For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of a guitar trainer, it is basically a mechanism which helps you to learn to play different songs. Musicians and teachers are able to slow down the speed of a CD without compromising any elements such as the pitch. This is huge for teachers and students alike. That means that you can put in your favorite cd and play it slower so that you can learn it at an understandable pace. This is especially important for some rock pieces, as they tend to play very fast. If you can slow it down, it comes much easier, believe me.

This new model from Tascam is currently 40 percent off the list price at http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-TAS-CDGT2-LIST

The reason why I always suggest American Musical is because they have a lowest price guarantee. With this product, they are also giving an extended 12 month warranty. Honestly you don’t find that kind of offer very often.

Here are some specs as taken from www.Americanmusical.com:

• Portable CD guitar trainer (More compact than previous CD-GT1MKII)
• CD-DA/CD-R/CD-RW disc playback
• 10 second anti-shock memory
• Album title/Track title indication by CD-Text
• +16 to -50% pitch control in 1% steps
• Key control: +/-6 semi-tone, in semi-tone steps with +/-50 cents fine tune
• Single Loop, All Loop, and Seamless IN-OUT Loop
• Guitar Canceller with selectable canceling pan point and selectable frequency range
• 10 effect banks for user preset
• Chromatic tuner with calibration
• Metronome (BPM: 40 to 220, Beat: 2 to 6)
• 5 selectable functions by foot switch (Flash Back, Rewind, FF, Bank, Effect on/off)

If you are a teacher or are learning to play yourself, this is a pretty cheap way to advance your skills. Best of all this is a quality product so it will last you for years to come!

Probably conjures up some images of a Hawaiian beachfront right? You may not realize it but Ukuleles can add some pretty sweet sound to a smooth melodic song. If you want to set the mood for a beach gathering this could be your chance . . . in all reality these things are pretty fun and everyone enjoys hearing them.

If you have never considered learning to play the Ukulele, now is your chance. You can learn with the help of a $40 dollar Ukulele from www.Americanmusical.com For a free video about how to learn to play this sweet instrument, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78nr8QMaUbI

If you want to purchase a Ukulele here is what I would recommend the Lanikai LU11 Standard Ukulele. Normally one of these runs about 60 bucks in your average music supply shop. However you can grab it from AMS for 40. Check it out: http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-LAI-LU11

The manufacturer of this product is so confident in the craftsmanship that you get a lifetime warranty with this thing. Most instruments cost 40 buck to add a one year warranty plan.

Once your Ukulele arrives and you watch a few videos on www.youtube.com you can check out http://www.ukulelesongs.com/

That is a great site complete with tablature for popular and uncommon songs. It will keep you busy for days learning some sweet new ukulele tabs and chords.

For those of you who already play the Ukulele let me know of any other relevant sites you find.

Let me put it to you this way – plenty of people can sing – plenty of people can rock – there e are so many musicians in the world that are capable of playing well. How do you distinguish yourself? The answer is confidence. You have to have the presence of a musician. In truth if you want to be a star you have to act like one. If you don’t want to carry yourself with the swagger of a champion than you probably aren’t cut out to be a huge music star. That’s ok if it’s not what you’re aiming for. But if you are interested in laying platinum tracks, you will have to sell yourself first. This leads me to my point – you have to become confident in yourself before others can become confident in you. Sure this all might sound like some psychobabble mumbo jumbo but look at the most famous musicians and pop stars – when they walk on stage or into a room they own the audience. That is why they can command the big bucks, simply because they have convinced people that being in their presence is an experience in itself. Singing well or playing well isn’t enough on its own. You have to be able to sell yourself to an agent and sell yourself to your audience.

I read an article recently which described these basic types of tips in a very interesting way. The premise of the article is that you shouldn’t worry so much about how to become famous. Rather focus on developing yourself now and your confidence. To check out the article go to http://www.musiccareers.net/career-articles/begin-your-music-career/

As you read, keep in mind that this really is some quality info. It’s easy to write the whole inner confidence thing off but there is truth to it. Every successful person in any business, especially music, exudes confidence.

