Scales have something of a bad reputation in music as being a repetitive and a bit of a slog. Besides the fact that they really don’t have to be, if you vary and maximize your practice, the key to scales is their application. It’s hard to get excited about playing a scale, for sure, but […]
The most popular question when people find out you’re a songwriter is, “What comes first, the words or the music?” and the answer is, “It’s different every time.” Is writing great melodies and lyrics an innate talent or is it something you can learn? Are there tricks and methods that you can adopt to help open […]
The standout quality of metal music is the loudness and energy of the performance. Therefore, when mixing metal, you must be ready to deal with stuff like big sounds, loud guitars, in-your-face drums, and aggressive vocals. We also know that in order to make metal music sound exactly how it’s supposed to, it must be […]
As a singer, you may have some questions about breathing. Maybe you’ve read tips or received advice that confused you. In this article, I’ll attempt to answer those questions and clear up any confusion on breathing for singing. Why is breath so important? Without breath, we can’t sing. You probably knew that already. But […]
A great song can sound pretty shoddy and still capture listeners’ hearts, no doubt. There are, however, so many examples of great songs falling short just because they didn’t “sound” very good. With the abundance of tutorials at our fingertips, all the information is out there. If you seek out the right teachers and really […]
Relying on creativity to pay your electricity bill can bring on some unwanted pressures that aren’t conducive to creating. Ideally, you need to be able to turn your inner muse on and off like a light, but it’s not that easy. Inspiration is usually the gateway to the gold. Here’s some ideas on how to […]
Does it surprise you that professional acoustic musicians have better hearing than others their age? In fact, one study discovered that the average 70-year-old musician can hear as well as a 50-year-old non-musician. But why? The advantage isn’t in musicians’ ears — it’s in their brains, which interpret auditory signals better. According to neurobiologist Nina Kraus, […]
The Perpetual Beginner is part memoir, part musical instruction manual. Relating stories of his experiences as a young musician and music student in 1980s New York, author Dave Isaacs describes the key lessons that shaped his musical life and how they can help any aspiring musician at any age. The title refers to the average […]
Do you hope to expand your musical circle? Need inspiration and practical ideas for overcoming setbacks? Love music and seek new ways to enjoy it? Roots musician Gayla M. Mills will help you take your next step, whether you play jazz, roots, classical, or rock. Her book Making Music for Life: Rediscover Your Musical Passion […]
Auditions can be some of the most important, pressurized, and nerve-wracking experiences in the career of a professional musician. On the one hand they can be nervy, stressful, and anxiety inducing, but on the other hand they can be fulfilling, rewarding, and ultimately something you need to do to “get the gig” and therefore progress […]