Working Musician
This is a guest post by Bree Noble. It's part of an ongoing series we're doing to help provide resources and practical tips during this crisis. These are uncertain times, especially for musicians. With gigs being cancelled, venues shut down and private lessons deemed unsafe,…
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This is a guest post by top rated session drummer Luke O’Kelley. This article is a reflection on some of the labels used to categorize working musicians, as well as some of the assumptions we make unconsciously about what they mean. It comes directly out…
Read More »Andrew Timothy is a session guitarist and composer based in Nashville, TN. He has recorded for clients from 5 of the 7 continents, in a variety of styles and genres. His formal university music education combined with his real-world experience as an active Nashville player…
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I recently finished reading Alan B. Krueger’s book Rockonomics. Krueger is a Princeton economist and was the economic aid to presidents Clinton and Obama. In his book, he takes a scientific look into the modern music industry. It’s full of charts and statistics, but Krueger…
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Are you gearing up for your next album, tour, music video, new production gear, or anything music related that requires some cash? Crowdfunding is one of the first methods musicians can turn to when looking to fund larger projects and many have been doing so…
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In both live and studio settings, one of the most important elements is the bass line. Generally speaking, bass parts in modern day music have become considerably less melodic and on first listen sound very simplistic. However, when analyzed these lines are deceptively tricky and…
Read More »Mella is an extremely experienced session vocalist. In this video, she gives you some practical insights on how to approach vocal impressions with some specific examples including Amy Winehouse, Dolly Parton and Britney Spears. Here’s what Mella recommends when approaching vocal impersonations in a vocal…
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Anxiety during recording sessions is extremely common amongst both beginners and professionals alike. I’m always amazed at how many talented musicians I’ve encountered who absolutely kill it live on stage, but the moment they enter a recording studio they find the whole situation overwhelming and…
Read More »Lydia Salnikova has been a professional singer/musician/songwriter for 15+ years. She is a GRAMMY nominee, a Hollywood Music in Media Award nominee, and she has recorded with the likes of Kenny Rogers, Bering Strait, Sir Christopher Lee, and John Ford Coley. Her deep understanding of…
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Although I was unable to attend this year, I did attend the CD Baby DIY convention (which I highly recommend) the last 2 years in a row. A great deal of info and insight into the “New” music biz, but it might as well have…
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I’ve been involved in a wide variety of recording sessions over the years and when it comes to providing hired musicians with charts, it’s a real mixed bag. Some writers send over incredibly detailed scores, others will only provide me with MP3s. I’ve learned something…
Read More »Mark Marshall unravels the mystery that is using a preamp before a guitar amp. Why use one? Most guitar amps have some form of EQ built-in, but if you want more versatility you can use a preamp pedal to shape the tone of the existing…
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