Have you ever considered becoming a radio DJ? You’re on this blog so you obviously love music right? Well it’s important to pursue your dreams and live your passions otherwise life is just passing you by. For those of you who might be interested in becoming a radio DJ, I’ve got some great tips for you today as well as some helpful links.

First and foremost, if you are a college student you are going to have an unfair advantage. Most colleges have their own radio stations. Since you attend your respective university, you already have an in. Develop your resume and drop by to convince the staff that you would be a valued addition to their team.

For those of you who aren’t so lucky as to be attending college, don’t lose hope – you still have options. One of your best bets is to attend a radio DJ school in your area. Typically these schools offer night or weekend classes where you will learn everything you need to know to function as a DJ. You will lean to handle and master common equipment while also learning tricks of the trade.

Tip: Since radio is all about personality, I wouldn’t advise pursuing this job if you aren’t a charismatic or exceptionally interesting person. You have to have some unique attribute about you which can be understood and appreciated by your listening audience. Think about the radio shows you listen to, the DJs are usually upbeat and crazy!

Here is a link to Broadcasters Mentoring Group:

http://www.broadcastingschool.com/radio-dj.php

This is by far the best group for learning to become a radio DJ. You are trained by professionals in a real studio. Not sure whether you’re interested? The above link gives a plethora of tips and tricks for the trade. Even if you don’t want to attend DJ school, check out the above link anyway. You will likely find some very interesting tidbits of information.

The first handheld recorder I wanted to look at today is the Belkin GoStudio Stereo Handheld Recorder for the Ipod. This is a pretty cool little gadget which you can grab on sale for under 100 bucks on www.americanmusical.com. This product features capabilities for recording bands, students, journalists, and podcasters. The GoStudio keeps your Ipod locked in so you don’t have to worry about damaging it.

Features as taken from americanmusical:

• Record directly to your iPod in 16-bit, 44kHz digital audio quality
• Built-in speaker for instant playback
• 2 combo microphone inputs
• 3.5mm mini-jack microphone input
• 2 built-in microphones for stereo recording with independent gain control
• Limiter
• Low cut filter
• Master level control with signal/clip LED
• Direct monitor level control
• Headphone output
• Stereo or Mono recording capabilities

So basically this is a great entry level recording device. It isn’t perfect but it might be your best bet if you are looking for a cheap, reliable way to record some music. To learn more, check out: http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-BEL-GOSTUDIO

The next choice is slightly more costly. The Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder is your ideal choice for a portable recorder. It rings in at just over 300 bucks but is WELL worth the money. This product has so many capabilities and features it will make your head spin. The Zoom “offers superior, built-in X/Y stereo condenser mics that allow variable recording patterns at either 90° or 120°” It also offers higher quality audio capture capabilities. You can use external in internal mics for 4 channel recording. This is the most advanced portable recording device you can find.

To see product reviews for this item from three expert panelists visit: http://www.americanmusical.com//content--name-in-the-spotlight-zoom-h4n

To learn more about this product visit: http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ZOO-H4N-LIST

Thought about putting together a home recording studio for the old band? Well now might just be the right time to make that dream a reality. www.Americanmusical.com is offering an increadible special on a top of the line Tascam home recording package. The Tascam 2488neo Multitrack Digital Recording Package is now 51% off its original price at an increadible 1249.95. Normally you would have to pay 2751.79 for this home recording setup, which is still not a bad deal for what you get.

This recorder has 8 mic inputs as well as mastering effects which include: reverb, amp simulation, compression and EQ processing. This kit is fully capable of turning out high quality sound cds for a whole band. It’s a pretty sweet 24 track production unit. This unit also offers a host of different audio connections and inputs.

