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Music Industry

Remixing When Starting Out: What Can I Do?

October 19, 2015 admin

If you’re a musician making your first foray into the often scary world of recording, getting your music mixed and remixed can be a stressful experience. Hugely creative musicians that have created expressive pieces of music that include elaborate arrangements layered together can find it borderline impossible to achieve the desired result.

Though the modern world means we enjoy the ease of recording a video on our phone and fast rendering to YouTube, followed by global distribution through our other social accounts, when it comes to professional recording, mixing, and remixing, we still rely on skill to deliver what we need, whether that’s a through a piece of software or an individual.

Most musicians will find finances tight when first starting out, so what are the available options for taking care of remixing?

Trying Out Software

Those thinking they’d like to mix their own music can find a wide range of software available online. Several free options are available for download, although many of these may have limited features until you cough up a hefty subscription fee or buy a full licence. Total novices when it comes to mixing and remixing may find they can achieve everything they want through a basic and limited platform. At the very least, they’ll be able to play around and understand more of the nuances of mixing and remixing, which will prove useful knowledge for the future.

Musicians with money to spend might opt for a premium software. As well as software downloads, most leading music stores will offer remixing software, and many will have in-house experts and options to try out demo versions prior to making a purchase.

Music Radar produced this feature in summer 2015 that looks at some of the best options available.

Use Someone You Know

As musicians, we all know how the business works. Like many aspects of work and life, we probably all know someone who knows someone else who can help us out. Think about who’s in your network and go from there. Ask around the next time you’re in the studio, or even just hang around and see what’s happening. There’s always an opportunity to start a conversation.

Head back to the music store, too, as people working there don’t see it as “just a job” 99% of the time; they’re music enthusiasts like you and I and are probably involved with someone who can help you.

The final option is to utilise the social following you’ve undoubtedly been building. A simple shout out and request for help may open dozens of doors.

Collaborate Online

The internet is the world’s biggest marketplace. Whether utilising a generic marketplace platform or something specific to the music industry such as Meet & Jam, there are several opportunities to meet others and discover people that can help. The beauty of the music industry is that there are plenty of opportunities for getting what you need done free if you can provide something in return. Spending a couple of hours having fun playing a solo for a sound engineer is well worth it against the likely cost of having a track professionally mixed.

Remixing When Starting Out

Not having much money doesn’t mean doors are closed when it comes to moving forward with music. Consider the options available and which ones might work for you. Combining them might prove advantageous depending on what you’re looking to achieve, so have fun discovering what works for you.

How-To, Saxophone Tips

How to Get Good at Sax Quicker Than Your Friends

October 15, 2015 admin

Learning to play an instrument can be much more fun if you are doing it with a friend. But while it’s great to spend time jamming together with your mates, it’s also fun to beat them in their own game.

If you want to impress your sax-playing friends with new skills, here are some great tips for speeding up your learning. While there aren’t any real shortcuts to mastering an instrument, your mentality towards playing influences your ability to learn.

By just changing the way you view your exercises and your learning, you can improve your playing fast.

Find the Right Learning Style

Everyone learns things a bit differently. Some people can read information from a music book and just pick the instrument and play. For some, playing things repeatedly – doing things in practice rather than theory – is more effective.

You might find it easier to use saxophone video lessons, which show you how something is done. On the other hand, it might be enough for you to just listen to someone or just read about it through a music sheet.

The most important thing is to learn what method works best with you. Try to mix your lessons a bit by changing your approach. If you use a tutor, consider adding a few video lessons or theoretical books to see if you actually learn faster that way.

Be Honest about Your Ability

You want to be better than your friends, but a reality check is in place. The best way to truly check your talent? Record yourself playing the saxophone. Pick a song you’d like to be able to play fluently, but perhaps aren’t able to do so.

You won’t need any special recording software for this – just try one of these free apps, for example. As you listen back to your playing, think carefully what parts are the trickiest and which are the smoothest.

Go back to practicing the sections and parts of playing, you don’t yet know fluently. On the other hand, if there are elements you are very good at, don’t spend too much time going through them again.

Don’t Get Stuck in Your Routine

One of the main reasons why many saxophone players stop progressing is their lack of creativity in practice. It’s easy to be stuck in your routine, whether it is what you eat for breakfast or your sax exercise routine.

While you don’t want to skip from exercise to exercise without ever learning any of it fully, you don’t want to stay stuck with a single song or practise until you ‘nail it’. If you feel there’s no progress for a while, try something else – a new approach or a different tune – and get back to your problem a little later.

Focus on the Key Elements

Learning to play the saxophone is a combination of elements. While your friends might be focused on simply playing the instrument, you could get ahead by also listening to more saxophone music.

The key elements for beginner saxophone include: tone, articulation, technique and reading skills. Make sure you pay attention to these, especially at the start, and include exercises in all of the areas. You’ll also want to keep these elements in mind: style, harmony, ear training and inflection.

The above assessment will help you learn faster, play with a more varied technique and focus on the essentials. It’ll surely impress your friends!

