Business of Music

Most of us are musicians because we love to play our instrument(s) but we don't take the time to think about the business of music.  Being in a band is hard work.  You need to have a bandleader, others have to be willing to play a role, and there are contracts to sign and a level of musicianship that must be reached.

How does any "Artist" get any art done in a business atmosphere? Or conversely how does an artist get any business done in this artistic atmosphere…

There must be a balance.  The most successful bands are those that are consistent, hard working, aggressive and creative.  Most importantly there are the bands that stay together. 

Being an artist does not mean you are not astute at real live or business decisions.  Creativity is not an excuse to check out of society.  Really it is a step up on the others.  You get to do what you love to do as long as you can learn to balance business with pleasure. 

Care About Your Career

It s important that you take your career in music seriously because it might not be as long as you expect it to be and it needs your complete attention.  Taking care of business will insure that you get the most out of your talent. 

Learn the business side while you are young.  You can't count on a manager or a record label to take care of you.  Most of the time they are having enough trouble taking care of themselves.  Watch them carefully and take the time to be involved the decisions that will shape your music career. 

Momentum

One of the most difficult issues for a band is momentum.  It is so important to keep yourself and your band busy, writing songs, booking gigs, talking to other folks in the industry, recording a demo, dealing with critics and more.  It is a full schedule for anyone but many of us still have to keep a job until you reach a certain level in the industry.  I still have not mentioned having a social life out side of music or a family. 

Organization of your time is essential.  Be sure to work with people that do what they say they are going to do.  Integrity is an essential trait to any successful musician or businessman.  It is also a key to good art.  If you don't follow through and complete your music the way you set out to do it than you will struggle to get where you want to go. 

Vision

Be sure to have a complete vision of what you want, how you are going to get it done and set the proper goals to get it done.  Every successful person in any business or art form has had a complete vision before they started.   Take the time to think about what you want done before you start it.  If your vision has to change along the way than so be it, but make sure you rethink your direction before you change.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

A New Music Theory

As a musician I am sure you know how difficult it can be to keep yourself on track sometimes.  Learning music theory, songs, new rhythms, improvising and more! There are many overwhelming feelings that you have to keep in check in order to keep yourself on your goals.  I know personally there are times where I feel like I am stuck on a learning plateau.

Here are some ideas you might keep in mind to help you keep your perspective and feel better about your progress.

Success Questions

Your mental process can get bogged down with bad questions or un-empowering questions as Tony Robbins would say.  It is important to realize that the questions you ask yourself will shape your future. 

For instance if you continue to ask yourself "why you suck", your musicianship will suffer and your self esteem will suffer.  Perhaps you are shying away from learning music theory because you think it will destroy your creativity.  The sad thing is that many talented people say things like this to themselves every day. 

You need to prepare yourself for success by realizing that the questions you ask yourself determine what your thoughts are.  Successful people ask better questions and consequently get better results.

Be honest with yourself but also look for the right question before you start looking for answers.  These questions are different for everyone but here are a few ideas for you to get going.

What makes my music good?

What part of my music is not perfect yet?

How can I solve my problem? (dream big on this one)

How can I enjoy the process of learning more?

Time Management

Take your time to learn properly.  Make sure your technique is correct and slow down.  Being a musician is a fun thing.  You play music… even when you are working at it.  As a musician you are an entertainer and you have an entire life to learn.  It is important to have goals but it is also important to keep your perspective. 

No Mistakes

So many people are worried about making mistakes.  The secret is that there are no mistakes in music, only poor adjustments.  If you can slow down and think clearly while you are practicing than you will understand how to adjust and improvise when you are playing in front of your audience.  Relax and you will take your self to new heights of musicianship.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

Learning Music: Questions For Success

Learning music can be tough when you get out there and start hearing critics.  Maybe you have started to realize that there is a lot of talent out there looking for a record deal and you don't feel like such a big fish in a small pond any more.  Don't worry, there is plenty of success to go around.

Success is a reward of honest evaluation and consistent action.  That is true when you make your demo, when you are a bandleader, if you work in the music business or any part of life as well. 