Tascam 2488 Neo Features

• New mastering effects; multiband compression, EQ and noise shaping for pro-sounding CD mixes
• 3-band EQ on 24 channels
• 8-inputs and stereo bus
• High and Low sweepable shelving bands
• Full parametric mid band
• Three aux sends on all channels (except the effects return)
• Loop effects; reverb, delay, chorus and more on an aux send and return
• Guitar multi-effects; overdrive, distortion, chorus, delay, flange and more
• Eight assignable dynamics processors for compression (record or mixdown)
• Dedicated Stereo Compressor on the stereo output
• Eight inputs: 4 XLR (or 1/4 inch) with phantom power and four 1/4 inch inputs
• Nineteen 45mm faders including master fader
• LCD display for viewing meters and edit parameters
• 80GB hard drive
• 250 Virtual tracks
• CD-RW; Record Audio CDs, import/export WAV files and backup hard drive
• High-speed USB 2.0 connect to PC or Mac for data backup and SMF/WAV file
• Recording resolution: 44.1kHz, 16-bit or 24-bit

To learn more about this product:

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-TAS-2488NEO-PAK1

FYI American Musical offers the guaranteed lowest price for this product. This unit is my pick for anyone considering a home recording studio.

Three new products have just been unveiled from www.bandmateloops.com specifically developed for Apple’s GarageBand. The products include: DW Rock/Pop Kit, Rogers Reggae Kit, and RnB Hip-Hop Kits.

The SLD DW Rock Pop Kit allows for the user to devlop great mixes and produce strong beats. Features as described on bandmateloops.com:

• Incredible DW Kit sound with Neuman U67 ambience microphone
• 5 processed presets ready to play for each kit
• Compatible with Garageband, Logic Express and Logic Pro
• Multiple velocities for dynamic performances
• Audiophile sound quality

This product is available for only 24.99. To learn more visit: http://www.bandmateloops.com/product/500/

Are you interested in Reggae and dub music making? If you are, the Rogers Reggae Kit is the perfect fit for you. Best of all this kit features multiple ultra-rich, analog recorded samples.

Features as described on bandmateloops.com:

• 5 processed presets ready to play
• Compatible with GarageBand, Logic Express and Logic Pro
• Timbres and drumming technique suited especially for Reggae and Dub
• Multiple velocity layers for realistic performances
• Audiophile analog sample quality

This product is a bargain at 19.95. Visit http://www.bandmateloops.com/product/499/ to learn more.

The last interesting kit for today is the SLD RnB Hip-Hop Kit. This kit has a variety of real and synthesized sounds to produce the coolest mixes. It also comes with an old school kit which allows you to use classic hip hop sounds from the good old days. This kit also offers many modern options.

Features as described on bandmateloops.com:

• 5 processed presets ready to play for each kit, totaling 15 different presets
• Compatible with GarageBand, Logic Express and Logic Pro
• Synthesized components included with the 808 Kit and RnB Kit
• Multiple velocities for dynamic performances
• Audiophile sound quality

This last product is available for 24.99 at http://www.bandmateloops.com/product/498/

If you use GarageBand (which I highly recommend) any of these products would be a great addition to your software. If any of you try em out, let me know what you think.

One of the goals of this blog is to offer tips and tricks for learning to play music. Recently I stumbled upon a product that is pretty interesting. It is an instructional guitar video by Greg Howe. Greg Howe has exceptional experience with jazz, funk, rock, blues, as well as fusion. Greg got his start as a ten year old kid and has since done it all. He has played with Enrique Iglesias, Justin Timberlake, Dennis Chambers, Michael Jackson, and Victor Wooten. Honestly this guy knows how to get around the guitar.

The product is a one hour instructional DVD. This video goes through various warm up procedures and then takes you through alternate picking, three-octave scales, and offers constant on screen tablature. It also teaches the user how to use arpeggios and offers help for developing your own solos. The best part – this one hour instructional DVD is available for less than 25 bucks. Basically you can grab it for the price of a one hour lesson with your instructor.