Music Industry, Saxophone Tips

4 Essential Exercises for Sax Players

October 12, 2015 admin

Practice makes perfect – but it’s not just about the amount of practice with the saxophone, it’s also about the quality of the exercise. Your sax practice should be a variety of different things, as it’s the only way to guarantee you improve your skill set in different technical aspects of playing.

To help you out, we’ve included some of the most essential exercises to help you master the saxophone. If you want to add variety and creativity to your music lessons, then check out these fun exercises.

Plain and Simple

First, you must have a good understanding of the notes and the accidentals. You don’t have to be able to play them perfectly, but you should have the fingering of the note in mind as you see it.

You could play these exercises in all the keys – in fact, you should try to progress as you advance. But for the clean and simple exercise, you should start with the key C, F and G.

Play the following sequence:

C F# C# G# D# A# E# Bb Eb F# C# G# D# Bb Eb Ab F# C# G# D# F#C# G# Bb Eb Ab Db F# C# Bb Eb Ab Db Gb F# Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb

You should use a metronome to keep the pace and take it slowly, as you mix between different keys. As you get better, you can continue speeding up and playing as fast as possible!

Fast and Advanced

If you are comfortable with your sax skills and want to step it up a notch, try the following exercise. You should play the sequence in A, E, D, B, G, and F key to truly test your skills.

This tests your understanding of the arpeggios. Play the following sequence:

C F F# Bb B Eb E A Ab D Db G Gb

Try to be experimental with the tempo. Try to be as fast as possible without making a mistake, but add variation to your tempo of play as well. You could even add a different backing track to support your practice.

High and Hard

This exercise helps you practice the higher notes. As you play, try to maintain a solid ‘O’ shape with your lip and an ‘EEE’ tongue position.

The key for higher notes is about relaxation. You don’t want to be forcing them, but rather have the note come naturally to you. If you feel it’s hard to do, just try some of these exercises.

In a high key, play the following loop:

D B A F D# E C#

Low and Steady

As well as hitting the high notes perfectly, you’ll also want to get down with the lower loops. Again, it is important to hold the right embouchurewith these exercises.

Try to avoid over-blowing by using enough air for each note.

Play the following loop in the lowest key possible:

B B A G F E D B

The above four different exercises will hopefully help you master the saxophone in no time. It’s important to mix your exercises a bit and add these random loops to your playing.

Music Industry

10 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Instrument

October 8, 2015 admin

Buying an instrument is not an easy task. While you can walk into a shop and pick yourself a pair of white socks without thinking about it, you don’t want to do the same with a musical instrument.

If you are looking to add a bit of music to your life, then ask these ten questions before you hand out the money.

1. Are You Buying the Right Instrument?

Selecting a musical instrument to play is a bit like buying shoes. If you don’t get the right fit, you are most likely going to end up with an aching body and hurt feelings.

You might love the sports shoes, but if you never go running than what is the point? Even if you dream of playing the guitar, the violin might actually suit you much better, so pick carefully.

2. Do You Want the Instrument for the Right Reason?

As well as finding the right instrument for your personality and play style, you also need to stop and think why you are getting the instrument. Are you just buying the guitar to impress the ladies?

If you have no interest in learning the specific instrument, if there’s no passion in your belly then don’t bother. You’ll learn a lot faster if looking cool isn’t the only reason you re picking the chosen instrument.

3.Can You Store the Instrument?

It might sound obvious but people are sometimes silly when it comes to instruments. You might be destined to play the piano, it might be your dream and passion, but if you live in a studio flat the size of a small closet, you might need to put your dreams on hold.

Some instruments, such as a cello, can take quite a bit of space. It’s crucial you think about where you’ll keep your new shiny toy when you’re not playing.

4.How Much Noise Does Your Instrument Make?

Certain instruments might make a lot more noise than others. If you are living with other people, be considerate and think a bit about how you could perhaps tone down the noise.

You can often wear headphones with an electric instrument to ensure you get to play even in the middle of the night. On the other hand, if you live in the middle of a field, go ahead and get the noisiest instrument available!

5. Is Your Instrument the Right Size?

This isn’t a question about whether you opt for a big instrument like a piano or a small instrument like a mouth organ, but rather the size of your chosen instrument. You might not be aware but most instruments come in different sizes.

For example, you can find different sized guitars. So, if you are not the biggest person in the world, make sure you test out different options to find the right fit.

6.Can You Make the Right Sounds?

You naturally won’t be able to break into a song straightaway, but you don’t want the playing to feel too awkward. If you can’t hit even a single note from the start, you might want to try something else instead.

It might not even be only about having picked the wrong instrument-type. For example, saxophone reeds perform differently and while one instrument might sound bad, another one might work better for you. Never buy an instrument without trying how it sounds!

7.How Much Are You Willing to Pay?

The price tag of different instruments can vary quite a bit. A piano is often much more expensive than a guitar. But the price tag can even vary within a range of guitars. Acoustics can cost less than electronics, with even more variation depending on the guitar manufacturer.

Remember to think about your budget beforehand. It’s a good idea to not just think your financial ability, but ask yourself what you are willing to pay even if you don’t end up playing more than once.

8.Could You Borrow the Instrument First?

