality, another element of chord progression, means different things to different people. Some would consider it to be this: any piece of music with a well-defined key center. Others envision any music that uses the conventional chords as tonal.
Music without the use of chords in a functional manner to reinforce a tonal center is not tonal. It is referred to as non-tonal music. The names of these styles are not always agreed upon between musical connoisseurs. But expressing difference is one key element that makes music such a beautiful art form, with countless possibilities.
So, if you are considering studying music, be it to play an instrument, teach music, or simply hone in on personal curiosity, learning music theory is a must for you.
Music Biz: Where Independent Artists Go for Reliable Opinions About the Music Industry
There are many avenues for one’s music creativity. Most of which are provided not only for work but also for entertainment such as theaters, movies, or as independent performance. There are certain groups who accommodate one’s creative expression and when good, it creates popularity. Most independent artists search for these opportunities wherever they can find. Independent artist can do well in the competitive world of artistry when they are equipped with knowledge on how to go about with selling their expressions and capturing the interests of the public.
In the music world, independent artists can look into several resources where they can get knowledge on how music industry works. These resources provide knowledge to independent artists on the stand of other workers in the music industries who provides possibility on how to make an independent artists’ craft succeed. One of these resources can be seen in Music Biz site online. Music Biz provides articles related to the music industry. The articles are opinions and analyses that come from the players in the music industry such as artists, producers, recorders, music marketers, music distributors, music enthusiasts and other contributors from the music world. Independent artists and other interested music lovers can capture the thoughts of these music insiders by the way they express their opinions in the articles.
Articles contributed to Music Biz are scrutinized and edited well to meet the standard of how the articles should be presented. Articles are required to be specific in terms of music events and situations that support the comment or opinions. Generality does not provide the needed knowledge of the readers in the music world. Since articles are more of opinion or comment rather news, Music Biz requires that contributors should be reasonable and logical in their observation, experience or own point of view of a certain subject concerning the music industry. Writers are also encouraged to write new perspectives, issues, and events in their articles to add to the spool of articles already in the site. Lastly, Music Biz encourages contributors in the music world to be identified so they can be known and establish their credibility among readers. However, if the writer wishes to be anonymous, especially when discussing critical issues or events, Music Biz will also respect that.
Music lovers, independent artists and other music players can learn from the articles in Music Biz. It will help them set their pace and understand what music enthusiasts think about what is going on in the music world.
Music lovers, independent artist and other music players can learn from the articles in Music Biz .
Find a decent music production course
So, the question is: Where can I find a great music production school?
And, who is going to provide me with the music skills, knowledge and experience that will really make a difference, without charging an enormous fee?
Music production schools are offering basic music production programs and even Community Colleges have jumped on the bandwagon. Does this mean that they are all good? NO!
Firstly, I doubt that you can get even minimal training at a music production school without paying at least hundreds of dollars in fees. And is that a risk worth taking? For some, maybe, but for most of us, probably not!
If youre like most people looking for an advantage with music production learning, you are not going to be able to afford a major fee at a music production school.
Maybe you are one of the smart ones and have looked to the internet for a better solution. Online music production lessons and courses are now becoming popular as they are much cheaper and more convenient; while at the same time still provide a solid foundation for learning the latest music production techniques.
An excellent example of an online music production course is http://www.musicproducerpro.net
Check out this site and see the kind of music production skills you can start learning in the next hour.
Music Producer Pro offers courses that consist of a series of online music production lessons delivered via downloadable videos in an easy step-by-step style. You gain access to dozens of lessons for a single once off joining fee and are guided through a series of activities designed to enhance your learning experience.
And it offers you unlimited access 7 days a week.
With every production video you learn something new and different thats designed to open your mind to interesting and cool music techniques. It is one of the most happening interactive online music production schools in the world.
The flexibility of an online course allows you to focus on the skills you want to master, rather than being tied to a rigid, out-of-date curriculum. And the teaching at http://www.musicproducerpro.net is very professional. If you are a beginner, they will help you formalise your knowledge and get the terms explained. If you are advanced, Jays techniques will get you producing music at a much higher level.
But lets keep this very simple. If you want to produce music, Music Producer Pro will show you how.
They offer a full range of video lessons to suit everyone from the beginner to those looking to refine and broaden their skills, whether you want to play for your own enjoyment or to make a career as a DJ or producer. With Music Producer Pro you will experience a broad range of practical based lessons prepared by experienced and highly skilled masters of beats.