If you want to check out more, visit http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/ProductDetail.aspx?itemnum=%20%20%20%20%2028928&pubnum=0

You can also pick up this product at your local music supply store.

Yesterday I left off with the question – should our schools take on the initiative for music education? I think ideally parents would teach kids to play music and it would be a bonding, enriching experience. It would be great if each parent could teach his or her child some musical art form but in this increasingly competitive global economy, people are crunched for time. Gone are the days of the renaissance man. People simply aren’t as well rounded as they used to be. Instead people are learning specializations. Therefore I think parents should continue to teach children how to play music if they are able. However since most parents can’t do this or won’t do this, we need better music programs in school to educate and expose children to music. After all, how much would we all have lost if Mozart had never touched an instrument? What if his father was not a minor composer? I can guarantee he would not have had the same degree of success without his father’s influence.

If you want to teach your child a little about music, here are some suggestions for music education for your child:
When your child is a baby, I figure it can’t hurt to play classical music. After all studies suggest that if you play classical music it improves cognitive abilities.

If your child is old enough to start learning music, teach them what you know. For some videos about teaching children music, check out http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/476_child-music-lesson.htm
There are some great videos at that site which help you with teaching children. Also consider checking out www.Youtube.com If you want to teach your child guitar, try typing in basic guitar lesson in youtube. You will be surprised how many tutorials you can find from something that simple.
Bottom line is this: your kid probably won’t be the next Mozart, but music can enhance his or her life. Why do we listen to or play music? Because it enhances our lives and provides enjoyment. Expose your kids to music early and the possibilities are endless!

As most of you know, Mozart got his start as a young child. By the time he was 5 he had composed several famous pieces. His father had given him lessons from the time he was a small boy but Mozart routinely grew beyond those lessons and took his education upon himself. His first attempts at the violin were without his father’s knowledge. What is my point in stating this? Well for one I think he was simply a fascinating person. But beyond that, learning about Mozart has made me realize that each child has so much hidden potential. While Mozart did take on many musical endeavors on his own, his father, a minor composer, was his most instrumental teacher in his early years. Who knows what Mozart would have accomplished without his fathers help. Point being, I think parents don’t expose their children to music enough. I think each child should have the opportunity to learn how to play a musical instrument from an early age. As a child, I never had access to many musical opportunities. This brings me to my last question – should our schools take on the initiative for art education.

The internet is a beautiful thing! With it comes thousands upon thousands of musical opportunities. Please let us know what musical opportunities you have uncovered by posting on our blog!
Today I wanted to talk about finding free sheet music online. For starters you can go to

http://www.freesheetmusic.net/

This site offers thousands of selections for you to view and download so that you can hone in your skills or practice some of your favorite songs. Another great site to check out is

www.8notes.com which offers over 9000 choices for sheet music downloads.
If you browse both of those sites you will soon realize something – there aren’t a whole lot of today’s most popular songs available. That means if you want to learn your favorite guitar song, you will have to check out some tablature. Which brings us to our main point of discussion: is using tablature ethical? The artist never gives permission for you to use the tablature. However by the same comparison you are only playing their song. One might say that it is even good for an artist because it just causes more promotion for his or her music. Where do you stand on this issue?

If you are interested in finding tablature online, there are a myriad of sources. These include:

