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I don’t know what your musical experience has been with school but I will share a little bit about mine. When I was in fourth grade I played the clarinet for school. It was either that or the violin. Then in seventh grade I played the acoustic guitar. After that I no longer learned anything about music in school. Those two courses were both required for me as a student. Now I am in college and there is no requirement for any type of music course at my school. Anyway my point is this – are we placing enough emphasis on music in our educational system? One could argue that music unlocks mental potential in every individual. Studies conducted about music continually illustrate that it has real effect on the listeners mind. In light of this information, should we be exposing children and young adults to more music related classes? I have had to take more math courses than I can remember in my lifetime. Yet I am majoring in English now. I am fairly certain that I will never use those math skills that venture beyond basic, everyday mathematics. If students have to take math why shouldn’t they have to take music? Because music is less quantifiable I suppose. You can’t measure the impact that music has on students. If you can’t measure it then they won’t likely through money at it in our school systems today.

Labels: Music At School

Today I want to talk about something that you have likely experienced if you are an aspiring musician. It seems to me that when people think of aspiring musicians, they sometimes bring some faulty stereotypes with the notion. For instance some people tend to think someone is an idiot if they want to pursue music as their career. You see plenty of musician stereotypes on tv as the parents consistently try to protect their children from the “bad boy” musician. Musicians, especially rock musicians are consistently portrayed as underachievers and slackers. I almost feel like if you are a musician who has not made it big yet, you will be looked down on for your chosen career path. I experience the same thing being an English major at college. You always get the math and science majors looking down at the English majors because they believe that their degree has a better shot of a safe, practical career.
Here is where the ironic change occurs. Once a musician or writer or actor becomes famous, they are no longer looked down upon but rather they become idolized. I just find it hilarious that being a musician can sometimes seem sketchy until you make it big – then everyone wants to be you.
Have any of you experienced what I am talking about? It is just an observation that I have made. If you have any related stories, feel free to share them.

Labels: Societies’ Perception of Musicians

For those of you who have not yet learned to read sheet music, you might be wondering whether the venture is worth your time. If you are interested in learning to read sheet music here are a few tips for getting started. First and foremost, look on the Internet for software to help you learn how to read music. I can’t stress using the Internet enough in your quest to learn to read music. Eventually you will learn how to read music. However you will have questions. When you do, feel free to type your questions into google. Another important tool for learning to read music is Youtube. Youtube has lessons on just about anything you can imagine. I typed into Youtube “learn to read sheet music” and received 484 videos that teach you how to read music. I must say that this is a much cheaper way to learn music than spending money on a teacher or a formal set of teaching videos.
While the Internet is probably your best resource, don’t forget about those good old-fashioned books. Head over to your local library where you can find all the info you need about reading sheet music.
If at times it seems difficult and you don’t feel like it will be worth it, hang in there. I assure you that when you can read sheet music, you will have so many more opportunities and musical ventures to pursue.

Labels: Learning to Read Sheet Music

It has been hypothesized for quite some time that classical music makes children and adults more intelligent. My sixth grade teacher told us to listen to classical music because it would activate our brain and allow us to think in new ways. Until now, I blindly believed in her advice thinking that it made sense that certain music might unlock hidden potential in the mind. However after doing a little research, it seems that there is no medical proof for any increase in intelligence when one listens to Mozart or other classical music. The "Mozart effect," as it has been called, is little more than a hypothesis. Interestingly enough, Mozart does have a quantifiable effect on a child's test taking abilities. In various studies children who were listening to classical music while taking a test performed better than those children with no music at all. Where does this leave the rest of the musical genres? Do they help with test taking as well? I haven’t recently read any scientific reports on the issue but I have heard that rock makes it more difficult to concentrate on schoolwork. Do you believe that to be true?

Here is another interesting fact, I have heard that you can't actually listen to music and think at the same time. Your mind can’t think about two things at the same time. People who function well multi tasking are actually just great at leaping back and forth between thoughts.

I believe that listening to classical music can help you to concentrate. I don't understand why but sometimes I can read better and for longer periods of time when listening to classical music. It could even be a Pseudo effect because I expect the music to work. Either way, what do you think about the role of music in intelligence and schoolwork / functioning? Do you believe it will help to expose unborn babies and infants to classical music?