If you are unsure about spending money on an instrument you aren’t quite sure you’d love to play, try borrowing it first. Certain music shops might be able to rent instruments for a few weeks and this is a great way to get to know the instrument.

You might also know someone who plays a specific instrument. Ask if your saxophone-playing friend would let you try to the instrument overnight!

9.Could You Get it Second-Hand?

You should also keep in mind not all instruments need to be brand new. You could start with a second-hand instrument, as it could save you money and help you know whether you love the instrument or not. Just keep in mind some of the advantages and disadvantages of buying second-hand.

10.Is the Instrument of a Good Quality?

Finally, make sure you are spending your hard earned money for something of a good quality. Even if you are buying a second-hand instrument, you need to make sure it won’t break down after first use.

A good instrument can last a lifetime, as long as you keep it clean and safe. Make sure you knowhow to treat your instrument well and that the previous owner has shown love for the instrument!

By asking the above questions, you can find the right instrument for yourself. After that, it is all about spending hours learning to play!

Music Industry, Saxophone Tips

Our Top 10 Favourite Saxophonists

October 5, 2015 admin

The world is full of stunning saxophonists. Lists of the all-time greats often feature names such as Coltrane and Brecker, but there are plenty of worth saxophonists to add to the company of these greats.

When it comes to our favourite saxophonists, these ten definitely deserve a mention.

Richie Cole

Richie Cole might be a bit of a bad boy in the jazz circles, but his playing skills are top notch. Cole is passionate about the instrument and has spent a lot of time helping others master the instrument as well.

The fact that Cole is still playing is definitely notable. The musician was born in 1948 so he has plenty of experience all new players can learn from.

Andy Sheppard

Sheppard is among the biggest British names in the saxophone scene of today. He has been creating stunning sounds in the international jazz scene, working with big names and publishing his own stuff.

Sheppard’s technical skills with the saxophone are world-renowned. If you want to add more technique to your own playing, then Sheppard’s sax lesson series at ProMusic Tutor are an absolute must-have.

Sonny Criss

Sonny Criss had an amazing amount of swing in his tone. He was able to add so much passion and warmth to his sound that you couldn’t help but smile.

Unfortunately, Criss’ personal life ended in tragic circumstances. He committed suicide in 1977 after he’d been diagnosed with stomach cancer. The good thing is that his recordings still live on.

Chelsea Baratz

The industry is often dominated by male saxophonists, but there are stunning female saxophonists out there as well. One of them is the Pittsburgh talent, Chelsea Baratz. The young musician has added a lovely fresh tone to the world of sax in recent years.

Baratz’ style is a mixture of soul and swing, with plenty of contemporary hooks. You should definitely check out her stunning debut album ‘In Faith’.

Plas Johnson

You might not recognise the name, but you’ll certainly recognise the Pink Panther theme. Johnson played the tenor part in the world famous tune, but he’s not always received the recognition he deserved.

Johnson has played with amazing artists, such as B. B. King and Johnny Otis. His unique talent can be heard in a number of albums. Perhaps the most influential of them is the1964 ‘Blue Martini’, which really changed the way saxophone was used in music.

James Morton

Many saxophonists start at an early age and this was also the case with James Morton. Morton picked his saxophone at the age of eight and he has since become a leading voice of today’s generation of saxophonists.

Morton hasn’t just played with other big stars in the scene, such as Pee Wee Ellis and Andy Sheppard, but also with big contemporary stars like Kasabian. He has a funky and unique style that is worth checking out.

Marcus Strickland

Strickland has taken the saxophone industry by storm and he has produced a number of great albums you should listen. He made his debut in the industry in 2001and he has since been part of a number of great collaborations as well as solo work.

Strickland mainly performs with his band Twi-Life, but he can be heard as a wingman for many jazz and soul artists. His playing is definitely a master display of powerful tunes.

Pee Wee Ellis

Pee Wee Ellis is the stunning saxophonist behind James Brown’s band in the 1960s. He can be heard in songs such as Cold Sweat, which Ellis also co-wrote with Brown.

Furthermore, this great talent has worked with Van Morrison. Although he is from the US, he fell in love with the beautiful Somerset region in his later years and has done a lot of work here in Britain.

Craig Crofton

One saxophonist who’s had the honour of playing with Pee Wee Ellis is Craig Crofton. Crofton isn’t just a support act either; he is definitely a saxophonist you should learn from.

Crofton has his own jazz quintet, which is touring around Britain and you should definitely see him play live. Crofton’s skill set is very smooth and flawless with his passion for the instrument present at every stage of the way.

Candy Dulfer

Finally, you should add a bit of Candy Dulfer to your playlist. The Dutch alto saxophonist received a Grammy nomination with her debut album ‘Saxuality’ and she has since done some stunning performances.

Dulfer’s playing is a lovely mixture of old time vibes and new fresh licks. It’s contemporary without forgetting the importance of the past. She is definitely a saxophonist who can teach you a trick or two about the instrument.

The above saxophonists are great to listen to, but each of them can also teach you something unique about the instrument. Remember that listening sax music is as important as practicing the actual playing is for skill development!