It is important for any artist to ask themselves the proper questions in order to evaluate what they are doing so that they can see the path that they are on.

I am not saying that you should be hard on your self all the time.  It is just as important to see what you are doing right as well.  Honesty is the key.  You need to ask yourself the proper questions.

What is my biggest goal?

This question is  great for motivation.  Set your sights high and aim for the stars.  If you fall short you just might find yourself in a comfortable and acceptable position.  Worry about that in the future.  For now think big and you will get your hands on what you can.

What steps have I taken over the last year to get myself to my goal?

This is a question that you need to be honest with yourself on.  Review the last 12 months and write down the steps forward as well as the steps backward.

What where the positive works that I have done? Can I repeat them again?

It is important to know what works so that you can magnify it and multiply them.  "If it aint broke don't fix it". make sure you don't cast the good away.  Repetition of the good ideas is a key to success.

What did I fall short of doing?

Honesty hurts sometimes but it is important for growth.  You have to look at the dark side to bring it to light.  Next time this issue comes up don't repeat what you did the first time.  Try a new answer to that question.  If it works that that is great if you fail again than look for the answer some more.  Remember it never hurts to get help.

How can I fix what I did not do?  Can I redo it or do I have to start from scratch?

Consistency will be rewarded with success. Knowing when to start over and when to fix a problem area is also important.  Before you scrap a project completely, take a long look at it and ask yourself if it can be fixed first.

How can I do better in the coming year?

Don't just tear yourself or your work down.  It is important to set yourself up for success.  Make new goals, both short term and the big pie in the sky dream.  They both have functions in your life.

Big goals are there for motivations and excitement.  They get you motivated to start the project.  It is important that you set up some smaller and immediate goals as well so that you don't get overwhelmed.  Small goals also serve as bench markers.  They act as a time line for you while you manage your expectations.

Keep everything in perspective.  Forward progress is good progress.  It is important to stay cheerful and curious because these emotions help you deal with the day-to-day grind.  Remember that you are in charge of your life and your emotions.  Stay on top of them and enjoy your life in music as well as what is to come.

Mentors

It never hurts to find someone that you admire in the industry.  Maybe you need an instructor or maybe you need to surround yourself with high caliber musicians.  What ever it takes to get a mentor you should do it.  Write that person a letter if they are not local.  Be kind and honest about who you are and what you like about what they do.  You would be surprised how far flattery will go to helping you cause.

There is no reason to reinvent the wheel.  If you can learn from someone else than you should take advantage of that.  Don't let your ego get in the way of your future.  Learning form others is smarter and quicker in the long run.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

5 Best Ways How To Get A Gig

Some of you out there are just starting up a band and you want to get a gig.  You are probably so excited to play in front of an audience that you can hardly sleep.  How you go about getting a gig will determine how good the venue is.

So I have compiled my 5 favorite ways how to get a gig for your band.

1. Open Mic Night: This might be the easiest way for a small group to get out there and get some gigs but it is also good for a full band.  At first you are going to be unknown so you need to be visible. 

One or two of you should practice a few songs as a duet. Play the open mic for fun and get to know some of the regulars, become a regular and support others. Remember that friends like to help out friends.  If you do a good job you will be getting offers to open up for other groups as well as getting shows at your open mic spot.  By going this route you also build in an audience that knows you and will travel to see you…

2. Demo Drop Off: This one works well but it takes more work.  The demo that you drop off should sound good.  It does not have to be a high tech, super quality CD.  It does need to be professional looking and have a sound that the listener can enjoy. 

Also be prepared to make a follow up call a week later.  So when you go into the place you are scoping out get a business card and ask who is in charge of the booking.  Drop off your demo and move on to the next place.  Be friendly and try to make a good impression so they remember you when you call.

3. Craigslist.org: I am not sure that there is anything that craigslist cant do… You can look in the musicians section for places looking for bands/musicians and you can post and ad for a gig…

4. Throw a party:  Obviously you are going to need to have a place that can accommodate a large group of people and a lot of noise.  The good thing about this is that if you get good at it you can go into business for your self as a promoter as well as a band.  The down side is you are responsible for everything that goes on where ever the party is.  That is why this is not closer to the top of my list.