Labels: classical, Does Classical Music Improve Intelligence?, mozart, mozart-effect.

Today I am continuing on with a few tips to help you write lyrics or anything else your heart desires. Once you have been sitting with writers block for any extended period of time, there is only one thing you can do – take a break. Sometimes the best way to get a breakthrough is to just leave it alone for a while. Go eat or talk to a friend or best of all do some aerobic exercise. Your mind functions at top capacity when you have exercised recently. Also you will release endorphins while you exercise which is going to relieve some of the stress you built up while encountering writers block.

My favorite technique to avoid writers block is to take preemptive action by writing first thing in the morning. When I have something to write, I will get up, eat breakfast, have coffee, and then I will write. It is easier for me to write something in the morning before I have time to get distracted. If you write at the end of the day, it can be more difficult because you have a days worth of activity to think about instead of the task at hand.

Lastly, realize that you might not complete your project in one sitting. Most excellent writers whether they write music, fiction, prose, etc will tell you that they sit down several times to compose one small piece. If you know that you only have to write a little then chances are you will be less stressed and you will be able to write to your full ability.

Labels: inspiration, lyrics, Overcoming Writers Block

Whatever your expertise, when you dabble with writing you are going to encounter writers block at some point or another. Whether you are writing about music on the Internet or trying to compose a song, you’re going to get blocked up. That is why I thought I would go over some tips that work for me to relieve writers block and to get the creative juices flowing.

First and foremost you need to clearly identify the theme or central idea of what you want to write about. If you are not truly interested in the topic you have chosen, you will be doomed to churn out mediocre content.

The second thing to do is to stop trying to write perfectly and just write. Type for ten minutes about whatever comes to mind. If you are writing a song and what you are typing doesn’t seem too poetic, don’t worry just keep writing. The point of this is just to get something on the page so that you don’t feel so overwhelmed by the work that lies ahead. I am an English major and my teachers consistently tell me that a blank page and a blinking cursor is your worst enemy. The longer you leave the page blank, the more you will psyche yourself out.

If the first two steps don’t work, feel free to take inspiration from another source. If you are writing a song, listen to one of your favorites and make notes of the lyrics that inspire you. You may be able to incorporate similar lyrics or feelings into your music.

Labels: inspiration, Overcoming Writers Block

I have heard it said before that a band loses its originality and uniqueness when they become popular and mainstreamed. I still remember talking to one of my friends in high school when he mentioned that he would only listen to a band if they hadn’t become popular yet. He told me that once bands began to sell cds and got on the radio, it changed them. Do you believe there is any truth to that? Or is it a whole bunch of rubbish?

In my honest opinion I think his statements reflect someone striving to be different at any cost. I don't think it was an issue of quality of music. Rather I think it was an issue of him saying, "how can I separate myself from the crowd?" I don’t know if any of you side with him on the notion that success changes musicians. I suppose I can agree a little that in order to make it big, some musicians probably have to sacrifice a few things so that they can be as marketable as possible. However I think it is ill informed to say that successful artists aren't talented when the majority of listeners like what they play. In my mind, your music is probably pretty good if you are selling cds and mp3s. If you are regularly featured on the radio then you are probably even better. Granted there are probably a few groups out there who really shouldn't be as successful as they are. However I think for the most part that success is an indicator of a musician's talent.

Labels: success

As I was perusing through some music news, I happened across this little number. The Jonas Brothers have just recently made it to the top of the Billboard 200 list. Their album called "A little bit longer," sold a modest 525,000 copies. They were third in sales for the year behind Lil Wayne and Coldplay.

Now to the point of my blog today. I wanted to ask all of you what you believe makes artists such as those mentioned above so successful? Surely there has to be some common denominator that allows people playing such different music to be so similarly successful. It is funny to me that there is such varied taste in music. Everyone seems to like music, but most people have differences in opinion about what is "good listening" and what is garbage. Those three bands I mentioned above might be on your ipod or you might hate every one of them. I just find it interesting that there is not one genre, which is far more successful than another. It seems as though there are serious record sales from pop, rap, rock and anything else you can imagine. It just goes to show that the American public is in fact a vast melting pot with varying musical preferences.