http://www.911tabs.com/ - 3,500,000 tabs

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ - 300,000 tabs

http://www.mxtabs.net/

As I was thinking about music gigs, it occurred to me that I had never before mentioned the idea of playing parties at various colleges. If you and your band are around the same age as college students, you should look into playing some college parties. You can post your information on and around campus so that people can contact you. Here is an idea: if you aren’t a known band and you are seeking exposure, advertise that you will play for free. That is sure to get you at least a few gigs at most colleges. Then if you do a stellar job, you will have an opportunity to sell your cds and memorabilia. Another great place to advertise for your band is local coffeehouses. You can place ads in most coffee houses which could help you get a few gigs.
So I have named a few ways you might gain some exposure for your band. Now let me emphasize what simply works THE BEST. Of all the bands I have known, the ones who gain the most exposure in the shortest amount of time have one thing in common, and it isn’t immaculate skill. All those bands had charismatic band members who were plugged in to whatever community they were a part of. Even back in middle school I knew several bands. The ones who always made it the farthest and played the most gigs were the ones who marketed themselves daily. If you know people, use your connections. Advertise yourself any and every opportunity if you are looking to play more often. Trying to advance your band is a lot like starting a business, you have to SELL yourself before you can become well known or famous. Music, like everything else in life, requires some networking for true success.

This has to be one of the coolest pieces of software that I have ever seen. The Digidesign Strike Virtual Drum Set Instrument is the closest thing you will ever have to a robotic drummer.

This software is a state of the art RTAS instrument plug-in which allows you to create and control professional drum performances with Pro Tools. This software offers the most realistic sound of any software available. The best part about this software is that it has so many options. You can choose between tons of different high definition drum kits and style options.

If you don’t have a drummer in your band, this is the perfect software for you. Normally this stuff can be pretty pricey for high quality software like this but american musical offers it for 299. To learn more check out, http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-DIG-STRIKE-LIST

Here are a list of specs for this software as taken from www.americanmusical.com

• Easily produce professional, highly realistic drum performances right within Pro Tools software
• Full, real-time control of the virtual drummer’s performance, including intensity, complexity, timing, groove, dynamics, and much more
• Groundbreaking realtime performance engine allows for gradually adjusting the dynamics of a drum performance without the typical machine gun effect or audible velocity layer switching
• Choose from 5 high-definition drum kits, each featuring up to 12 instruments per kit and up to 300 samples per instrument
• Includes over 20 GB of 24-bit audio stored in just 5 GB of space via proprietary lossless compression
• Over 1,500 editable preset drum patterns/performances covering dozens of musical styles and song section structures
• Intelligently mapped drum patterns and sounds allow for fast, interactive real-time arrangement and composition of drum parts
• Doubles as a powerful MIDI drum module for use with your own drum patterns and sequences
• Built-in virtual mixing console for full control over drum kit sound, including room ambience, microphone levels/leakage, EQ, dynamics, and more
• Dedicated EQ and 2 insert effects processors per channel including compressor, limiter, tube saturation, distortion, bit crusher, filter, ring modulator, delay, reverb, phaser, chorus and more
• Support for multi-channel plug-in output for discrete routing and mixing of each drum kit component independently in the Pro Tools mixer
• MIDI Learn functionality allows for easily mapping plug-in parameters to MIDI instruments for hands-on control
• Full support for Pro Tools automation and control via Digidesign control surfaces and ICON integrated consoles
• Highly optimized RTAS instrument for Pro Tools HD 7, Pro Tools LE 7, and Pro Tools M-Powered 7 software

So you want to get together with your band mates but actually meeting up is problemsome. Regardless of whether you live in the same town or thousands of miles apart, you can now meet up to jam with Ejamming. Ejamming is a software program which works with skype in order to allow you to play music with your friends over the skype network. Therefore once you have the software, you don’t have to pay anything to meet up virtually and play with your friends. Perhaps an even cooler option with this software is the notion of starting a band with musicians you have never even met. Throughout several music forums musicians post want ads and meet up with one another in order to find “virtual band mates.” If you are interested in finding someone to jam with you, post a want ad here on our site. Let the whole world know what kind of band mate you are looking for.

You can get a starter pack at www.ejamming.com for about 90 bucks. All in all you will actually end up saving money as you won’t have to pay for gas to transport yourself and your gear. Have any of you tried out this technology? From everything I have heard, people really seem to love it. I absolutely love the idea of jamming with somone I have never even met.

