Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Monday, February 5, 2018
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The Business of Making Music | #13 Types of TV Music
In this video I talk about the three types of music found in television shows....
1. The score
2. "Needle Drops"
3. Source music
4. Theme
5. Bumpers
6. Library Music
Each have their own qualities and requirements.
1. The score
2. "Needle Drops"
3. Source music
4. Theme
5. Bumpers
6. Library Music
Each have their own qualities and requirements.
For example...
The Business of Making Music | #12 Types of Film Music
In this video I talk about the three types of music found in films.
1. The score
2. "Needle Drops"
3. Source music
Each have their own qualities and requirements.
1. The score
2. "Needle Drops"
3. Source music
Each have their own qualities and requirements.
The Business of Making Music | #11 Intro to "Mailbox Money"
There are many sources of revenue for the musician/songwriter/composer.
Performance Royalties - issued in the US through BMI, ASCAP and SESAC, which are usage on radio, TV, restaurants, concerts, stores, internet, streaming.
Mechanical Royalties - from the writers/publishers share of record/CD sales, iTunes sales, Amazon and others.
CCLI income from churches for using worships songs.
If you are playing music or even pretending to play music (sidelining) on a TV show or in a Movie there is something called "Secondary Market Revenue" that is paid based on your percentage of the entire union contract.
Union jingles sessions pay "mailbox money" as reuse every 13 weeks.
Union record sessions will pay again if your name is attached to a song and that recording is used in a TV, commercial or film or other such use.
Performance Royalties - issued in the US through BMI, ASCAP and SESAC, which are usage on radio, TV, restaurants, concerts, stores, internet, streaming.
Mechanical Royalties - from the writers/publishers share of record/CD sales, iTunes sales, Amazon and others.
CCLI income from churches for using worships songs.
If you are playing music or even pretending to play music (sidelining) on a TV show or in a Movie there is something called "Secondary Market Revenue" that is paid based on your percentage of the entire union contract.
Union jingles sessions pay "mailbox money" as reuse every 13 weeks.
Union record sessions will pay again if your name is attached to a song and that recording is used in a TV, commercial or film or other such use.
The Business of Making Music | #9 Guard Your Brand
Here I talk about one of my few regrets in the music business, promoting myself too soon.
The Business of Making Music | #8 Should I Learn To Read Music?
A Modern Method for Guitar Vol. 1
A Modern Method for Guitar Vol. 2
A Modern Method for Guitar Vol. 3
A Modern Method for Guitar Vol. 1, 2, & 3
Melodic Rhythms for Guitar
Reading Studies for Guitar
Advanced Reading Studies for Guitar
Advanced Jazz Conception for Saxophone: 20 Jazz Etudes
Tommy Tedesco - For Guitar Players Only
ALSO be on the hunt for 25 cent Flute, Trumpet, Sax etc. studies at thrift stores.
Metronomes (though you could jut a free app on your phone that does this) -
Seiko Metronome
Korg Metronome
The Business of Making Music | #7 My 5 Reasons To Take A Gig
My five reasons are...
For the money
For the experience
For the connections
For friends
For God (or good causes)
For the money
For the experience
For the connections
For friends
For God (or good causes)
The Business of Making Music | #6 Be Your Own College
Can't afford to go to college? Think you are too old? Don't have the time? Be Your Own College. #1 - Figure out what you need to learn. #2 - Figure out how to learn it. #3 - Learn it. You will probably learn more from #1 and #2 than #3 surprisingly.
The Business of Making Music | #5 Should I Go To Music School?
A very important question. Should you go to music school? Will a degree in music make a career in music more likely? Possibly. If your school is in a major music town like LA, NY, Nashville, Miami or Atlanta it could help you forge long lasting connections.
Monday, July 17, 2017
The Business of Making Music | #4 Living Below Your Means
One way to guarantee a failure of any endeavor is to run out of money. A negative cash flow will eventually catch up with you.
The Business of Making Music | #2 Get In The Game
Here are a list of subjects I hope to cover in this series (adding to it all the time)....