5. Busking: Busking is the practice of performing in a public place for tips and gratuities.  This is a difficult way to go but it also has some big payoffs.

The down side is that you are not going to be wanted everywhere you go (no matter how good your song is).  Be sure to have the proper permissions before you go about busking.  Many cities have permits that you have to pay a few bucks for.  Others don't allow it at all, so go forward at your won risk.

The up side to busking is that you are seen by thousands of folks a day.  Many will give you tips if they like you, you will meet some very cool folks (as well as some real wierdo's) and you are getting valuable "stage" experience.

So that is it, those are my 5 favorite ways to get a gig.  No matter how you go about getting a gig, the most important thing is to take action now.  Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

Sonic Producer Review

Sonic Producer is Killer Music production software without the high price tag. 

When I first started making beats I had to learn how to hook up a MIDI device to my computer.  For most people I knew, that was enough to stop them from wanting to make music.

Not to mention you had to learn how to use the equipment you bought with that owner's manual that makes no sense!  I have done it quite a few times myself. 

Now you can be making the beats you want in minuets with this Super User Friendly software.  When you are done you just download your new sounds in an mp3 format and bounce. 

The only thing you might have to worry about is the carpal tunnel you might get from making so many beats after you get hooked on this simple beat machine.

Sonic Producer

Now that I have found Sonic Producer I feel lucky.  Before this software you had to have 2 jobs to get the cash to buy all the right equipment to get quality sounds. Then next year a new piece of hardware comes out with new sounds.  There you are stuck with the old stuff you shelled out all of your hard earned cash for. 

Sonic Producer has made my life easy.  Not only are there plenty of high quality sounds but it is also a complete start up kit including plenty of video tutorials to get you going. You don't even have to be a musician to make great beats with this.

Sonic Producer

One of the best parts of using Sonic Producer is the member's area.  It is full of tutorial's that teach you how to use it with Logic, Protools and different keyboards.  You can use it with PC or Mac, which is a big deal for Mac users like me.  They even have a $500 contest so you can show off your best beats.

I have used many different sequencers in my 15 years of music production and this is as easy and as cheap as it comes while delivering high quality sounds!

Click Here Now To Save $ And Make Great Beats Easy

How To Handle Critics

So you have spent the last few weeks writing a song and practicing it until you have it down perfect. How to handle critics is your next big challenge. 

You have been going to the open mic in your neighborhood, watching other musicians take their turn and you want to get up there and show off what you do.  Good for you!  Maybe you are starting to look for that record deal.

The only hurdle to conquer now is getting the courage to stand up there and play your song.  How do you imagine it turning out?  Believe it or not that is a big part of being successful.  Imagining your success is far more powerful than people realize.  If you do nothing but imagine how you are going to crash and burn on that stage than sure enough that is what will happen.

Take some time to see yourself getting that ovation.  See the audience clapping for you and saying how much they liked your song.  You will be surprised how often it works.  But be open minded, sometimes a few quite nice job is just as good as a standing ovation.

Handling Critics

Every once and a while things don't turn out the way to imagined them.  So what do you do?  It is easier to handle accolades but what if nobody claps?  It is our biggest fear!  Believe it or not how you handle defeat is what builds character and develops your passion.

First you should realize that the negative review is honest feedback.  It does not mean that you stink and that you should never try again.  It does mean that you need to go back to the drawing board and try again.  Practice better or more!

Listen to what people say.  Are they telling you that you need to know your song better or are they telling you how you can improve it?  If they are just trying to cut you down for their pleasure than realize that it is their insecurity that is being so damaging.  Push those people aside and ignore them.  Seek some criticism that is meant to help you!

Think of the critics as a way to educate yourself to what people want to hear.  Take the time to listen to them no matter how much it might bruise your ego at first.  A good artist has a strong vision and thick skin! It is also what being a good leader is all about.

Your Reaction

How you react to people will determine how they treat you.  If they tell you good job and you ignore them or say something like "Of Course" Than you are not going to be liked.  Conversely if someone is sharing with you a way to improve your song and you get defensive it is going to go over just as badly.  Learn to listen and take it all as it is a grain of salt. 

