Music As A Profession, Any questions you might have I have answers!
Alex Feather
Apr 11 2012, 06:41 PM
Instructor
Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
Hi guys! Welcome to my new activity!
If you have decided to make a career playing guitar
Or just want to make a side income. If you want to get a degree in music or figure out how to move to a different country to study or work in music field this topic is for you!
I have done it all! I had a successful career in Russia but quit it all and had to start from the beginning in the US!
When I moved I didn't know English very well and have never been in America! I didn't know how to get gigs!
Six years later I have done recordings with Rihanna, Eminem and Britney Spears played hundreds of shows and worked with great guitar players such as Greg Howe , Steve Vai and Frank Gambale!
And I can share my experience with you!
I will be posting once a week! If you have any questions you can ask me as well!
I hope this will be helpful for those of you who is trying to figure out where to start and where to go I will guide you through!

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ElHombre
Apr 12 2012, 08:28 AM
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Joined: 25-December 11
Im going to a school for music production where you will learn mixing, mastering and everything related, also how to make start a company (for example a studio) and work on my musical skills at the same time. So thats a start. They also invite experienced and in the national famous producers for lessons.
Im currently learning piano too.

Is that enough I have to ask or do you need to learn like 10 different instruments? smile.gif

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Alex Feather
Apr 12 2012, 10:24 AM
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Posts: 4.332
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From: Los Angeles
QUOTE (ElHombre @ Apr 12 2012, 07:28 AM) *
Im going to a school for music production where you will learn mixing, mastering and everything related, also how to make start a company (for example a studio) and work on my musical skills at the same time. So thats a start. They also invite experienced and in the national famous producers for lessons.
Im currently learning piano too.

Is that enough I have to ask or do you need to learn like 10 different instruments? smile.gif

It's cool that you are going to school! Sound engineer is a very cool profession!

I wanted to make my first post about the most popular music school in the world!
Berklee College of Music
Here is their website
http://www.berklee.edu/
How to apply:
They have scholarship auditions all over the world
Here is the list of all auditions
http://www.berklee.edu/admissions/general/...tion_dates.html

So to apply you need to fill out this form
https://secure.berklee.edu/AI/prospects/

For audition:
When I was auditioning 6 years ago I had to:
- Play one instrumental song with backing track ( I chose Paul Gilbert)
- Play Blues I-IV-V progression
- Ear training one of the professors will play a few notes and a few phrases and you have to play it back on guitar
The whole audition process takes about 15 minutes and than they will mail you the results!

Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

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ElHombre
Apr 12 2012, 04:24 PM
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Posts: 770
Joined: 25-December 11
Seems like the best school for music on the planet wink.gif
Most surely I will go 2 or 3 years in a school here in my country, where you will learn everything about mixing, mastering, producing music, and after that you can set up a studio, try to make yourself as a studio artist, make music for other artists.

And meanwhile work on the guitar, and also piano. Well you could learn more instruments but then its hard to be very good at everyone.

Well seems like a fine start for me, I will graduate when I am 20 or 21.
You applied and got accepted to the Los angeles school when you were 19 that was impressive man wink.gif

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Alex Feather
Apr 15 2012, 05:36 PM
Instructor
Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
QUOTE (ElHombre @ Apr 12 2012, 03:24 PM) *
Seems like the best school for music on the planet wink.gif
Most surely I will go 2 or 3 years in a school here in my country, where you will learn everything about mixing, mastering, producing music, and after that you can set up a studio, try to make yourself as a studio artist, make music for other artists.

And meanwhile work on the guitar, and also piano. Well you could learn more instruments but then its hard to be very good at everyone.

Well seems like a fine start for me, I will graduate when I am 20 or 21.
You applied and got accepted to the Los angeles school when you were 19 that was impressive man wink.gif

That's good you have a nice start already!
Yeah I got a chance to get my masters at Los Angeles Music Academy! That is a very nice school! smile.gif
You chose a very nice major it is really hard to find a good sound engineer so you will always have a job!

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Alex Feather
Apr 22 2012, 01:28 AM
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Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
Music Institute (MI)
It's a very nice school! Located all over the world!
You can get a bachelor or certificate!
I personally know a lot of musicians who went to this school and really liked it! It's much cheaper and easier to be accepted than Berklee and you will get a very high level education as well!
Plus they are doing auditions a few times a month, so you might end up playing for bands like Pink or Offspring smile.gif

Here is their website http://www.mi.edu/

and application http://www.mi.edu/admissions/how-to-apply

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Gabriel Leopardi
Apr 22 2012, 01:49 AM
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Joined: 3-March 07
From: Argentina
This is a really interesting thread Alex! It's a great idea to share all this things with us. I will follow this one! smile.gif

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Alex Feather
Apr 22 2012, 03:11 PM
Instructor
Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Apr 22 2012, 12:49 AM) *
This is a really interesting thread Alex! It's a great idea to share all this things with us. I will follow this one! smile.gif

Perfect! Welcome aboard! I will be posting more cool things here about finding gigs, touring and making money out of playing guitar!