Gigging - be prepared
Writing
Publishing
ASCAP/BMI
Session Work
Music Schools
Record deals
Touring
Writing for TV and film
Cue Sheets
BMI Statements
Library Work
Gear Acquisition
NAMM
Practicing - time management
Keep learning
Learn new instruments
Traits of Artists
Traits of successful musicians
Writing Pop Music
Split Sheets
Cue Sheets
YouTube
Streaming - Spotify, et al.
Social Media - Instagram and Twitter
Joining the Union
Being where the action is
Learning ProTools/Logic
Getting and Keeping Students
Contracting
Be Open to a Different Career in the Business
Be Upwardly Mobile
Home Studios
Making Connections
Getting in the Game
Live Small (below your means)
Producing
Film Sessions vs Record sessions
Powerful People
Don’t Believe Everything
It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you
Take Yourself to College
Here are list of jobs I've done in and related to the business of music (adding to this list all the time too!)...
Working in a Record Store
Working in a Guitar Store
Running Sound at a Nightclub
Teaching Private Lessons
Teaching Clinics
Teaching a Class at USC
Guitar Coaching Actors
Copy Work (doing charts)
Playing Jazz Gigs
Playing Top 40 Gigs
Playing Classical Music at a Restaurant
Playing Weddings (classical guitar)
Playing Rock Gigs
Playing in Cover Bands
Playing in Original Bands
Playing in a Pit Band (for plays/musicals)
Playing in Worship Bands
Leading Worship
Writing Worship Songs
Writing Rock Songs
Writing Classical Songs
Writing Pop Songs
Writing Music for Television
Writing Music for Film
Being a Music Director
Being a Contractor
Playing on Records/CD's
Playing on Movies
Playing on TV Shows
Playing on Jingles
Sidelining in TV Shows (on camera appearances)
Producing Records
Developing Artists
The Business of Making Music | #1 Something to Think About
NEW YOUTUBE SERIES!
Are you struggling trying to make it in music? Maybe you're meant to play a different role. And if you find success in that different role you'll no doubt find it more satisfying going "somewhere" than going "nowhere".
Here is LA Reid's interview on Charlie Rose.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Bass Book
We homeschool and this year I'm teaching my son Jack how read bass. My friend and great bass player Ron Suffredini recommended this book....
The Evolving Bassist by Rufus Reid
I'll let you know how it goes as we get through the year.
The Evolving Bassist by Rufus Reid
I'll let you know how it goes as we get through the year.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
How to Get Guitar Students
Here's a video I did of the long ago posted tips below....
Teaching private lessons can be a great way to supplement your income, pass on your knowledge and keep on the latest music trends. I have taught for over 35 years now.
It started when a teacher at my Jr. High saw me carrying a guitar case and asked if would teach her son how to play. She offered to pick me up at my house, teach her son, take me home and pay me $5! Sure I told her. That was the beginning. By the time I was 20 I was teaching 40 students five days a week at a store in my hometown of Indianapolis.
When I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a studio musician I had to start from scratch. Back at the store they were charging $7 per half hour lesson and paying me $9 an hour. Three times minimum wage. So I thought charging $10 per hour lesson in 1983 would be a good place to start. A dollar more for me and a four dollar savings for my students. It was slow building up to even a fraction of my midwestern numbers. I didn't have a storefront doing all the leg work for me.
Flash forward 30 years, if I even teach at all, I charge $75 per hour. Over the years I found a few things that can help you build up the numbers and I'll share them here with you now.
1. Play out more. If you're like me, you're playing out in public a bit and you will get asked if you teach. If you aren't playing out find some places you can play even if it's only for tips. Close to home if at all possible. No one wants to drive a half hour to guitar lessons. This makes it easier to get students.