Small reactions are best if you are not sure how to react. Don't spend your time talking about how you felt about your performance.  Stay humble and work hard if you don't get the reaction that you wanted at first.  All good things come in time. 

Perspective

Having a good perspective might be the best tool to carry with you.  Realize that it is just a song.  I know that it is your baby and that you have been working on it for some time now.  You have to realize that it is a complete idea now and it is going to go out into the world. What that song becomes is not up to you.  It is your job to position your songs so that people can hear them.  It is the listener's job to listen and comment honestly.

Perseverance

Perseverance is a songwriter's best tool.  You might not have that hit song the first time. You have to keep trying.  If one audience does not like you than try again.  Find another venue.  Jazz legend Thelonious Monk was put down for years before people caught on to what he was doing.  As it turned out he was ahead of the game and had to wait for people to catch up to him.

So remember that a critic is usually someone who can't do what you do.  And if they can do it better, good for them!

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

How To Find A Record Deal

So you have written a few songs and you and your band is getting some good reviews.  Great, now is the time to start thinking about how to find a record deal.  It is important to understand a few things before you get used up and spit out by some record executive looking to make a few quick bucks off of your hard work.

There is no magic bullet for getting a contract with a label.  I wish there was.  What I can do is give you some words of advice so when you do get there you don't get taken advantage of.

The best way to find a record label is to make a quality Demo and start sending your songs off to publishers, producers and record companies.  Make yourself as marketable and professional as possible before you start sending in you music. 

A good place to find this information is to buy a Song Writer's Market Book.  It can be found at most bookstores and they release a new on every year.  It is chalk full of professional contacts and could be the best $25 you spend in your life.  

Show Me Where To Sign!

It's tough out there to get heard.  When you finally do you think that this is it, I have finally made it.  The truth is that getting signed is just the beginning. 

The odds that you are going to get signed by a big name record label right off the bat is small and that is alright.  So you want to make sure that who you are signing with is worth your time.  You are going to have to do your research on them.  

So many musicians sign the first piece of paper that comes their way and two years of headaches later they wish they checked out the Record Company first. 

Don't feel obligated to sign with them.  Don't let that part of you that is begging to be heard sign that paper.  Get a grip on yourself and get legal advice first!  If this person is really a quality A&R guy he will be willing to work with you and your lawyer.  Remember you are looking to build a career in music.

Who Works For Whom?

The way the business works it can seem like as a musician you work for the big label.  It is important to realize that you are the talent.  The label works for you and with you.  That does not mean you should get a big head and start demanding things.  It does mean that you have rights and you want to make sure that you are taken care of. 

MAKE SURE THERE IS A PERFORMANCE CALUSE IN THE CONTRACT.  This means that if they don't do what they say in X amount of time or in X manner the contract becomes void.

Enthusiasm

Make sure that the person publishing and recoding your music is enthusiastic about it.  If they are not willing to go the extra mile because they believe in you, than your song will not get anywhere.  This is a tough industry and you need a real advocate, not some laze shmoe looking to make a quick buck.

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a feather flock together.  That saying means big ideas in the record biz.  You need to make sure that you are surrounding yourself with quality people that are honest, creative and worth your time.  Surround yourself with people that give as much as they take.  Conversely you need to give to the people around you, be thankful for what you have and be honest.  It will build a reputation for you as a person that is good to work with.

Also keep in mind that reputation is important, but your character is more important.  Have integrity and do what you ay.  Say what you do.  Having good character will take you far in any business.

Get A Day Job

If you want to be involved in the music industry it might best serve you to find a day job in the industry.  You never know who you might meet.  I am not saying to get a job down at the local record store.  Make yourself available to be an intern if you have to.  It will be free work at first but worth your while in the long run.  This is a tough business so do what ever you have to to get your foot in the door.  It is also important to keep an open mind.