Finding a Quality Guitar Teacher

In recent posts I have detailed several online methods for learning guitar as well as series of tapes that you can purchase via www.AmericanMusical.com while these methods are surely the most cost effective means of learning guitar, they might not be the right choice for everyone. If you have young kids, it might be worth it to shell out a few bucks in order to ensure they get started on the right foot learning to play guitar – or any other instrument for that matter.

Here are some tips for finding the right guitar teacher:

• · Make sure the teacher is compatible with your child – same sex instructors are often best. It will make you child more comfortable from the get go.
• · Set up one lesson with several instructors to see which one is best for your child
• · Don’t rule out neighborhood teachers – the best music teachers don’t always have a degree. Conversely some of the worst people at teaching have fancy degrees from music school.
• · Sit in on the first lesson to make sure you personally are comfortable with the teacher. If your child or the teacher doesn’t like this idea, meet with the teacher ahead of time to assess whether or not you are comfortable with them.

How to find a teacher in your area:

• · Utilize www.Craigslist.com once on the site find your area and search the ads for music teachers. If none are listed, place a want ad in craigslist. You will have several hits within a week if you place an ad seeking a teacher. This is also the cheapest way to get a music teacher. Keep in mind when you child is first learning, a high schooler might be capable of teaching your child – they work for small wages!
• · The more expensive route would be to go to your local music shop and ask them .This is probably your safest bet as there won’t be any wackos there.
• · Search the local paper for music teachers

Labels: music education, music teacher

What do you all think of American Idol? So as of now it is still the number one show in America for several years running. I can’t help but watch it myself, as I find it to be very intriguing. Have any of you ever thought about entering into the competition? My favorite part of the show is when they air the new auditions and you have all the people auditioning who really have no business singing.

Anyway what do you think about it in terms of talent development? Can we learn anything from American Idol? I think that prospective musicians should honestly watch the show for tips and information. Let’s face it, the show is pretty interesting. Furthermore you have a panel of 4 judges who make up the whos who of the music industry. When I first started watching the show, I didn’t really realize it could be an opportunity to advance a musicians knowledge and skills. Having watched it for a few seasons I have realized that the greatest thing the judges on American Idol do for the contestants is to help them gain their stage presence and hone their performing skills. Performing is what separates the professionals from the talented singers. Plenty of people can sing beautifully. However if you ever want to be a star whether it be pop or rock, you will have to perform and ENTERTAIN the audience. Watching Idol can give you some serious tips and guidelines to follow to help you in your performing skills. To check out more, visit www.Americanidol.com

If you are interested in entering into the music business, I would highly recommend reading “All You Need to Know About the Music Business” by Passman. Passman is an entertainment lawyer who has years in the business working with some of the most famous musicians around. This book is perfect for those interested in becoming a music manager, producer, performer, and songwriter. Honestly this book gives you some great information about getting on the inside track of the music business. He details how to find advisers and market your career effectively. Whether you are a performer or an agent, you will need to market yourself professionally and effectively or you will never be a success. Since marketing is not always an innate gift that each person possesses, this book will help you to learn that trait. It also helps you with important legal issues about music like how to protect your work. It is important that you learn those things so that you don’t get hung out to dry. One of the greatest benefits of this book is a detailed explanation of royalties for everyone involved in the music business. To outsiders this can seem complex. However Passman simplifies the process and speaks in easy to understand terms. Basically if you are serious about a career in music, regardless of the avenue, you should check out this book. Check it out here at Amazon, here

Labels: music business, Music Careers, music law

If you want a new instrument, you can’t beat the prices of American Musical Supply. They deliver straight to your door and offer specials daily. If you have never checked em out, go to www.americanmusical.com

However if your purse strings are a little tight and you can’t quite afford new supplies, here are a few avenues for finding some used items in your area. Check www.craigslist.com Do a search for the city you live in as well as neighboring cities. You can search all of craigslist if the item you are looking for is inexpensive to ship. Many sellers on craigslist are willing to ship to your door if you pay the charges. Let’s face it, some of the deals on there are so good you can afford the extra shipping charges. However finding local used equipment will be cheaper – especially for those bulky or delicate music items.