2. Give away freebies. Offer a free lesson for anyone who brings you a new student. Once the new student has taken their fourth lesson I would then give the freebie to that existing student. Even better, get someone who isn’t taking lessons to bring you a new student and give them a free lesson. This can net you two new students. And unlike advertising it doesn't cost you anything. Just your time. Another tip is to give away free lessons at a silent auction charity type thing. Maybe two free hour lessons. Someone wins lessons with you for cheap, the charity makes some coin and you’ve got a potential new student.
Teaching private lessons can be a great way to supplement your income, pass on your knowledge and keep on the latest music trends. I have taught for over 35 years now.
It started when a teacher at my Jr. High saw me carrying a guitar case and asked if would teach her son how to play. She offered to pick me up at my house, teach her son, take me home and pay me $5! Sure I told her. That was the beginning. By the time I was 20 I was teaching 40 students five days a week at a store in my hometown of Indianapolis.
When I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a studio musician I had to start from scratch. Back at the store they were charging $7 per half hour lesson and paying me $9 an hour. Three times minimum wage. So I thought charging $10 per hour lesson in 1983 would be a good place to start. A dollar more for me and a four dollar savings for my students. It was slow building up to even a fraction of my midwestern numbers. I didn't have a storefront doing all the leg work for me.
Flash forward 30 years, if I even teach at all, I charge $75 per hour. Over the years I found a few things that can help you build up the numbers and I'll share them here with you now.
1. Play out more. If you're like me, you're playing out in public a bit and you will get asked if you teach. If you aren't playing out find some places you can play even if it's only for tips. Close to home if at all possible. No one wants to drive a half hour to guitar lessons. This makes it easier to get students.
2. Give away freebies. Offer a free lesson for anyone who brings you a new student. Once the new student has taken their fourth lesson I would then give the freebie to that existing student. Even better, get someone who isn’t taking lessons to bring you a new student and give them a free lesson. This can net you two new students. And unlike advertising it doesn't cost you anything. Just your time. Another tip is to give away free lessons at a silent auction charity type thing. Maybe two free hour lessons. Someone wins lessons with you for cheap, the charity makes some coin and you’ve got a potential new student.
3. Be Flexible. Is there someone who would like to study with you but lives far away? Offer to teach them twice a month for an hour instead of every week for 30 minutes. I had a student that took a two-hour lesson once a month because he lived over an hour away. Does your student's son want to learn too? Let him watch for free. If you are flexible with rescheduling than your students will reciprocate when you need to reschedule to do that session or important, well-paying gig.
4. Live in a nice area. Or at least adjacent to one. This will allow you to charge a little more than average. And take on kids. When they start jamming on Nirvana for their friends that's better than taking out an ad on Facebook. Plus because your students tend to be younger than you, and truthfully more aware of the cutting edge of music, you'll hear about the newest artists before almost anyone else.
5. Keep your students. You could get a new student and lose two for a net loss of one. (I know obvious). Never would I raise fees on existing students only new ones. Every five years or so I would raise my lessons $5 per half hour. But only on the new ones. Let the older students know if they recommend someone they will be paying more. This makes them feel special that they've locked in a lower rate. Attrition would take care of those paying less. Give percs. Give loyal students a free set of strings or picks you got at the NAMM show. Or better yet take them to the NAMM show. Give them tickets to your gigs. Put them on guest lists. Free CD's. You get the idea. You could also record the lessons and send them the mp3. Just give them value for their money and they'll keep coming back and bring their friends.
6. Advertise. On bulletin boards at churches, schools, music stores, the grocery store. But do something to make your advert stand out. A clever phrase, nice graphics, offer a free lesson, etc. Advertise with Facebook or Groupon. Tweet.
Now I don’t teach at all because I’m doing so much session work and writing and gigging. But teaching kept me in the game. Paid my bills. And the young kids helped me stay current.
5. Keep your students. You could get a new student and lose two for a net loss of one. (I know obvious). Never would I raise fees on existing students only new ones. Every five years or so I would raise my lessons $5 per half hour. But only on the new ones. Let the older students know if they recommend someone they will be paying more. This makes them feel special that they've locked in a lower rate. Attrition would take care of those paying less. Give percs. Give loyal students a free set of strings or picks you got at the NAMM show. Or better yet take them to the NAMM show. Give them tickets to your gigs. Put them on guest lists. Free CD's. You get the idea. You could also record the lessons and send them the mp3. Just give them value for their money and they'll keep coming back and bring their friends.
