Musicians, Alcohol and Drugs - When Will We Learn?

Whitney, Michael and Amy...Why?

Damn it! I know this is going to sound selfish, but I've been robbed of another great singer who was giving my life so much richness and joy. First it was Michael and Amy, and now, Whitney. I know they had their reasons for basically committing suicide, but couldn't they have waited at least until I was given a few more of their amazing musical gifts? Sure, I'm aware of the screwed up childhood, the drugs and the alcohol. I, like so many musicians and artists, have been through much of that. I know I'm going to piss some of you off by saying this, but that's how I feel. I've been robbed. Around a year ago my student and great friend was also defeated by alcohol. He spent most of his adult life being defeated by a terrible addiction. This guy was the greatest singer I ever taught..his amazing voice and talent silenced forever. He just couldn't stop drinking. Again, the world was denied the wonderful music he could have given us.

I'm not judging, I'm just venting.

My question is...why? Why do so many artists take their own lives, not with a gun, but with alcohol and drugs? This problem isn't unique to our times. History tells us that many great classical composers and artists have died of these causes at too young an age, leaving so many potential works unrealized; never to be mine. If you want to fill a few hours, Google "musicians dead because of alcohol and drugs" That'll wake you up real fast, especially if you still haven't accepted that you might have a problem. Do you? Facts and history tell us that we musicians and performers are very susceptible to such addictions, and have to stay alert to the warning signs.

I just scanned the web for names of singers, actors and performers who died from alcohol and drugs. Here are just a few:

John Bonham, Kurt Cobain, Dee Dee Ramone, John Entwistle, Chris Farley, Judy Garland, Bobby Hatfield, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Billie Holiday, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Phil Lynott, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Marilyn Monroe, Brent Mydland, Jani Lane, Gram Parsons, Chris Penn, River Phoenix, Elvis Presley, Sid Vicious, Brad Renfro, Bon Scott, Bobby Sheehan, Hillel Slovak, Ike Turner, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston....and we all know that there are hundreds and hundreds more.

If you can't go a week without alcohol or drugs you have a problem. Test yourself by taking a week off occasionally. If you can't do it, you have a problem which will bite you in the ass eventually.

When I was "on the road" I drank a lot every night. I told myself that I was a much better singer and player when I was drinking. But when I listened to recordings of my gigs I was appalled by the poor pitch, bad phrasing and lack of musicianship. Did I learn from that? No. I just kept on drinking. I admit, there are some creative people who are better when they do weed or alcohol, but the list is short...and you probably aren't one of those people (I'm not). Are you actually better when you drink, or are you continuing to fool yourself?

Many working musicians, actors and entertainers simply should not drink or do heavy drugs. Are they going to stop? Probably not. It's a way of life for many of us, and we don't want to change. So how do you know if you really have a problem? Take the "week off" test I mentioned earlier. Do it often. If you can't do without you shouldn't do with.

Want to learn more easy techniques to improve your singing? Download my powerful new FREE eBook: "TIPS & TOOLS FOR ALL SINGERS" at:  http://vocalvision.com/ebook1/

Al Koehn is a nationally recognized voice teacher, known for achieving amazing results with simple and effective techniques. http://vocalvision.com/

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Starfleet Digital Music Pool: Why Record Pools Still Matter

This year music industry veteran Ronnie Matthews and the Starfleet Music Pool are celebrating 22 years in the music business. Most people under the age of 30, have no idea what a record pool is or the importance they played in breaking new music while playing the liaison between DJs and record labels.

Starfleet is one of the few record pools that is still standing from the "golden area," and it continues to thrive because of its willingness to embrace change. With over 19,000 registered DJs in it's database, Starfleet is consistently recognized as a global leader in music promotions. Early last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ronnie about the history of Starfleet and why record pools are still important.

How was Starfleet started?

Being in the music business as a dj and as a promoter for so many years is where it kind of all started for me. I was always working with record pools, and I knew exactly how they broke records and exposed people to new music. During the early part of my career, I was a buyer for Camelot Music and the store in the Charlotte region was the largest around. So, that relationship exposed me to just about every indie and major label you can name. Because of my background, I had record labels to actually come to me and ask if I would start a record pool in this region. And, as of today Starfleet Music Pool has been servicing DJs for the last 22 years.

With most of the old school record pools no longer operating, how has Starfleet maintained its relevancy?

Basically, a lot of the older record pools that were around as long as me weren't able to make the digital turn. As of January,we have been working digital music for over twelve years. I remember we were at the Winter Music Conference in Miami right around the time that digital music was beginning to take over, and we had a long debate about what the future was for the industry. We have always supported the industry, and we knew that change was inevitable so it made sense for us to embrace the change. Labels were talking about no longer pressing cds, shipping vinyl, and how inexpensive it would be to service a record.