Rejection

Don’t let rejection stop you.  A songwriter's most important tool is perseverance.  Keep going, do it again, work harder and smarter.  Sometimes it takes a rewrite or two of a song before it takes off.  Remember that you see and hear the song how it supposed to be, but they only here it as it is.  Sometimes there is a discrepancy that you don't see or hear at first.  Get a good support group, listen to what they say and give them a quality honest response in return.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

What To Do With Your E-mail List

Many of you bandleaders out there have been playing gigs and collecting email addresses and making a valuable email list.  You figured you would do this so that you can let your newfound fans know when you are playing next.  Great! Now what do you do with it?

An email list is one of the most important things you can build these days.  The Internet is powerful and has many uses.  If you are smart you will use every advantage you can to get your group noticed. 

I remember for my first band the most difficult thing to get our hands on was equipment.  Many of us did not have jobs and the ones that did could not afford to drop $2000 on a P.A. or new amps and microphones for the band.

Here is how collecting email addresses can help you fund your band!

The Email List

So you have been collecting these addresses and you occasionally send out a reminder to your fans that you will be playing.  That is a good start but these days you should take full advantage of the situation. 

List Sharing

First thing you should be doing with that list is sending out a monthly schedule for your band.  The second thing that you should look into is sharing your list with each of your friend’s band.  In fact I would share my list with any on that had an art event in your area.  Offer to share your list in exchange with theirs.

Announcements

The idea is to share quality information with the people on your list.  Announce any cool events in your area (even if your band is not involved).  The idea is that you want to gain trust with the folks on your list.  You want to build a good relationship with them so that they will open your emails and read them.  This is good because you are more likely to see them at your next shows.

Gifts

People like to feel like they are getting hooked up.  If you can give them access to a "Free" show or give them a gift when they come to yours you will see improvement in your turnout.  It might sound like a gimmick to you as you read this, but the idea is to make people feel good and ultimately to entertain them.

The Affiliate Program

Affiliate programs are where you can make some good money.  Sign up with a website that will pay you for selling their products.  Places like Clickbank.com will hook you up at no cost and allow you to sell stuff like Sonic Pro, a great way for you to make quality sounding hip hop beats without the cost of having to buy all that equipment!

I am sure there are many other ways that you can make your email list functional and even profitable.  Be creative with it and remember to ALWAYS GIVE QUALITY INFORMATION!

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

The Metronome

A metronome is a device that makes regular ticks at a speed that you choose.  Its benefit to a musician is one that is immeasurable.  Learning how to play in time might be the most important thing that a musicians can do.  It is arguably more important than music theory because without proper rhythm and time your music will sound out of sync and terrible.

So how do you go about using a metronome?

Metronomes are inexpensive and if you follow the link below you can use this web page and use the program on this page.

http://www.seventhstring.com/metronome/metronome.html

Before You Start

The first thing you should know before you start to practice with your metronome is what Time Signature is the song you are learning in?

If you are learning a melody than you should know the different note values of each note and plan out any difficult passages before you start.

 It might be a good idea to practice the time of those difficult parts, first without the metronome and then with it.

Practicing

Choose a tempo that you are use to playing a song at.  Start the metronome and start counting the measures of the song in your head before you get going with your instrument.  When you can feel the tempo start playing along with the metronome.  Feel the tick of the metronome and try to land each chord or each note at the exact beat. 

If this is to much to deal with, sing the melody and listen to the metronome.  Stick each note on the proper beat.  It is not as easy as you think.  It is natural for you to speed up or slow down a little as you play.  The key is to hone your skills so that you are making as little change in tempo as possible.  Once you have this down you can learn rhythmic ideas like syncopation.

As you start to use a metronome you might get a little down.  Don’t worry you will get it in no time.  The little bit of work that you do with it will improve your rhythm so much as you play with your band that you will go back for more of this torturous practice.  Before you know it you will only work with your metronome and you will sound like one of the best musicians in your town!

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

How to make a Demo

A lot of musicians and bands out there want to make a demo so that they can get good gig's or find a record label that will sign them to a deal.  So how do you make a demo that will get noticed?

First thing is that you need to know what is expected of you as a musician or a band.  A demo or demonstration record is the most important way for you to communicate that image.  It lets the rest of the world know how serious you are, how detailed your vision is and how much work you are willing to put into "making it".

