August 6, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
Have you ever wondered why artists get those Platinum record awards? I just thought about this today–not that I’m in hot pursuit of one—but my inquiring mind wants to know. So, for those of you that are in pursuit—here’s what I’ve found out…..
For a Complete Album:
1. To have a Gold Record, the album needs to sell 500,000 copies in the US and 100,000 in Britain.
2. To have a Platinum record, you must have sales of 1,000,000 units.
3. To have a Diamond Record, you must have sales of 10,000,000 units.
For a Single:
1. To have a Gold single, you must have 500,000 copies shipped.
2. To have a Platinum single, you must have 1,000,000 copies shipped.
3. To have a Double Platinum single, you must have 2,000,000 copies shipped.
(Newer) Digital Sales:
1. Gold equals 500,000 tracks that have been downloaded.
2. Platinum equals 1,000,000 tracks that have been downloaded.
3. Double platinum equals 2,000,000 tracks that have been downloaded.
Now, there’s more to it than just that. Your record company first has ask the RIAA to apply for certification, and then pay a fee, asking them to conduct an audit of your sales. The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America.), then checks into your total net sales—I say “net” meaning they take into account retail returns. They will check your net sales against your “royalty” paychecks.
Then when all is said and done—you will walk out with a plaque. Now, what group has had the highest certified sales? The Eagles……..29 million.
August 6, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
As you can imagine, the White House has their own crew of musicians. They are called, “The Presidents Own.” To audition with the group, you join the Marines— the division is the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 5511 (Member, U.S. Marine Band).
If you are interested in auditioning, go this the following link and learn about the requirements of auditioning.
August 5, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
I’ve been doing some research. I wanted to find out if /how musicians were holding up under the recession. Being that many music companies are cutting salaries and positions, I found that those with the free-lance mentality may be a little better off. Here’s why:
1. They Diversify Income Streams—Freelancers are constantly thinking about how to get their bills paid each month. So, they are willing to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way…..i.e. private teaching, selling recordings, playing concerts, publishing….you name it. If your brain is always in the mind-set of survival…..chances are you’ll survive. Also, when they have extra money—they save and invest it. Smart freelancers learn how to get paid from their dividends.
2. They Make Networking Essential—They make sure to keep up with their colleges. They are active in community events….and are willing volunteers…..this shows concern for others and it also makes their colleges want to work with them.
3. They Work to Become Better Musicians—Not only are they practicing to get better—they are also keeping up with the music industry simply to stay informed. Just like everything else in the world, the music industry is changing–and a good freelancer will always be in the know.
4. They Stay True To Commitment–Good freelancers are steady freelancers. If they decide that they are going to be a music teacher, recording artist, or anything—they commit to it 100%. Their job is important to them….and in complete focus most of the time. So even if the world is in a recession, they don’t give up—they persevere anyway.
Even though we are all having to tough it out with the recession, I believe that as musicians—if we can persevere now—we will reap the rewards of that perseverance. We will eventually make it over the hill….and once we do…..if we persevere—our diligence will not come unrewarded.
August 5, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
Let’s face it…..musicians are mobile creatures……are we not? I was on the JetBlue website yesterday and saw that they had some cheeeeeep rates. Like $29.00. I was really surprised to see the low rates and thought that it was worth sharing–I don’t know about you but I am all about cheap airfare.
August 5, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
Curious? I found some VERY rough footage of an orchestra practice that Mrs Amy LOVED. The music is slightly reminiscent of the Mr. Holland’s Opus soundtrack. The composition that the orchestra is playing by Alexia Vassiliou.
August 5, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
I took a look at the Korg Pa588 last night. I give this piano a muey macho thumbs up. I like the weight of the keys, the programming capabilities and the simplicity of use. If you are a writer—I would suggest that you check this out. Here are the specs:
August 4, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
Sqweeeeeeeeeeeeech. That’s the sound of me pulling my soap box to the front of the class. Today, I want to talk about the 10 worst habits musicians struggle with—always remember this post—steering clear of these mistakes will make you outstanding!
1. Avoiding Constructive Criticism—If you are a true musician, you have to be open to criticism. That’s just how it is. Criticism doesn’t have to be painful—-look at it as being excellent! People care enough about you to give you feedback. It will make you a stronger player and if well taken–others will respect you for it.
2. Being the Sham Wow Guy—What do I mean by that. This essence of this phenomenon comes about when a musician feels that they have to pitch the fact that they are a great player. I know you’ve seen this before. They are constantly talking about how good they are, what songs they are playing, where they are playing, and the famous people that they have run into. They rant on and on and on. If you’re a genuinely talented musician–your skills will speak for themselves.
3. Ignoring the Technicals—I deem myself guilty on this one. In order to be a great musician, you have to practice technique daily. If you don’t, you will never really advance. Oh, you might play some challenging music, but without the technicals—your performances will just look sloppy—and nobody likes that.