Whether it’s studio recording, concert sound, movie sound, radio or television broadcasting, or working with a record label or artist management, it’s all about music! If you want to work as a music producer, or any other audio career, you will need a cost effective education.
If you have ever asked or tried to learn how to produce music from the traditional music production schools then you will know that it is not cheap. A lot of people interested in music production dont think about the cost of six months of college lessons. But it adds up to hundreds of dollars. I know a lot of people have joined this site because it offers access to a whole lot of learning material online for a small once-off fee.
I’ve posted this link www.musicproducerpro.net for every musician/dj interested in finding out more about online music production tuition, whether you are beginning to learn or simply wanting to expand your musical production skills.
Online music production lessons are very worthwhile, so if you are looking for a music production course then this is definitely worth joining, so check it out here:
http://www.musicproducerpro.net
Enjoy!
Promoting for musicians
If you are a budding musician or band and are looking for ways to sell your music online then below are some proven tips to get you started. They are free and will generate a lot of exposure in promoting your music.
Forums are a great way to promote your music and ultimately drive potential fans to your site and music. You need to find forums that are not only specific to music but also to your genre of music. For example, if you are a Christian rock band, there is no use trying to promote your music in a reggae forum. Promote your music to your target audience. You never know who is reading your forum posts and the whole game is about getting your name and music out there in a number of forums.
Free music networks such as MySpace and YouTube allow you to upload and share your music. MyBandMate is an example of a site that allows you to target your specific audience by promoting your music in various ways via online forums, chat, article postings, music and video uploads, classifieds and much more. Remember, it is a numbers game so the more sites you get onto the more exposure your music will get. Take advantage of these free music networks and you may just get discovered in a big way!
Chat rooms can be useful in spreading the word around about your music. Once again you need to choose the right chat rooms otherwise you will just be wasting your time. These chat forums can be a great way to network.
Blogs have been all the rage of the last few years and they have a powerful presence in ranking highly in the search engines. A well written blog that provides the reader with valuable and informative content can keep that reader returning on a regular basis. In your blog you can have links for fans to buy your music or CDs online.
Classifieds are often under utilised by musicians. Most people think that classifieds are only there to post jobs, sell instruments or look for new band members. However, you can generate a lot of traffic and eventually sales by posting your music for sale in the appropriate category.
Have you heard of Squidoo? If not then this is a great marketing tool that’s free and allows you to create a page about your music or band. You can then use their powerful marketing tools to achieve a high ranking in the search engines.
Having your own website is not essential but it’s definitely worthwhile. A simple one or two page site can cost you less than $100 a year so the cost is not too high. Many webhosts such as GoDaddy allow you to register a domain name, sign up for a years hosting and use their easy to use software to create your own website without any technical or previous website knowledge. If you don’t have your own site then MySpace and MybandMate are definitely two free music networks that allow you to create your own profiles and mini sites with all the required features to promote your music. If you are a musician and are not using these free music networks then you better ask yourself why not! You can’t sell your music if you aren’t willing to put in some time promoting your music.
Many bands are using Google Adwords to promote their music. This has proven to be successful for many bands but it can also be quite costly. These small ads are not only displayed in the Google search results but also on sites with related content for your topic. Remember to carefully select your keywords to bid on and learn more about how much you should be paying per click.
Another great way to generate free publicity is to type up a brief news release and submit it to be launched all across the internet for free in one of the many free press release sites. Often these news releases will achieve high rankings on the search pages. Be sure to use the keywords in your title, summary and content.
Other key points to note are that you need to build a relationship with your fans. This can be done via these music networks or your own newsletter. By building your list you can promote and sell your music to people who you know are interested in your style of music. You can also send out samples of new songs.
Musicians need to be aware that the majority of their income will come from the money they make from their gigs and selling merchandise at these gigs. This is why you will want to have a box of CDs with you to sell at the end of your gig. You need to target potential customers while they are pumped about your music. This is when you want to sell your CDs.
Ultimately, to sell your music you need to firstly promote your music via the various avenues as outlined above. You could have the next best hit single or a top selling CD but if no one knows about you or your band then you will never sell your music. It is such a competitive market and you should use all of the free tools out there on the internet to showcase your music to the world. Everyone who has a computer is a potential customer and therefore you have a global market!
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