We weren't necessarily ready to give up physical copies of music, but we saw the change coming. We would have loved to keep getting 12 inches and boxes of cd's but it's evolution. So instead of fighting it we supported. I remember speaking on a panel with label heads, record buyers and other record pool owners during that conference; and I had a pool director tell me I was helping the demise of hard copies being shipped to the record pools. I basically told everybody that I'm not the one making things happen. I would love to continue getting vinyl and cd's but sometimes you have to go with the flow of things. As I was finishing my spill, one of the heads of the major record labels basically told the guy if you don't think this is the direction that music is going in your not gonna be in business very long.

Tell me how Starfleet's digital service works?

You can submit your music into us for a free, and we will actually set it up at no cost. The first group of 135 DJs,which are called the Vip DJs, are Billboard Reporters, Mix show DJs and big club DJs will give you limited feedback on your single. If they like it, they will actually play it and we will chart it. We also offer a service called the VIP featured artist, which sets up an artist profile with a bio, concert info, a comment system, links to purchase music and contact information. This is important because It has all of our DJs have to login to our system to download mp3's and when the DJs sees the visual it creates that extra reinforcement that reminds them about the artists music.

Why are record pools still important in 2012?

The connections that we already have is an extremely important thing for a new artist looking to build relationships with DJs. We have over 19,000 registered DJs around the globe in our pool. We provide a reputable place that record labels and artists have been working with for years. In addition, you have new DJs that are searching for places to find new music and record labels are always searching for ways to get their music noticed. And, the one thing you still have to do to get your music noticed is you must have somebody somewhere playing it. You have to have exposure or no one will ever know about you.

What advice would you give a new artist looking to promote their first single?

One thing I think I would say is that you better have a thick skin about things. We wish that every song was a hit and sounded great, but it's just not the case. Everybody is chasing the same sound with auto-tune, and its good to have a familiar sound that people can relate to, but you still want to be unique while implementing your own style.

Kelland L. Drumgoole
CEO
http://sosoactive.com/

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Booking A Soul Band 101: Frequently Asked Questions

One best way to bring excitement and fun to your wedding reception or a corporate event is to hire a live soul band. It adds more flavor and life to your big day, something that a DJ can't quite deliver. With a band performing live at your party, you treat your guests to a memorable experience they will always remember.

To give you some ideas of what to expect when booking soul bands for special events, we provide you here in this article our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions of hiring a band:

What's the process of booking a soul band?

Before you start seeking for the right band, you have to first define your needs based on the size and demographics of your audience, venue, and your budget. Once you know exactly what you want, it would be a lot easier to match your specific requirements with the band.

The band will provide demo CDs, photos, songlists and videos of their past performances. You can also ask for references or a chance to see them perform live at a function. When you've chosen the soul band, you can then negotiate for the best price. Or if you have a booking agent, she will do it for you. Once the deal is done, be sure to have a contract to make everything official.

How far in advance should you book a soul band?

Ideally, when it comes to booking a band, the sooner the better. For weddings and corporate events, it would be best to book them at least 6 months prior. This will allow more time for the soul band to prepare or practice any repertoire requests.

Also the earlier you book a band, the more options you will have, and the better your chance of hiring the best quality band available for your budget.

Should you book a soul band directly or through an agency?

Both options have their own share of benefits and pitfalls. On the one hand, if you hire a band on your own, you will have more opportunity of knowing your band. But it can also drain much on your time and energy. On the other hand, hiring a band through an agency offers a more convenient, hassle-free option. But this will also mean shelling out more of your entertainment budget for additional fees.

How much do soul bands cost?

The cost for hiring a soul band varies based on a number of variables such as quality and size of the band, location and date of the event, travel expenses, and production requirements. If you want highly skilled and quality band for your wedding, you can get one in the $1,500 to $5,000 range.

When asking for a quote from a band, be sure to know what's included in the package. If you received a quote that's not clearly itemized, ask for further details. Also keep in mind that many bands charge extra for an early set-up or if you ask them to extend their finish time than what was agreed on the contract.

Check out Soul Fiesta, a high quality latin band and soul band.

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The Significance of Composition and Transcribing Music

The first major benefit is that composition really helps you to understand the enormous importance of rhythm in music. You are required to place all of your notes carefully in relation to the pulse and once you know exactly where they fall you will notice the confidence that it brings to your playing. No one can ever say that they truly know a piece until they have really analyzed it and fully understood where each note falls.

