How To … Practice & Rehearse

First off, let’s define these two terms: Practicing is what individuals do; rehearsing is what groups do. Individuals should always practice in between their group rehearsals. Practice Nobody gets better at playing their particular instrument without practice. No one. Even prodigies must practice. Following are a few pointers that may help you practice more successfully. […]

Versatile Musician/Repair Tech Offers Maintenance Tips for Woodwind & Brass Players

A serious, dedicated musician often possesses a passion for music which a non-musician may not fully comprehend. Indeed, this enthusiasm can continue to drive said musician, even though he or she may be forced to turn to non-musical endeavors simply to earn a living. The rare musician who can live a fully musical life, at […]

How Fan Clubs Can Be Monetized Through Streaming and E-Commerce

Artists and performers are creatives by trade. Their right-brained sensibilities are critical to self expression and connecting with an audience. But monetizing those gifts isn’t often part of the package. Just as the average accountant or marketer would struggle through a guitar solo or comedy skit, many musicians, stand-up comics, and other artists have trouble […]

Want to be a better guitarist? Check out Steve Vai’s Guitar Workout

Since its appearance in Guitar World in 1990, Vai’s intensive guitar regimen has been the Holy Grail for serious players. Here is the lesson that shaped a generation of guitarists. Vai sat down with guitarist/transcriber Dave Whitehill and outlined his practice routine for the January 1990 issue of Guitar World. Never before had a guitarist […]

Jane Lui — Lighting the Way of Her Own Path

Surrija is a new electro project by Jane Lui. It will forever be under the radar since that’s where she prefers it. Recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and actor originally from HK. She grew up on classical training, but quit the second she discovered her love for playing by ear and singing in choirs. She got a degree in music (choral conducting) against her family’s wishes…

From National Opera to Otherworldly Chant Music — The Evolution of Shunia

Something unique emerges when two accomplished artists combine their influences, inspirations and experiences to form something new. Shunia’s music has the power to transform, to connect you to the energy within and around you. It can put you in touch with something as simple as your five senses or as mysterious as the infinite…

Mastering Best Practices Explained with Alan Silverman – Part 2

Alan got his start doing tech and assisting at NYC’s Electric Lady Studios, covering sessions for The Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Hall & Oates. Thereafter, he accepted a staff engineering position at A&R Recording, where he worked with legendary producer Phil Ramone and renowned musical artists Billy Joel, Kiss, and Judy Collins. He recorded and mixed musical scores for film directors David Mamet, Francis Coppola and Frank Oz, and top composers Elmer Bernstein and John Barry. He also fostered professional relationships that would come to last decades – he and Judy Collins still work together on numerous projects…

Paul Abbott’s Zen Approach to Mastering – Part 3

Paul Abbott is an audio mastering engineer, musician, and owner of ZenMastering (located in San Diego, CA). Paul established ZenMastering in the late 1990s — at a time when there were very few high-end independent mastering studios. Since then, Paul has mastered over 1,000 projects for clients throughout the United States and around the world, ranging from up-and-coming indie bands to award-winning artists and labels.