Here is the question of the day for you – what do each one of those bands mentioned above do that allows them to be so successful? Is it their looks, their sound, their marketing company, or a combination of everything?

Labels: music genre, success

In the spirit of the Olympics, I figured I might as well address some musical issue that affects the athletes at the games in Beijing. I'm sure all of you have heard that Michael Phelps just recently received his 8th gold medal. In the dissection of his routine and the steps he has taken to garner his success, it is evident that music plays an important role is his pre swim warm up. Before every race, Michael gets pumped up by listening to music. His particular brand is hip-hop. If you have watched him swim at all, he is always listening to his ipod right before he competes. The same is true with countless other Olympic athletes. Lets face it, the music helps them get in the zone. But what is really happening here? Is there any scientific evidence for the "help" that music gives to these athletes? Experts say that music serves to alter the listener's brain chemistry. Do you believe that this statement is true?

Here is my opinion – I believe that listening to music helps the athletes get hyped up but I don't believe that you can attribute their success to their pre game warm up routines. I believe that their success comes from the hours and hours that they dedicate to their profession every day. What do you think? Just how much does music influence the performance of our Olympic athletes?

Labels: inspiration, ipod, olympics

Okay so I know that I have already talked a bit about promoting your own music and such but I decided I will throw out just a little more info on the topic because I think it is so pertinent to every artist who wishes to advance their career. One thing you have to do is to find your niche within the music industry. If you can't define your style of music, then you aren't going to have any strong ties to any fan group. First decide what type of music you play then market that type of music on your website or myspace site. Remember that good old fashion print publications are valuable as well. If you are playing in a bar or club over the weekend, it might be worth your while to pay 30 dollars and place an add in the local paper. That way your audience is segmented to those people who would actually attend your show because they live within your area. Another quality idea for a local show is to have it mentioned on the local radio.

Remember that being unique and memorable is the name of the game. If at all possible, do something slightly different which people will remember when attending your shows. If you have the funds, the crowd will eternally love you if you give them anything free at your show. You can give stickers, hats, shirts, etc and the fans will then have something to remember you with. You can also offer a few cds or give an online coupon for the people at the show to go to your website and download a free song. If you are trying to get signed by a label, remember that they appreciate free goodies too. Send them a shirt along with your demo tape and it could help.

Labels: marketing, promoting

Yesterday I discussed a little about the differences between promoting your own music and having a music manager promote you. All things considered, having an agent is easier and probably more effective. However there are plenty of steps you can take without an agent holding your hand that will yield some well-desired record sales and exposure. First and foremost, take advantage of our global information age. You are currently reading on a blog targeted specifically towards musicians – if you haven't pitched your music to us yet, you aren't working hard enough. Along the same lines, create a myspace page for your band. This will allow all the people you already chat with to hear your music and perhaps pass it along to a few friends. Once you have exhausted those options, you could consider setting up an actual html webpage for your band. However I would not recommend this step unless you are actively performing for groups who would seek you out on the web. If you are at that place in your career, a quality website will be one of the best investments you can make. On your site you can sell anything from cds to paraphernalia. Also at this step you can start cross-promotional campaigns whereby you promote other bands on your site and they promote you. This will triple your exposure mediums and in the end give you more listening ears and more dollars in your pocket.

Labels: marketing, promoting

How important should a music agent be to your musical career? In examining this question, let me just point out that all of the most popular bands could not function without their agents. What an agent does is allow you to pursue the things that truly matter to you as a musician. If you have a decent agent, he will promote your music while simultaneously finding various opportunities for you to prove your worth. Obviously those acts that are already established will have people requesting them to play several times a year. However for those you who haven't made it to household name status yet, your agent would function as one to sniff out the best possible ventures for you.

My question to you is this – at one point does an agent become necessary? If you try to get an agent before you have performed enough, you will likely be denied by anyone who is decent.

As a result of the limited availability of quality agents, you will likely have to do some self-promoting first. Obviously you have nothing to promote without a CD. So you will want to get to a recording studio to get that churned out. Once you have your CD, be sure to bring it with you to any and all gigs you play, whether those gigs are paid or not you should be trying to sell your cds. Next I would say that you should try to get on some sort of tour with groups of your similar musical brand. If you can find a slightly more successful band than your own, feel free to ask them questions.