So here is what you are going to need to get that done.

Audio

First thing you should concentrate on is getting a quality recording.  These days that is not that difficult.  If you have a computer, a microphone or two (the more the better) and a good software program like Protools or countless other programs you can make a good recording in your garage or house.  Make a CD, it does not have to look fancy but the more professional it looks the better.

If you don't have a computer I would suggest practicing so you have your music down super strong and then rent a recording studio for a day and knock out 3 songs that day.

The Demo should that 3 COMPLEATE songs for any A&R or management executive to take you seriously. 

Video

It might help to send them a DVD if your show has some special attraction that can't be heard on a CD.  These days it is easy to get your video out there on Myspace, Facebook, Youtube and your own website is easy to create, even if you know nothing about HTML.

So if you send a CD you can write your youtube address on the CD cover.  It is an important piece of the media puzzle for your band.  Also if you do it right and get some good sound you can strip the audio out of the video and have another copy of a song for you to get out to a podcast…

Lyrics

If your music has lyrics you should have a typewritten page with all the lyrics. Every page should have your contact information on it.  That means the bands name, the songwriters name, an email address, phone number, a physical address (like a home) and any other way that you can be contacted.

Your Communication

Keep your communication to a minimum.  A few short sentences explaining why you sent them this package is enough.  Check your spelling because this is a reflection on how professional you are.

These people are busy so don't bog them down with a cover letter that tells them where every one in the band was born and how many animals they own.  They don't care.  Put a picture of yourself or the group.  A good one!

Checklist

1. Just to make sure you have what is needed here is a checklist for you.
2. 8 ½ X 11 envelope with bubble rap on the inside.
3. Picture of you/band
4. Short letter of explanation of why you are sending them your demo
5. Typewritten Lyric Sheet
6. Music Score (if you know how)
7. CD Demo
8. A self-addressed envelope with return postage; make sure you have enough stamps on it so they will send you back a letter!

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

Being A Bandleader

Being a bandleader is not the easies thing to do.  You are constantly being stretched one way or the other.  Band members are always having problems of one sort or the other.  Musicians are classic flakes and don’t show up, show up late or forgot to learn the new song.  Ego’s get in the way and so and so thinks they can lead the band.  Some one gets offended that you did not use their idea for the song or the band did not like their new song. 

There are 1001 things that can and will go wrong.  I still have not gotten to the fact that you are in charge of booking gigs and arranging everything that is necessary for payment etc…

The bands that are the most successful are those that are consistent, aggressive and creative.  All of those ideas can also be the reason why a band breaks up.  It is your job as a bandleader to give balance to the band and make sure everyone is on the same page. 

Strong Definitions

A good band is one that has a strong definition of who they are, what type of music they are playing and what each member is willing to give to get your ultimate goal what ever that may be.

Ask your self what it is your band has for a long-term goal.  Is this a band that expects to get signed by a record label and tour the world or is this a garage band that hopes to one-day play at the local pub?

This is an important question because it will determine how serious each member has to be and it will also define your job as a bandleader.

Who in the band is responsible for what tasks?  Who is in charge of booking gigs?  Who is in charge of the email list?  Who is in charge of transportation?

Delegating Responsibility

A good leader is not someone who runs around doing everything.  A true leader will share the responsibility with others and make sure that everyone is involved.  When everyone is involved and has a task the entire band has balance.  You will also know real quick if everyone has “bought in” to the idea of being in a band!

Sharing takes trust and trust is what keeps a band together. 

Open Dialog

Keeping people involved takes great listening skills.  Make sure that you are exercising your ears as much as you are your mouth!  Most bands cite “creative differences” as the reason why they broke up.  What that really means is "they never listened to me and I decided to start my own band because I don’t need those guys…"

Being Professional

Part of being a bandleader is knowing that you need to be on time and the band needs to sound good.  The other part is remembering that you are there to have fun.  Even James Brown “the hardest working man in show business” knew when to put the hammer down and when to laugh and have a good time.  Practice is the hard work time and the gig is the fun.  Don’t confuse the two.  Be professional and make sure you are prepared to have fun!