6. Advertise. On bulletin boards at churches, schools, music stores, the grocery store. But do something to make your advert stand out. A clever phrase, nice graphics, offer a free lesson, etc. Advertise with Facebook or Groupon. Tweet.
Now I don’t teach at all because I’m doing so much session work and writing and gigging. But teaching kept me in the game. Paid my bills. And the young kids helped me stay current.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Making a living as a guitar player...
Here are some ways I've paid the bills as a musician:
Working in a Record Store
Working in a Guitar Store
Running Sound at a Nightclub
Teaching Private Lessons
Teaching Clinics
Teaching a Class at USC
Guitar Coaching Actors
Copy Work (doing charts) - You'll need Finale 2011
Playing Jazz Gigs
Playing Top 40 Gigs
Playing Classical Music at a Restaurant
Playing Weddings (classical guitar)
Playing Rock Gigs
Playing in Cover Bands
Playing in Original Bands
Playing in a Pit Band (for plays/musicals)
Playing in Worship Bands
Leading Worship
Writing Worship Songs
Writing Rock Songs
Writing Classical Songs
Writing Pop Songs
Writing Music for Television
Writing Music for Film
Being a Music Director
Being a Contractor
Playing on Records/CD's
Playing on Movies
Playing on TV Shows
Playing on Jingles
Sidelining in TV Shows (on camera appearances)*
Producing Records
Developing Artists
All of these things I got paid to do. Music is a great career for those who like variety. The opportunities up and down the music biz food chain are probably why you don't see a lot of musicians waiting tables.
With the exception of my second job at a Mexican restaurant right out of high school and a job working for a jewelry manufacturer, all of the jobs I've held have had something to do with music and/or playing guitar. It's not a career for the easily discouraged or for someone who likes or needs job security. But it is a field that rewards creativity. And chance takers. And those confident and skilled.
The musicians who continue to hone their craft and develop the skills employed by those further up the ladder employing them will see their career continue to grow, along with their sphere of influence. I've seen it happen all around me as well as in my own career.
* - for example, that's me in the blue vest...
Working in a Record Store
Working in a Guitar Store
Running Sound at a Nightclub
Teaching Private Lessons
Teaching Clinics
Teaching a Class at USC
Guitar Coaching Actors
Copy Work (doing charts) - You'll need Finale 2011
Playing Jazz Gigs
Playing Top 40 Gigs
Playing Classical Music at a Restaurant
Playing Weddings (classical guitar)
Playing Rock Gigs
Playing in Cover Bands
Playing in Original Bands
Playing in a Pit Band (for plays/musicals)
Playing in Worship Bands
Leading Worship
Writing Worship Songs
Writing Rock Songs
Writing Classical Songs
Writing Pop Songs
Writing Music for Television
Writing Music for Film
Being a Music Director
Being a Contractor
Playing on Records/CD's
Playing on Movies
Playing on TV Shows
Playing on Jingles
Sidelining in TV Shows (on camera appearances)*
Producing Records
Developing Artists
All of these things I got paid to do. Music is a great career for those who like variety. The opportunities up and down the music biz food chain are probably why you don't see a lot of musicians waiting tables.
With the exception of my second job at a Mexican restaurant right out of high school and a job working for a jewelry manufacturer, all of the jobs I've held have had something to do with music and/or playing guitar. It's not a career for the easily discouraged or for someone who likes or needs job security. But it is a field that rewards creativity. And chance takers. And those confident and skilled.
The musicians who continue to hone their craft and develop the skills employed by those further up the ladder employing them will see their career continue to grow, along with their sphere of influence. I've seen it happen all around me as well as in my own career.
* - for example, that's me in the blue vest...
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