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Robfork
Apr 22 2012, 03:30 PM
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Posts: 5
Joined: 11-April 12
From: Alghero (SS) Italy
This is what i was searching for a long time. Someone who can help in some doubts and questions about how to move in this world. I try to explain. I'm from Sardegna (yes, the little italian island) and i can say that this is the most unconofortable place for music. I play and make music from 9 year, i worked in a local recording studio but i want to step up, move forward and get something. I want to move but..... where? What can i do? Which steps can you suggest to me? I will be very greatful if we can start a conversation about this smile.gif

Thank you man,
Roberto

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Alex Feather
Apr 22 2012, 03:41 PM
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Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
QUOTE (Robfork @ Apr 22 2012, 02:30 PM) *
This is what i was searching for a long time. Someone who can help in some doubts and questions about how to move in this world. I try to explain. I'm from Sardegna (yes, the little italian island) and i can say that this is the most unconofortable place for music. I play and make music from 9 year, i worked in a local recording studio but i want to step up, move forward and get something. I want to move but..... where? What can i do? Which steps can you suggest to me? I will be very greatful if we can start a conversation about this smile.gif

Thank you man,
Roberto

Hi Roberto!!!
I know how frustrating it can be and totally understand what you are talking about! I will try to help you out as much as I can!
A few questions:
- Do you want to go study or start working as a musician?
- Do you want to stay in Europe or go somewhere else?
- What type of musician you want to be? (studio/live/teacher etc.) I know you probably will say all of those and you will, but you have to know which one is your main priority! smile.gif
Let me know your thoughts and I will try to help you out!

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Robfork
Apr 22 2012, 10:31 PM
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Posts: 5
Joined: 11-April 12
From: Alghero (SS) Italy
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Apr 22 2012, 02:41 PM) *
Hi Roberto!!!
I know how frustrating it can be and totally understand what you are talking about! I will try to help you out as much as I can!
A few questions:
- Do you want to go study or start working as a musician?
- Do you want to stay in Europe or go somewhere else?
- What type of musician you want to be? (studio/live/teacher etc.) I know you probably will say all of those and you will, but you have to know which one is your main priority! smile.gif
Let me know your thoughts and I will try to help you out!


If I can do a "board" on what I like or i feel better, i can do in this way (from the most important to the less):

1 - Studio Guitar/Arrangements
2 - Teaching
3 - Live performance
4 - Management/Promotion/Music Business

I'd love to get a good and finilizing study about the music world as a guitarist/music interested person. But I'm able to work on a parallel line.
Sometimes i do it here but it's very rare to have contacts or find serious people who want to do something good or professionally directed.

About where to stay, Europe can be a great solution but I also know a person who can guest me in Russia and I can live there. Only problem? Lenguage... eheheh. About other places like USA the problem is the VISA. Here from Italy we are experiencing some troubles in this period. Anyway, i'm able to try everything that can help me.

Thanks for your time,
Roberto

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Alex Feather
Apr 23 2012, 08:43 AM
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Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
QUOTE (Robfork @ Apr 22 2012, 09:31 PM) *
If I can do a "board" on what I like or i feel better, i can do in this way (from the most important to the less):

1 - Studio Guitar/Arrangements
2 - Teaching
3 - Live performance
4 - Management/Promotion/Music Business

I'd love to get a good and finilizing study about the music world as a guitarist/music interested person. But I'm able to work on a parallel line.
Sometimes i do it here but it's very rare to have contacts or find serious people who want to do something good or professionally directed.

About where to stay, Europe can be a great solution but I also know a person who can guest me in Russia and I can live there. Only problem? Lenguage... eheheh. About other places like USA the problem is the VISA. Here from Italy we are experiencing some troubles in this period. Anyway, i'm able to try everything that can help me.

Thanks for your time,
Roberto

Well get studio gigs is the hardest! You have to be really creative and be able to record most of the stuff from the first take!
If you want to study I would suggest London or even Italy! There is a good school
here is the link
http://www.learn4good.com/great_schools/it...age_courses.htm
In London there is Music Institute that is very nice as well!
http://www.icmp.co.uk/
Check them out!
I wouldn't suggest going to Russia, music industry is very bad there and there is nothing to do smile.gif
USA is nice but very very very hard especially if you live in Los Angeles or New York where the industry is!
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have more questions!

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Robfork
Apr 24 2012, 10:42 AM
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Posts: 5
Joined: 11-April 12
From: Alghero (SS) Italy
Thank you Alex, now i'm already checking them out and asking for informations.
I'll be back to keep you posted.

Thank you and rock on,
Roberto

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Alex Feather
Apr 24 2012, 04:39 PM
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Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
QUOTE (Robfork @ Apr 24 2012, 09:42 AM) *
Thank you Alex, now i'm already checking them out and asking for informations.
I'll be back to keep you posted.

Thank you and rock on,
Roberto

Great!!! Let me know how it goes!!! Good luck!