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

Counting Time Signature: 4/4

Counting time is an important part of playing with accuracy.  Without that accuracy your rhythm will suffer and the over all sound of your music will fall apart.  Learning good rhythm habits is as important as understanding the depths of music theory.  So pay attention to the pulse of your songs and learn to count your music out properly.

Counting in 4/4 Time

If the song you are playing is in the 4/4 time signature than you would count each measure or musical bar as follows.

…1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and… 1 and...

The “down” beat would be each number.

The “up” beat would be each “and”.

The strongest beat in every bar is the 1 beat.  If you don’t play any other beat you have to play the “1” if you expect others to follow your rhythm. 

The second strongest beat is the “3” beat.  It is not as strong as the “1” but it is stronger than the “2” and the “4”.

The third strongest beat is the “2”.

Finally the fourth strongest beat is the “4”. 

Drummers usually signify the “1” and “3” with a bass drum thump and the “2” and “4” beats for snare drums. This would be a simple (and rather drab) rock beat.

Feel vs. Counting

Some of you out there think that you can feel the pulse of the song and you don’t need to go any further.  I will make the suggestion that you test your theory and buy a metronome.  They are cheap (because everyone hates them so much) and will show you exactly how in accurate your rhythm is. 

They will help you learn how to count and improve your rhythm.  Just two weeks work with a metronome will strengthen your understanding of a songs groove so much that you will learn to love it.

Also learn how to count in 3/4 time and 6/8 time... 

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

Counting Time Signature: 3/4

Counting time is an important part of playing with accuracy.  Without that accuracy your rhythm will suffer and the over all sound of your music will fall apart.  Learning good rhythm habits and understanding the depths of music theory go hand and hand.  So pay attention to the pulse of your songs and learn to count your music out properly.

Counting in 3/4 Time

If the song you are playing is in the 3/4 time signature than you would count each measure or musical bar as follows.

…1 and 2 and 3 and… 1 and...

The “down” beat would be each number.

The “up” beat would be each “and”.

The strongest beat in every bar is the 1 beat.  If you don’t play any other beat you have to play the “1” if you expect others to follow your rhythm.  

The second strongest beat is the “3” beat.  It is not as strong as the “1” but it is stronger than the “2” and the “4”.

The third strongest beat is the “2”.

Feel vs. Counting

Some of you out there think that you can feel the pulse of the song and you don’t need to go any further.  I will make the suggestion that you test your theory and buy a metronome.  They are cheap (because everyone hates them so much) and will show you exactly how in accurate your rhythm is. 

They will help you learn how to count and improve your rhythm.  Just two weeks work with a metronome will strengthen your understanding of a songs groove so much that you will learn to love it.

Also learn how to count 4/4 time and 6/8 time...

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

Counting Time Signature: 6/8

Counting time is an important part of playing with accuracy.  Without that accuracy your rhythm will suffer and the over all sound of your music will fall apart.  Learning good rhythm habits is as important as understanding the depths of music theory.  So pay attention to the pulse of your songs and learn to count your music out properly.

Counting in 6/8 Time

If the song you are playing is in the 6/8 time signature than you would count each measure or musical bar as follows.

…1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and… 1 and...

The “down” beat would be each number.

The “up” beat would be each “and”.

The strongest beat in every bar is the 1 beat.  If you don’t play any other beat you have to play the “1” if you expect others to follow your rhythm. 

The second strongest beat is the “4” beat.  It is not as strong as the “1” but it is stronger than the “2”, “3”,“5” and “6”.

The third strongest beats are the “2” and “5”.

The fourth strongest beats are the “3” and “6”.

I often think of this time signature as a rocking motion. The 1 thru 3 beats go left while the 4 thru 6 beats go right.  This helps me think of the rhythm and feel the pulse.

Feel vs. Counting

Some of you out there think that you can feel the pulse of the song and you don’t need to go any further.  I will make the suggestion that you test your theory and buy a metronome.  They are cheap (because everyone hates them so much) and will show you exactly how in accurate your rhythm is. 

