English · Tips

12 Quick Tips For Musicians

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Ape_too_loves_music_by_Yann_LVia http://bit.ly/UZINSF

1. Practice at least one hour a day. Integrate it into your daily routine like brushing your teeth or working out.

2. Consider to take music lessons. You can learn some new techniques and broaden your horizon.

3. Challenge yourself. Don’t be scared of making mistakes – take a risk!

4. Book shows in different clubs – and even in different cities. And don’t forget to promote your gigs very good!

5. Talk to other bands after the show. It’s all about networking! Don’t just be focused on yourself.

6. Use social media to create meaningful connections. Do not just try to promote yourself in an annoying way.

7. Reply to e-mails – no matter if they come from a random fan or a famous producer.

8. If you have a new idea (a song, a new show, a new concept) , just get up and do it. Many people tend to spend more time talking about the idea, then actually realizing it.

9. Take a critical look at your music from time to time and think about how it can be improved.

10. If you want to head to a new studio, take your time and do some research on the engineers and the equipment that is used. The cheapest studio may not always be the best option.

11. Put a few hours a week into finding 2 people who might help you. You don’t have to do everything on your own. I’m sure there are people who would love to build your new website or to promote your gigs. Don’t be scared of emailing and calling strangers to ask for help!

12. Post videos of your performances on YouTube. Give people a sample of the music you are working on and make them want to experience it live!

by Sara Shirazi

English · Tips

How to compose your own music in 3 easy steps

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If you want to start composing your own music, there are a few things you should know. First of all, the main milestones of music are Melody, Harmony and Rhythm. You can use all of these elements or even ignore some of them. The key is to experiment with all the pieces and find your own style.
1. Collect ideas
I bet you already have some really good ideas. Write them down on a piece of paper and collect everything that is on your mind. If you need inspiration, then do whatever inspires you: Reading, doing sports, having a glass of wine … ;-)
2. Dig deeper
Did you write down all your ideas? Good! Now think about the instruments you would like to have in your piece. Do you want to sing the song on your own or is there anybody you would want to collaborate with? Think about every little detail and, again, write it all down. Don’t forget to think about the structure of the song!
3. Let’s begin!
Congratulations! By now you should have a detailed idea of your piece! It’s time to turn your ideas into music, so take your instrument(s) and start playing whatever is on your mind. It might take you a few tries to do it perfectly, but don’t give up. Whenever you realize that an idea doesn’t work or something else comes to your mind, write it down. This piece of paper will help you a lot, especially when you skip the composing for a few days. Just keep going and record a rythm or a melody, step by step and add what is missing whenever you have an idea. Composing is no magic – it is a creating process, step by step!
Have fun!
by Sara Shirazi
German · This & That

Haben CD’s & Alben in Zeiten des Internets überhaupt noch eine Chance?

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Wenn ein Musiker eine CD produziert, so steckt meist eine Menge Arbeit hinter dem Projekt. Songs müssen geschrieben werden, man produziert die passenden Beats, probt, verbringt Stunden im Studio – doch lohnt sich eine CD-Produktion überhaupt noch? In Zeiten des Internets ist es mittlerweile kein Problem mehr, sich die Songs seines Lieblingskünstlers per Knopfdruck im Internet zu besorgen und oftmals auch noch keinen Cent dafür zu bezahlen. Viele Leute wollen einfach kein komplettes Album mehr kaufen, sondern sich nur einzelne Lieder herauspicken und möglichst schnell und bequem zur Hand haben. Es scheint eine völlig neue Generation von Musikkonsumenten herangewachsen zu sein, die diesbezüglich komplett andere Gewohnheiten hat: Piraterie und Raubkopien stehen an der Tagesordnung.

Die Zeiten des Sammlerstolzes scheinen vorüber, in denen sich CD-Begeisterte eine ganze Musiksammlung im heimischen Regal angelegt haben. Doch zu Recht? Kann die Qualität von online angebotenen MP3 Dateien mit der CD-Qualität mithalten? Viele Online-Stores bieten Musik inzwischen zu günstigen Preisen an und sind schnell und einfach zugänglich. Das reicht besonders jüngeren Leuten, wenn sie sich dadurch ein wenig Geld und den Gang ins Geschäft sparen können.

Was denkst Du darüber – haben CD’s im Internetzeitalter überhaupt noch eine Chance?

by Sara Shirazi