Have you ever wondered what it takes to have the best vocal performance of your life? There are many factors to consider when you have a big gig coming up. You want to focus on what you eat, what you drink, and how much you sleep. In her article, “The Three Day Rule: Performance Prep […]
Is it too late to learn piano? Of course not! The piano is a great instrument in that it is perfect for all musicians of all levels at all ages.
It’s not just the words you say that get a message across—it’s the way you say them. Similarly, in music there are many ways to “say” the same notes. Without following articulation markings, your playing could end up sounding like the equivalent of speaking in a monotone. Here’s an easy guide to help you become more “articulate” and bring more life into your playing by using accents, slurs, and staccatos.
Practice is incredibly important for success, but it’s not simply about how much time you practice, it’s about how you practice. After years of struggling with music, I started applying deliberate practice and other cognitive science learning approaches to French horn and became an international symphony pro after just two years of doing so. Before […]
Band managers have a critical task that relates directly to the group’s success. They need to coordinate travel, handle the different egos and goals within the bandmates, and promote the band’s identity and talent. Read these six helpful tips that can spark interest in artists to challenge themselves to manage their own band without completely losing their mind.
Musicians must focus on making an impression with their music, especially their first track. Read some tips for making a great impression! The first song must convey what the artist stands for musically, and perhaps even socially. It needs to reflect who they are and should be the type of track that will resonate with the audience. The song should set the audience’s expectations about the artist and their work.
As many musicians can attest, there’s a big difference between playing music for your own enjoyment and being asked to play in front of other people. Whether you’re playing on stage for a large crowd or entertaining a group of friends in a more intimate setting, “stage fright” is a real phenomenon that can cause even the most experienced musicians to shy away from public performances.
Tip number 8 in the Top 10 Tips to Better Performing is all about the story of your song. Some people are not the best storytellers but they can still intrigue you by what they’re saying. It is the same for musicians.
Songwriters: Give Your Mind an Escape. When to Give in to Your Distractions. An excerpt from Emma McGann’s new book The Songwriting Handbook for Beginners, Volume One: Motivational Methods
This video teaches you this pattern in three chords so that you can use it with the 12-bar blues. You can use this pattern in blues songs, swing, country and even some pop songs.