They will help you learn how to count and improve your rhythm.  Just two weeks work with a metronome will strengthen your understanding of a songs groove so much that you will learn to love it.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.

Learn Music

Learn Music: The Dark Side Of The Learning Curve

As a musician and teacher I have seen and helped a lot of students learn music.  Unfortunately I could not always help a student and consequently they would fail to reach their goals and sometimes quit.  I found that the most common reason was what I called "musical depression". 

Their musical depression is something that I think many (if not all) musicians go through at least once in their musical path.  Personally I have gone through it as a beginner and then again in my 3rd semester at Berklee College of Music.  

I call this musical depression because I was fine as an everyday person.  I didn't get depressed until I picked up my instrument and started to practice.  The main symptoms I have noticed including stage fright, creative blocks, low confidence and arrogance.  There are many other symptoms but these seem to be the most common that I have noticed.  

Personally, I had put to much pressure on myself.  My expectations weighed more than my goals and I lost sight of my future, I saw limitations and temporary failure instead of effort and playful excitement.  

As a teacher I have noticed similar issues with many of my older students (by older I mean college age and up).  The ideas of success have grown so large that the small goals involved in learning are not good enough.  I have found that as a teacher, my students learned faster and where happier with their results when I took the time to teach them goal management and "perspective training".  

Understanding the differences between goals and expectations was a largely overlooked idea.  Most of us lump them together into one pressure filled idea.  That is why I believe that practicing music properly starts with understanding goal setting and training yourself to have the proper perspective on what you are doing and where you are in the process of learning music.

How do we do this?

1. First thing is to understand that another persons success is not your bench mark.  We are all different and each of us has a different learning curve.  What they are good at you might struggle with, but sooner or later they will be struggling with something that you have mastered.
2. Second is that failure is temporary.  Your mistakes today will be a learning experience tomorrow.  Make sure that you understand what you have done and what you want to do in the future. 
3. Set small goals that you know you can achieve and reward yourself when you reach them.  Keep in mind that these small goals are the steps you need to take to reach your over all expectations.
4. Surround yourself with people that are better than you are.  It makes learning a lot more fun and you get to understand where you are going.  Your path is illuminated by the friends you choose to surround yourself with.


Understand that there is no one way to learn music.  Your music is found when you look back at all you learned and see where you have been and hope to be in the future.

Syncopation and Counting Rhythm

Rhythm is an art form within music.  Syncopation is a rhythmic concept that ads flavor and style to your sound.  A great example of syncopation can be found in just about any Bob Marley song.  The ruck-a-chuck guitar is commonly playing on the “up” beat.  Some people refer to the “up” beat as the backbeat. 

So what exactly is syncopation?

Each song has a rhythmic pulse, that pulse can be measured by counting.  Some times the pulse is implied but many times it is audible. 

If your song is in 4/4 time signature than you would count each measure or musical bar as follows.

…1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and…

The “down” beat would be each number.

The “up” beat would be each “and”.

The strongest beat in every bar is the 1 beat.  If you don’t play any other beat you (or another band member) have to play the “1” if you expect others to follow your rhythm.

The second strongest beat is the “3” beat.  It is not as strong as the “1” but it is stronger than the “2” and the “4”.

The third strongest beat is the “2”.

Finally the fourth strongest beat is the “4”. 

Drummers usually signify the “1” and “3” with a bass drum thump and the “2” and “4” beats for snare drums. This would be a simple (and rather drab) rock beat.

Syncopation would come along to make this rather boring drumbeat a little more exciting and have a rhythmic pocket or a groove.

An example of this would be to put the bass drum on the ”1” but place the snare drum on the “and of 2”, also the “and of 4” which would be located here:

…1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and…

This drumbeat would have a little more style and more of a pocket to fall into as a player.  Don’t get me wrong, by no means is this a great drumbeat, but it is a true example of syncopation.

By definition, playing the snare on the “and of 2” and the “and of 4” is syncopation.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Tip’s and musicians quote of the day e-mail service at the top left corner of the page.

For more information about how to build your confidence, improve your creativity and make better music visit http://www.bebop2pop.com and get your copy of 9 secrets to better music.