The second means to find musical supplies is to attend any and all liquidation sales you come across. These aren’t common so if you ever spot one, take advantage.

The last means, and my favorite way of buying musical supplies and other goodies is to attend a local estate sale. Browse your local newspaper or again check www.craigslist.com for the garage sales and estate sales section. You can then search for keywords such as guitar or amp. Craigslist will then pull the garage sale or estate sale listings that meet your specific criteria. Estate sales usually have better bargains than garage sales though they are both pretty great. Lastly, do a search on www.yardsalesearch.com.

Labels: music supplies

Yesterday I discussed starting your own music business. While the ideas I suggested may not have met your specific needs, I hope they helped to generate some ideas for you.
If you are interested in another route, consider becoming a sales rep for any number of the music companies. You then won’t have to buy any inventory. Instead you will simply help your friends or anyone else pick out the supplies they need and receive a commission. Most companies offer some sort of independent sales program like this. For instance, I used to be an Apple Sales rep. Apple makes some great music equipment so you might want to send in your application. They don’t interview you or anything. I was approved after sending my resume. Basically they will take anyone because it is 100 percent commission sales. If you don’t sell anything, it doesn’t cost them a cent. To check out this opportunity, go to http://channelprograms.apple.com/channel/ As a bonus you receive all sorts of great discounts on any products you purchase from Apple. They also have training available if you desire. The one catch is that there is a $50.00 non refundable application fee. However I have to assure you, if they took me they will probably take anyone that can fog a mirror. I had no sales experience other than owning my own ebay business like I spoke of yesterday.

Labels: music business

I am a firm believer that you should do what you love. Furthermore you should get paid for doing what you love. Most people write off this idea as foolishness. However I have to tell you with this recession, there has never been a better time for a career change. Specifically I am interested in dedicating this post to starting your own music supply business. The reality is that music equipment sales have not been greatly affected by this recession. People are still holding fast to their passions. While giving up luxury items has become necessary, people are still purchasing music equipment like it is going out of style.
There are a few different ways to start your own music supply business. First and foremost would be to set up digital storefront. Most of the good locations for a physical brick and mortar music shop will be taken if you live in a high traffic area. Also brick and mortar shops cost substantially more in an initial investment as well as upkeep than a cyber storefront. There is virtually unlimited cyber space, so you don’t have to worry about the good locations being taken. To start off your business you could set up shop on ebay. One of the best ways to start a business is to act as a trading partner for www.ebay.com In doing this you will be placed on ebays list of trading partners. You can say that you specialize in music equipment sales. Then when individuals search ebay to find someone to sell their used items, your name will pop up. You will then sell items for other people and take a cut of the profits. This is one of the best ways to get your business started.

Labels: Start a Music Business

So today I thought it might be fun to look at the career of a music producer. You won’t technically be playing music but you will still be inundated with music all day long. Producers tend to make anywhere from 20 thousand to an excess of 1 million dollars per year. Obviously this is dependent on who you are producing and how many records are sold. It is common for producers to take either an upfront fee for production or wave the fee and collect on the back end. Collecting on the back end can lead to incredible profits if you produce a hit. According to Meghan Gohil, “The job salary for a music producer is peanuts to caviar.” He continued to say that most producers star off by producing and recording for free until they gain experience. For those people who are interested in becoming a producer, Gohil advocates being a music fan first. He says to “listen to the songs that were #1 and figure out why they went there.” He also advocates a broad knowledge of all genres of music as it will allow you to pool from a greater knowledge base. Gohil has produced a number of famous bands. He started off his career recording and mixing for bands in high school. Later he received his master’s degree from Webster University.

To learn more about the renown music programs at Webster visit, www.webster.edu

If you want to check out the full interview with Producing expert Meghan Gohil visit http://blogs.payscale.com/salarystories/2007/02/music_producer_.html

Labels: Music Careers