A Career in music

[Bohemian]

Hey!
I'm a level 3 keyboardist thinking of persuing a career in music. Any advice you can give me is useful! The Main things I need to know about are:

~What colleges I could consider(especially in Wahington State)
~What courses in college to take
~What level I should take classes through
~How do I learn about studio recording, eqipment(books, websites, etc.)
~How to get good eqipment(sp)

Any help is REEAAALY apreciated!
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Lyle]

The guy from Selah gave me two names... You may want to consider them..

Belmont University

Middle Tennessee Sate University

 

[Bohemian]

guy from Selah?

 

[Lyle]

Selah

 

[Bohemian]

Selah?

 

[mbotz72]

what type of music are you interested in pursuing? Classical pianist? Jazz pianist? Recording artist? teaching/conducting?
I heard that Pacific Lutheran College (I think in WA) is very good for music. I am a little bias, but St. Olaf College (MN) is one of the top music schools in the country outside a conservatory, but with internationally known choirs (9), bands (3), and orchestra (2). Good luck and God Bless!

 

[Bohemian]

I'm not totally set on one genre yet. I leaning toward Instrumental Rock, though. Something in the spirit of Yes, or Rick Wakeman.

 

[PetraFan007]

that is a link for you to click (selah)

 

[katylees]

grrr oops next one is the one lol :S

 

[katylees]

i want a career in music too! i also play keyboard! hopefully i will be going to uni in september!

 

[Lions_child]

This is something I'm interested in too as I'm approaching college years and am considering music. If you like the more pop side (rather than a classical degree for instance), there is a Christian institute thing where you can learn about the ins and outs of either artist stuff or exec. stuff - there are two "tracks" you can choose from. I tried to post the link for you, but I guess since I don't have 15 posts I can't do that. PM me or something if you're interested... or if anyone's interested for that matter.

 

[BabbleOn8806]

coooool
thought about it before
not sure god wants me too but sounds cool

 

[Bohemian]

Well, considering all this and the requirments to get into a good school is really getting me down. I haven't been taking classes all through my childhood like most musicians, and I'm only at level 3 on keyboards. It's something I reeeaaly want to do,but is it too late to become any good? To be able to get enough training to get into a good music college that has a degree in what I'm interested-keyboards. I really need advice.Thanks.

 

[yod]

If you want a career in anything it's not about school....it's about getting hired and paid. Music doesn't pay well at the entry level so schooling can help but even that is no guarantee that you will ever be paid...or do what you want to do with your talent.

My experience is that soooo many people want a career in music that the labor pool is glutted. Therefore, anyone who wants "free" musicians will have no problem finding them. Why would they pay you? What makes you worth more than the guy who plays keyboards on the church team for free?

When you can answer that question....and then learn to sell yourself to someone who is hiring....you will have a career in whatever you want to do.

Until then, my suggestion is that you study business and enter the music world at that level. You can start as an (unpaid) intern for a management company or major booking agency or record label if you move to Nashville. You can learn what makes a successful music ministry work and make valuable contacts while you are honing your chops on the keyboard. Maybe those talents will intersect at some point in the future?

But if you are going for the brass ring you gotta make some real tough decisions and sacrifices along the way. Are you really willing to do that? How much?

 

[Bohemian]

I could live with making sacrifices and making just enough to live. I rather work at something I love, rather than spend all my money trying to be happy.

 

[peanutbutter12]

I have to laugh sometimes. Anywhere you go in the world, there are people trying to become a rock star. You can literally go to the smallest town in the world and I bet you would find some garage band talking about making it big someday. The reason I laugh is not to take away their dreams, but because they have no idea the work and effort, pain and stress involved with being a musician. And a lot who do make it, find out they aren't cut out for it.

I myself have been working hard in the music industry for the past 4 years of my life trying to get my own album finished. I've done everything from spending hours and one time, a literal 24 (actually 38) hour period, inside the studio, to doing tours with bands like Skillet to try and help promote the new album which I've been working these past 4 years on.

People have no idea what is involved with becoming a musician. It's not like you just wake up one morning and decide it. This has literally become the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it's worth it. There is so much work involved with doing something like this. Countless nights losing sleep because you're too busy working on a new track for a song, the endless hours of stress trying to perfect everything. These bands who just slop a demo together and say "here you go" will never get anywhere because they just don't have the dedication to put those extra few touches into the music they create.

That's my 2cents for now

CJ

 

[yod]

good word

hey man, can you tell me what happened to the first guitar player in Skillet?

He was good.

 

[Bohemian]

I have to laugh sometimes. Anywhere you go in the world, there are people trying to become a rock star. You can literally go to the smallest town in the world and I bet you would find some garage band talking about making it big someday. The reason I laugh is not to take away their dreams, but because they have no idea the work and effort, pain and stress involved with being a musician. And a lot who do make it, find out they aren't cut out for it.

I myself have been working hard in the music industry for the past 4 years of my life trying to get my own album finished. I've done everything from spending hours and one time, a literal 24 (actually 38) hour period, inside the studio, to doing tours with bands like Skillet to try and help promote the new album which I've been working these past 4 years on.

People have no idea what is involved with becoming a musician. It's not like you just wake up one morning and decide it. This has literally become the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it's worth it. There is so much work involved with doing something like this. Countless nights losing sleep because you're too busy working on a new track for a song, the endless hours of stress trying to perfect everything. These bands who just slop a demo together and say "here you go" will never get anywhere because they just don't have the dedication to put those extra few touches into the music they create.

That's my 2cents for now

CJ

Agreed. The thing about me, though, is that I'm not looking for fame. I'm just slaving away trying to be able to make music my living. That's not to say some fame wouldn't be nice, but more like respect and recognition. I would NEVER want to be like the uber-popular bands. They barely have any privacy, and when or if they reach their decline, everyone sees. Are you in a band or going it solo?
God Bless, and Good Luck

 

[peanutbutter12]

good word

hey man, can you tell me what happened to the first guitar player in Skillet?

He was good.

Ken is now the director of Visible School, a school that teaches music to the Xian community.

Are you in a band or going it solo?

That's a complicated question. I write all the songs and record them myself. I dunno how it will go for the second album, but I didn't want anyone elses inspirations or "thoughts on how this note should be" on the first release in perticular. But at the same time, when I release the album, I want to have the band atmosphere. Have their pictures and such inside the album cover and to have dedicated people involved.

CJ