4. Throwing Temper Tantrums–Do you know where temper tantrums take you? To the unemployment line. You heard me. A group can’t get anywhere when a team member throws a fit and storms out of practice every 15 minutes. Control thyself.
5. Rushing Practice–Sometimes it’s easy to rush through practice and not really focus. It’s more of a nanny nanny boo boo-The End–kind of practice. It’s important to take a balanced approach to practicing but you need to make your minutes count.
6. Beating yourself to a Pulp—We have all had performances that have not gone so well. Some musicians get stuck on them, “I remember that spring day when I was playing Debussy, it was hot and I had eaten shell fish before hand. That was a terrible day.” Learn from your mistakes–but don’t make a bad performance your defining moment. If you have one bad performance–get back out there and try again.
7. Over-thinking—If you’re a perfectionist, it’s easy to get tunnel vision. You may work on a piece–and keep plugging away on it as if you were a Duracell battery–and six months later you’ve only gotten 10 measures down. You over analyze. It’s good to be detail oriented–but balance is a precious thing. It will help you to achieve more.
8. Showing up Late for Appointments—Yes indeed. Just because you are a musician–doesn’t mean you don’t have to be a respecter of time. Mmm hmm. You know I’m right.
9. Not Making Friends with Musicians—You need to make good friends with other musicians. Not only will they lift your spirits, make you a better player and give you someone to be nerdy with—they may also be a great contact for future opportunities.
10. Not Managing Money Well—I have seen musicians toss their paychecks into a heaping pile of sheet music on the floor–take cash for gigs and never record where the money came from. Many musicians aren’t that great at managing their money. They make it a habit to scrounge around the house for their gig money when they need it. Their taxes aren’t taken into account–and neither are their tax deductions. If you’re like this–go get an accountant. You never know–the accountant might help you save money by just getting organized.
Alright, I’m putting my soap box away, but think about what I’ve said, maybe it will help you avoid the trouble that others have dealt with!
August 3, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
When it comes to practicing—-putting a whole lot of time in doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting ahead. You can practice for an eternity and still come out smelling like……..rose?! (I hope you already know that joke!) Time is irrelevant, it’s how you practice that counts. Here are some suggestions:
1. Make sure you give your body time to warm up—Try to spend a least 10 minutes doing stretches–or any type of
specialized warm up for your instrument (vocal included). Remember—I developed carpal tunnel and tendonitis because I
didn’t follow this rule.
2. Take out your metronome—You gotta have one. It’s an exercise in itself to stay on tempo.
3. Start out by playing some great scales—This should be the technical side of your practice. Practice your scales and/or etudes.
If you don’t have scales to play for your instrument—I’m sure that you have a technical exercise or two you can work on:)
4. Work on a performance piece—Start to work on a performance piece, one measure at a time. Pay attention to your tone, tempo and make sure you’re following all those little music terms you find measure per measure. If you don’t know what they mean, I have a music dictionary link on the resources page. It also might be a good idea to record yourself playing. I know that sometimes when en route—we don’t play what we hear. Give it a try–you’ll only get better.
5. Site read—Site read some new music. Give yourself a challenge.
6. Record your practice—After you’re done, make a journal and write down what you practiced and how long you practiced it.
If you do all of the above, I believe that you will only get better and better. Before long, you will be knocking off the socks of all your friends–give it a try.
August 2, 2009 - Posted by Mrs. Amy - Comments Off
When I was in sixth grade, I attended my first official youth orchestra practice. I was nervous. My hands were frozen—I could barely play. My violin playing sounded like a 90 year old singing opera. But when the kid in the stand in front of me turned around and proudly revealed his, “I’ve got a violin and I’m not afraid to use it” T-shirt—it distracted me from my nerves. From there, I looked around the room and realized everyone had a music T-shirt on. There was the, “Gone Chopin, back in a Minuet” the “Handel me with care” and the very popular, “I’ll be Bach.” I realized that I was one of the few who apparently were not “on the inside.” I was not aware of such apparel.
Now in my adult years, I’ve noticed that many of the same students who were “on the inside” back then–still are. They really haven’t changed that much. They are the musicians that are now working as sound engineers, music producers and performers. They are the one’s who go to work in probably the same music T-shirts they had 20 years ago, but now, the shirts are very well worn and they don’t care. It’s more about being a proud member of the music world—-that’s their identity. They are more happy arguing lyrical phrasing, analyzing newly cut tracks and finding like minded musicians to hang with—to them that’s sensational living. It’s the “so what if I’m a geek–I’m doing it anyway. And by the way….you are who?” mentality. They are what I deem the official title of, “Trackie.”
I don’t believe that I ever made it “on the inside.” I’m just to goofy to be considered a “Trackie.” But I absolutley solute all of them for their passion and dedication for the craft. For you students, I promise that if you make friends with a Trackie—they will help you grow musically beyond all you could ever hope for.