Labels: promoting

Gear is Important. I remember starting out and playing on a Park amplifier with my first guitar from Samick. It was a great beginner package, but as you play and get better you start to notice that your guitar and amp don’t sound quite the way you want them to, then you know it’s time to upgrade.

When I finally decided it was time to upgrade to a half-stack I knew it would have to be a tube head. Nothing says happiness like the warm distorted tones that only a tube amplifier can provide. I searched and searched for something that was affordable but with sound I was looking for. After all the looking I finally found it. Crate’s Blue Voodoo Head, not the newer BV120 models, but the older Blue Voodoo that was actually blue. I found it online for a great price and a week later it came to me. I still play it today.

At the time I had a homemade 4 x 12 Cabinet a friend had made for himself years earlier. It was ok, but it really didn’t produce the tone I was looking for I wanted something ‘meatier’ to provide an ample translation from my amplifier to the surrounding air. Being short on cash I decided on a Randall RX412 4x12 Inch Straight Guitar Speaker Cabinet that would suffice for the time being and I placed the order. The cabinet ended up being on Backorder at the online dealer I ordered from and it couldn’t have been a better time for this to have happened.

Unbeknownst to me an Ashdown 4 x 12 cabinet went on sale at an unbelievable price and when a friend told me that I might want to look into getting it instead, I took a look at the cabinet and thought, “I could give it a try.” So I cancelled my previous order and placed one for the Ashdown cabinet. I hadn’t ever heard anything about Ashdown before this chance encounter. When I got that cabinet I was amazed at how sweet it sounded. Celestian Vintage 30s, Heavy-Duty Construction the cabinet is incredible. I still play it. It has an awesome tonality to it that fully compliments my Blue Voodoo.

I think I may upgrade my Amp Head sooner than later (Mesa maybe), But that Ashdown cabinet will stay in my line up for a long time to come.

Labels: 4x12-Cabinet, Conrad-Junk, Guitar-Amplifier, Live-Sound, Musical-Gear

Like most activities we enjoy, there is a downfall or a negative that goes alongside the positive. According to the Music Teachers national Association, the position they hold is that Music teachers should teach about health consequences that go alongside with listening or playing music. Kids should be educated about the negative consequences that come with music, if the proper precautions aren't taken properly. Hearing health, physical health, and psychological health aren't currently being taught. Damage to hearing to becoming more common among children, MTNA feel it can easily be prevented with the right education. The physical health concern is when the body is being misused when holding an instrument improperly. Healthy playing and singing involves the right posture and can be easily preventable. The psychological part that the association is worried about can be explained by the stress that is commonly caused when performing music, more commonly in public that "involves a host of social and emotional factors that are key to the importance we place on music". Teachers that want to get involved with this problem can do the following things: teach about noise safety, Arrange lessons and teach children about avoiding injuries, provide good musical preparation and encourage students so that stress levels are kept down, be a source of information, and demand high quality teaching materials that support music safety. MTNA is very serious about these concerns and do not take them lightly. Many will have disagreements about whether this is issue should be taken serious. Do you feel it is a problem, or do you think music should still be used for expressing yourself and having a bit of fun in the ever so serious school environment?

What makes a one hit wonder? I have often wondered about this question. In my mind, I can’t understand how someone can have the talent and marketability to connect with millions of fans on a deeply personal level and then suddenly lose their gift. It seems as though people who appeal to the masses with one song could do it twice.
Here is an interesting question related to one hit wonders. In this forum of musicians, I would like to know what you would do if given the opportunity to have a one hit wonder. Honestly, do you think it would enhance your life and fulfill your dreams to ride out your fifteen minutes of fame? Or would it cause you to crack like a peanut in a nutcracker. They say its better to have loved and lost but honestly I don’t know how many people could function as an average Joe after their fifteen minutes of fame. Have you ever heard about the people who win the lottery? Most of them blow their millions within a few years then wind up more depressed and desperate than ever. I wonder if a one hit wonder would be the same way.
You be the judge. If there is anyone who would choose to have just one song make it to glory, and then continue with the life you led before, let me know. I am honestly interested to hear your opinions about this issue.