It follows from this, that by thinking along these lines you will think differently about improvisation. There will be more focus on rhythmic accuracy and a tendency to make things much less complicated than they need to be. A habit I often see in students when they start to do this, is to try and launch into improvisations with all guns blazing right from the start, without too much thought for crafting a solo carefully.

The danger of this is that inevitably they run out of steam and their playing can have a tendency to sound a little disjointed. Simply start with one note at a time so that you can get comfortable with the chord progression underneath. By leaving the space the ideas will begin to formulate in your head and you can start to put them into play by gradually adding one or two notes at a time. Liken it to laying down a solid foundation and then gradually build upon it.

By crafting your solos through composing you will learn not to push every piece of your knowledge into any available space. Instead you will learn to consider what is more appropriate, how to gradually build a solo in terms of intensity, and how to create balanced musical phrases. The good use of appropriates phrasal techniques such as staccato or accents, as well as dynamics and sounds will come into play and it is precisely these that separate a good musician from an average one.

Another benefit of immense importance that is part and parcel of composition is the ear training that comes with it. You will find yourself really listening in to other songs for ideas, analyzing the rhythmic patterns for yourself. You will discover that this is a necessary stage in your development especially when it comes to soloing. This is because despite the fact that there are massive resources for tabs and notation available there is still an awful lot of music that isn't available in this form. If you want to learn something you will often have to listen to things and work them out for yourself just as the great players of the 50s and 60s and had to do. This is not as difficult as you may at first think.

Try this out playing a major scale and then trying to work out a simple melody based on that scale, such as the tune to your favourite TV show or the national anthem. In so doing you will really zone in to what you are hearing and begin to recognize how the intervals in the scale work. With a little practice you will become better and better as your ear becomes more in tune and soon enough you will be able to work whole albums of riffs and chord progressions.

Together with this, it is often the case that even if your desired repertoire is available in tab and notation form, complex music still has to be listened to very carefully whilst reading the transcriptions. The unorthodox and groovy rhythm play of Jimi Hendrix is a formidable exercise if you attempt to read the music alone. By listening into what he is playing and by looping and repeating over and over you can really get into what is contained in the recordings in a way that doesn't come across from solely reading the music.

This is often overlooked in music education, but it is of singular importance for the musician. Analysis of what others have done transmits into greater accuracy in your own playing.

Finally, and this is of utmost importance to any budding songwriters and also for those studying music that are required to create their own pieces. Composition helps you to delve deeper into exactly what kinds of music you like and what kind of musician you want to be. The more melodies and songs that you compose the more you begin to focus in on what it is that you really love to play and listen to above all else. This may take time and a lot of writing before you become really happy in what you achieve but it is a necessary stage in your musical development and is the only way to get really good at the guitar and help to find yourself as a musician.

For Over 100 Guitar lessons and resources, visit http://www.guitar4free.com/
And for additional tips on music theory, writing and notation see http://guitar4freenewsandthoughts.blogspot.com/

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How To Get A Professional Vocal Mix At Your Home Studio!

What Goes Into A Professional Vocal Mix?

When you're starting out recording or been recording in your home for a few years you probably wondered why your vocal mix doesn't sound as professional as the ones you hear on the radio. It can be very frustrating at times but don't give up yet. There are ways for you to improve your mixes in your own home studio!

Why Everyone Is Recording At Home Now..

Back in the day everyone was in big studios similar to the picture in this post. Huge SSL boards and the whole works. It was a dream for anyone to even have the opportunity to get into one of these studios. Luckily for us we are in a revolutionary time and we don't have to go to a "Professional Recording Studio".

Home studios have been around for a while but with the advances in technology now everyone can afford one (for better or for worse). Matter of a fact most of the records you hear now days were probably recorded in a home studio. The reason for this is simple - for one no one wants to pay $100 an hour to record a song. That means rushing a song which also means not a great performance - depending on who the artist is. The second reason is convenience - from touring to waking up in the middle of the night with a great idea its a great benefit to be able to record whenever the time is right.

The Difference Between Your Recording and Theirs

One simple difference between you and them is recording your vocals from a clean source. What you need to do more than any microphone or latest version of Pro Tools is learn how important your microphone cable, preamp, and sound card is. Don't get me wrong the right microphone does make a difference but if your cable is constantly stepped on and you don't take care of it you will get a short.

Furthermore, the preamp - where your microphone cable enters into must be a good one. If you got some money to invest in a really good one do it. DO IT IMMEDIATELY!

Let's Move On....

For your sound card don't expect that your brand-new-right-out-of-the-box Dell computer is gonna come equip for such a job. Remember now a days your computer is your SSL board so treat it as such. You can either go out and get an Apple which is always good for audio. Or you can really get down to business and build your own music computer. That is a totally different article though and will require a lot of labor and money on your part but you will have a nice computer built for music recording.

