Kids who study music do better in other areas of learning!

 

Considering show choir or spring band?

Our instructors are not only instructors, but are excellent coaches!

We can help you develop the vocal or musical skills you need to pass any audition. Melody Music Studios also has instructors that can council you in music business and the recording industry. Visit our website today at

http://melodymusicstudios.com

Music touches us emotionally….

Our instructor Ken performs in various bands and solo guitar shows

Ken

Ken received his Bachelor in Music performance from San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA in 2010.  Ken has been performing for off Broadway shows, various bands, and solo guitarist in the Bay Area since 2006, as well as performing on cruise ship lines. Ken has been a session musician for major recordings since 2008, and has been teaching since 2007. He offers classical, jazz, rock, blues, and country styles.Personality rating:  easygoing

Musicians and the New Economy- Ideas to increase income

“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.” Henry David Thoreau

Having been an occupant of this music world, both as a performer and as a music business person, I’ve seen the music climate change many times. When the economy is healthy, fans flock to bars and restaurants to see new music. They eat, drink, purchase merchandise and support the live music scene. When the economy tanks, fans, understandably, turn fearful. Instead of spending at bars and restaurants and ticketed events, they hold onto discretionary money, impacting the entertainment, food and beverage industries.

Funds for music are often the first items to be subtracted from business budgets in tough economic times. Musicians are well adept at figure out side hustles and alternate sources of income when lean times become part of their economic picture. Side hustles usually include jobs in the bar or restaurant industry.  But these businesses are suffering during this downturn as well, leaving many musicians scrambling for other occupations.

If music is the way you make your living, and the economy is playing havoc with your finances, consider devoting time to self investment. Self investment is not self improvement, although it’s often an added bonus. Invest time in discovering skills that are linked to or lay totally outside your musical gifts. During a relocation and job change three years ago, I found my business floundering. As a former songwriter, I missed the ability to communicate with words to a wider audience than my daily journal. I started writing meditations, which led to the idea of music education booklets targeted at practicing musicians. Three years after my job change,  I self released Fifty Ways to Tour Without Getting in the Van, a 20 page booklet with 50 frugal marketing ideas for bands. Little did I know, the gas crisis would hit during the summer tour season of 2008, making getting in the van to travel to shows costly and many times impractical. People were looking for alternative ways to expose their music to wider audiences-which assured me of selling copies of my booklets. So now in addition to being a music publicist and booking agent, I can add writer to my resume.

As a musician, you’re adept at mulling things over. Think about alternate sources of income during this apocolyptic economy. If you’re besot by the lack of shows, turn your attention to performing for schools, churches or other civic organizations.  Offer to teach a class on songwriting at your local library. Look into providing music for weddings and small events. Play for a intimate group of friends. Write about your music experiences, review cds for publications or start your own publication or e-newsletter about managing as a musician during an economic downturn.

The Scottish geologist and writer Hugh Miller said, “Problems are opportunies with thorns on them.” Make the most of this economic uncertainty by uncovering your hidden talents and how to use them.

Thanks to Trent at The Simple Dollar and Jason at Frugal Dad for inspiring this post.

Music Brightens Lives

“Simply put, music can heal people.” -Harry Reid

Music is a balm. Music uplifts and makes us smile and gives us hope. The creation of it, the listening, the sharing of musical ideas with our band mates, and performance for the public are such spiritual experiences. Giving away our musical gifts is indeed a blessed and wonderful thing.

The music industry often differs with the above opinion. The industry focuses on sales, draw, tickets, charts, reviews and critiques. In an industry often viewed as a “shallow money trench, where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs…” (as Hunter S. Thompson pointed out), we can make ourselves valuable by simply being nice. And is that such an effort? We can spend time training ourselves to use our words as blessings, to do our best in every circumstance, avoid the temptation to take things personally and not buying into assumptions and gossip.

We can make our world warmer and more accepting when we learn to routinely give. When entering a venue or performance situation, give the door person a smile, make sure your handshake is firm and kind. If there is someone setting up the stage or the dressing room be sure you thank them for their attention. Be kind to bartenders and tip well at the end of the night even if you are tight on funds. Those who work in bars often appreciate the gift of a t shirt or cd. They’ll remember you next time. Gift your band mates with positive energy instead of negative grumpiness. Be sure everything you are doing, every contact you make, every statement coming out of your mouth is positive and uplifting. This is a monumental task in the music business, but practiced on a daily basis one that will gift you over and over; for as you bless those around you with kindness, kindness will bounce back to you. You are what you constantly believe and what you constantly think and say. The universe simply returns to you what you repeatedly plant in it. Sow gifts of caring and understanding, particularly in the music business world, and you’ll receive the same.

Making Ends Meet as a Musician (via Melody Music Studios)

“Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot.  In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you. ” ~Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man under Socialism, 1891 Making ends meet financially seems to be an innate part of playing music for a living. There are few musicians at an intermediate level who are able to make more money than month.  As the current economic meltdown continues to force budget cuts everywhere, entertainme … Read More

via Melody Music Studios

Diana Rumrill – PT for musicians!

Read all about Diana Rumrill, a wonderful physical thearpist who specializes in treating musicians!

http://www.harmoniousbodies.com/about/

The Musician and The Academic: A Love Story (via Alunatunes’s Weblog)

“I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.” -Alice Walker A recent Sunday offered an opportunity for me to reconnect with an old business friend. In Musicworld, I’m uncertain if any business relationship can be held apart from developing a friendship. After all, when an agreement is entered into to share in the manifestation of an artist’s hopes and dreams, the understanding and compassionate and empatheti … Read More

via Alunatunes’s Weblog

Aaron in Frankfort KY teaches drums via skype

Aaron

Aaron graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance. Aaron started playing percussion in the 6th grade band and continued all the way through high school. He has taught since 2004 teaching students of all ages and levels. He has performed in all kinds of bands since 2003, including contemporary rock groups, jazz combos/big bands, as well as larger classical ensembles. While at the University, he played in the jazz ensemble, orchestra, marching band, and wind ensemble. Aaron’s styles include jazz, pop, rock, R&B, Metal, Funk, classical, latin, African and Afro-cuban.Personality rating: Easygoing