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Alex Feather
May 5 2012, 04:28 PM
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Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
Hi guys! I wanted to share my experience about becoming a studio musician
Right now economy is bad and a lot of studios went out of business but you still can find a lot of work and a lot of opportunities! There is only one but! Before you will decide to take your next step and approach studios you need to be very good at a few thing!
1) your timing is the most important thing in studio recording you need to learn how to play behind the beat on the beat and ahead of the beat usually producers don't like to re record simple parts and fix timing so make sure you have it right!
2) be creative! I have been in many situations when producer or artist have no idea about what he is looking for so you have to be as creative as possible and be able to figure out part on the spot! Of course more experience you will gain easier it will get but be as prepared as you can!!!
3) learn as many styles as you can it's really important because this knowledge will give you options and you will have bigger chances to get studio work. Also usually studios don't like to change musicians very often so if you can play in a lot of styles you will be irreplaceable and you can keep your gig for a long time
4) be a nice guy! It's very common that the artist or producer are uneducated and have no idea what they are talking about you have to be able to hold yourself together and do not blow up! Also your scheduled recordings can be moved around or canceled and you have to be nice about it no matter what!
5) make sure your gear is working and you know it well! In man cases studio will provide you with guitars amps and pedals but you still need to have your gear ready just in case you need to know your pedals and guitars very well and will be able to figure out sound on the spot! You don't need to have a million guitars and pedals one good guitar and a few pedals will be enough it's better to have one pedal and know how to tweak it instead of ten that you have no idea what to with!
So if you have it all you can start looking for work!
You need to have a little demo compilations of different styles on one track you can do it at your home studio or ask someone who has one in worst case you can pay studio time to do a little recording
Make sure that you are using backing tracks and the quality is good! Also make yourself a one page resume that you will be able to edit a long the way!
Also make friends with producers and working musicians because those people will send work your way as well! Do not turn down anything even if you have to work fo free still do that! You will gain experience and will get connections! Get a list of studios in you town and contact all of them and don't forget to follow up!
When I started in the united states I had to start from the bottom so I sent out my resume and demo to about 500 Studios and I got gigs that I am still working with!
Keep connections you got I'm still sending Christmas card to people who I worked with years ago because you just never know who will give you work and holidays is a good way to remind about yourself!!!
It's is a lot of work to get yourself in to studios but it will be worth it in a long run and time you will spend will eventually pay off!
I hope it helps!!!!
Good luck!!!

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Yash
Jun 16 2012, 01:22 PM
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Posts: 1.126
Joined: 4-April 12
From: Tver, Russia
Hey Alex, Nice thread here. I always wanted to be a pro musician, but my parents won't let me even try, I know I am very bad for my age, and want to learn and improve a lot.

I want to be like you know, everybody else, recording an album, then going out on the road and stuff, but, the main problem is, I don't have a band.

Heavy metal is not so popular in India, and I can't change the style because that's how my creativity goes. I always create riffs which are heavy and aggressive. Although sometimes I do get to clean guitars, and write slower stuff but that's when I am in a crying kinda bad mood (then you make write a power ballad biggrin.gif )

So, what do I do, where do I start ????? Any tips and help ? smile.gif

I think starting now, and learning and then completing both the processes simultaneously by the time I am 20 or 21 would be good, and maybe, I'll be able to move out of the country, and try to settle in L.A, or N.Y (I have relatives there, so I may get help)

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This post has been edited by Yash: Jun 16 2012, 01:24 PM


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Alex Feather
Jun 19 2012, 08:38 PM
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Posts: 4.332
Joined: 21-November 11
From: Los Angeles
QUOTE (Yash @ Jun 16 2012, 12:22 PM) *
Hey Alex, Nice thread here. I always wanted to be a pro musician, but my parents won't let me even try, I know I am very bad for my age, and want to learn and improve a lot.

I want to be like you know, everybody else, recording an album, then going out on the road and stuff, but, the main problem is, I don't have a band.

Heavy metal is not so popular in India, and I can't change the style because that's how my creativity goes. I always create riffs which are heavy and aggressive. Although sometimes I do get to clean guitars, and write slower stuff but that's when I am in a crying kinda bad mood (then you make write a power ballad biggrin.gif )

So, what do I do, where do I start ????? Any tips and help ? smile.gif

I think starting now, and learning and then completing both the processes simultaneously by the time I am 20 or 21 would be good, and maybe, I'll be able to move out of the country, and try to settle in L.A, or N.Y (I have relatives there, so I may get help)

Music is a very hard profession and it's hard to make money in this field because of a huge competition!
I think the best way to start is to get an education first! Metal is like Jazz almost impossible to make a living!
So if you want to be a pro guitar player you have to know how to play in any style and be able to come up with a part on the spot!
Also you will have to combine 3-4 jobs to make a decent living! Studio, Solo career, Teaching, Touring
So if you will figure out how to manage your gigs you will be fine!
My first advice will be to get a band together! Doesn't matter what style just start playing with other people! It will give you so much experience and you will be looking at music from a new perspective! You can also do some research about music schools and try to maybe do a summer program after that you will be able to decide if you really want to go the route of becoming a pro musician!
P.S. New York is more for Jazz L.A. is more for Rock
I hope that helps!

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