Quick Overview:

You can get a professional quality vocal mix from home.Record from a clean source - that turns into a clean mix - then a clean master.Never underestimate your microphone cable - protect it at all costs.Never underestimate your preamp - don't be cheap invest in a really good one.Never underestimate your sound card - you can't record on just any old computer.Never take the recording process to serious

Have Fun & Continue Making Music!

Travis G Schave aka ShottyGunz Beatz is a Hip Hop and R&B producer based out of Indiana. He is also CEO and Webmaster of ShottyGunzBeatz.com. With over 8 years experience in his field he has worked with many artists. His main goal is to provide artists the opportunity to buy beats from one of the coldest producers online and to establish a professional relationship with those artists

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The Healing Powers of Music

A music composer is someone who plays with beats and turns out a piece of melody. This music could be soothing or unpleasant. It is said that what a composer produces greatly hinges on what they feel while composing the music.

For years, people have been using music to uplift their mood. It is known as the best therapy in a melancholic situation. On the other hand, it multiplies the happiness of happy moments.

Though people are familiar with the fact that music has huge impact on our mood, the scientific reason behind this effect has just been found. Scientists who were researching the relation of music to the human mind expounded that melody affects the functions of the human brain. This in result alters the overall functions of the body.

Also, music has some great healing powers. This is why it is used in several therapies to treat different ailments such as high blood pressure, depression and ADD in children. Anxiety, stress and pain are some other sicknesses that are treated by music. In addition, many music therapists recommend their patients to listen to relaxing music as it elates emotions.

Health practitioners now believe that good music composition not only elevates mood, it also pace up the healing process.

A research by Michael Thaut and his colleagues underlined how positive changes were observed in the behavior of patients with cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease and stroke when they listened to good music. The progress in these patients was quite significant compared to those who did not listen to music in due course of their treatment.

"Surprisingly, patients with severe head injuries and dementia are also able to identify music," says Suzanne Hasner, chairperson of the music therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Researchers also conducted research in which 10 musician (5 women and 5 men) were subjects. Blood used a device PET (positron emission tomography) to learn the effect of music on the human brain. In this research subjects listened to four different types of music in a sequence. This sequence was repeated thrice. According to on of the researchers, when subjects heard their favorite music PET detected the similar activity in the brain as is stimulated by sex and food.

Music composition not only affects our brain, it also alters the body's hormonal levels. For example, it reduces the level of cortisol (stress-related hormone) and increases level of melatonin in the body, which helps one fall asleep easily in a stressful condition.

Jimmy Prior is a professional writer and have skills and specialist in Music composer, and composer.

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You Can Build Your Own Recording Studio

Building a cheap home studio can possibly be the only way for most beginning artists to get their music out there without breaking the bank. People who are in the business will charge big money for a single demo, and most of them probably won't even help those singers out. The truth is that you do not need to be rich at all in order to make your own recording studio. It is all very easy to do, and with the right information on what you need to buy, you can prevent buying something that you don't need. A recording home studio is only conducted by just two things; a microphone and a software.

Get A Professional Microphone

Just because you need to have a professional microphone, it doesn't mean they need to be expensive. When you are building a recording home studio, the main thing you need is a good microphone for creating quality sounds when you are singing. Consider looking for a condenser mic, as this is great for achieving more clarity of sound when you are singing. This is great if you are the Whitney Houston type of vocalist who sings loud and strong. Do not forget about considering the pick up pattern. The most commonly used pick up pattern is the unidirectional. When looking for a microphone, look for these two aspects.

Studio Softwares

You need a software in order to do all kinds of music. The first software that you need is a recording software. This is where all of your music is going to be on. In order to edit the music and the overall sound, you need to make sure that it has an audio mixer. Usually one software would mainly be a recording software, and it will have a nice audio mixer already attached with it.

Tips for beginners when building a home studio

If you believe that a home studio is something that has two rooms, a glass window, and lots of instruments, then you definitely do not know what a home studio really is. Even though the above example is what many people have, all you really need is the microphone, an online studio software, along with a nice and quiet room. It is not difficult or hard at all, and you will find the process very easy to accomplish if you just know what to invest in. Make sure that you do not buy anything too big or expensive.

Usually it is the smaller mic stands that are more affordable.

A recording home studio can give you the chance to make the music that you want without spending thousands of dollars on a demo that isn't even guaranteed to get you an album. You can help create your own demo at home and even craft your entire music. By the time you have your own songs written, you can give these to producers and allow for them to make your name. The business is not that easy to succeed in, but as long as you know that you have great music, then success s bound to happen in no time. With a recording home studio, you can hone your skills and develop your confidence for when you really get that recording contract.

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