If you want to have the best odds for finding the right musicians for your church services, follow the guidelines I am sharing here.

1) When recruiting, make all your requirements clear.
Church music in this day and age ranges from the contemporary styles (which require the musicians to fill-in-the blanks) to the traditional styles (which require the musicians to be able to read notation). Don’t assume that the people in your church know or understand what you need. Always spell out your requirements.

This also inspires confidence. People prefer to work with leaders who know clearly what they want and can communicate it to others. They are more likely to respond to your recruitment efforts if you take the effort to spell out what are the expectations you have for the role.

2) Ask your musicians who they’d like to invite to serve in your church.
Musicians tend to feel more comfortable talking with other musicians. Think about it, you may have the right person visiting your church or quietly warming a pew in your church. This person will usually make themselves known to the ‘official’ church musicians first before approaching the other people in the church leadership.

So make sure the musicians already working with you know that you are on the look-out for more help, so they can help you look out as well as recommend people they think are suitable.

3) Have a back-up plan.

What will you do if you can’t find the right person or the right people? If your church uses a contemporary style of music for worship, you may be able to train up adequate musicians in the span of 2-3 months. If you practice a more traditional style you may want to look for parents with kids taking classical music lessons. Getting these kids to help out requires a lot less work in terms of music training (most of it is already done for you).

The most important thing is to NOT be desperate. If you are desperate, you’ll be tempted to recruit people without the correct skill set or the right attitude. They can be a headache to deal with at that point. No one benefits from this situation at all.

In the end, recruiting a Church musician is very much a sales job. You are trying to sell an opportunity to serve God and grow in maturity by actively engaging with God’s people, and you want the right people to buy that opportunity with their talents and time. Always ask yourself this question: if I was a property agent trying to sell a house, would I be able to sell a house with the quality of effort I am putting into recruiting a church musician?

If the answer is no, then don’t be surprised if you don’t get the kind of people you want to serve God with. Following the guidelines in this article will give you the best odds of finding suitable people, people who will serve God with you, and be a blessing to his people. And that’s what we all want, right?

Junjie is a worship leader, musician and trainer with more than 14 years of experience
in a wide range of church settings. To find out more about his training and to sign up for his free e-course on worship ministry, go to http://www.invisibleworshipmusician.com

Article Source: http://urbanmusicstrategies.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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Your songs are only as emotional as the performers who play them. It goes without saying that you should hire the best performers your budget will allow. But if $100/hour for a professional vocalist is a little steep, here are a few ways to help encourage the best from your session players.

1.) Always praise, never criticize.

This is THE most important rule in my book. The only way any session musician could ever get comfortable at your studio is if YOU put them at ease. That’s one of your jobs as a producer.

When trying different versions of a take, tell them how you would like it to sound, instead of what they did wrong ie: “That was great, but let’s try to hit the high note a little stronger” instead of “you know, you were a little off on the high note, it didn’t sound that good”.

Always start with praise, then with a correction. Keep your vocabulary positive. The best producers make the artist feel as if they can do nothing wrong.

2) They Can Do Nothing Wrong

Remember this rule while you are writing or recording. There is no “wrong way”, there is only “a different way”. Don’t tell people that their way is wrong. Remember that music is an art, and there are no rules in art. When a performer is playing something you don’t like, correct them by saying “let’s try it this way too”. Don’t start off my saying “nope, you were wrong, do it the right way”.

3) Let Them See The Light

Ambiance, atmosphere, vibe: whatever you call it, they need it. I guarantee that you will get a much better performance if you have water on the table, comfortable chairs, maybe a few candles, a towel, mints, and candy. Have you ever tried recording in an office with harsh florescent lights and hard wood chairs?

4) Take Your Time

If you’re recording at your own studio, you have all the time in the world (which is an evil thing in my opinion). Let the artist relax, “get into the groove”, talk a little and get comfortable with the other people in the control room. A tense artist’s performance will always sound ‘artificial’ in the final song.

Don’t be worried if it takes another 10 minutes to finish the take. Each performer works at their own pace, and the best thing you can do as the producer is to respect that and adjust your pace to theirs. Unless you have a record company breathing down your neck. Then everyone has to work at THEIR pace!

5) Ask For Help

Artists love to be listened to. It’s always good to ask them for their opinion. Whether you actually listen is up to you. But once in a while, a simple question like “What do you think? Do you want to keep that take?” can do wonders for their performance. It helps keep them involved in the project and make them feel less like a “hired hand”.

Obviously, if it was the worse singing you’ve ever heard and they want to keep it, just mention that you will do “one more take as a safety”. And then, when they’re not looking, use the better take instead and auto-tune it to no end. This is a little producer’s secret, but don’t let the artists know!

6) Know The Words

Make sure that you, the engineer, the assistant engineer and everyone else in the control room has lyrics to all the songs. The best way for your studio team to find their way around the songs is with the lyric sheets. Another good idea is to USE THE WHITEBOARD! That’s why it’s there. If you don’t have one, get one. Write down the chord progressions, lyric ideas, timing marks, track listings, McDonald’s lunch orders, everything.

7) It’s MOSTLY About The Music

I’ve heard people say “it’s ALL about the music”. Well, in my books, that’s not the truth. I’d rather say “it’s mostly about the music”. Because you have to remember, it’s also about having fun, having a good time, writing and performing the best you can and above all, sharing your talent and gift with others. Try to make it less of a job, and more of a passion and you’ll find yourself doing it for the rest of your life!

Written by Richard Dolmat

Richard Dolmat is owner, engineer and producer for the Vancouver based recording studio Digital Sound Magic. Visit his site at: http://www.digitalsoundmagic.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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But if you’re a musician, you can apply. Let’s take a look at these careers that are available only to musicians

Education: Are you a musician who has also studied education? If so, there are numerous music education opportunities that may interest you:

Music Educator at a college, conservatory, university; thousands of positions to apply for in both public and private colleges.

music teacher at secondary or elementary school; thousands more all over the US and the world.

Private music instructor; there are hundreds of thousands of private piano teachers, guitar teachers, drum teachers, etc. working for themselves in private studios and/or teaching in a music store.

Music supervisor; many opportunities to oversee musical programs in both public and private venues.

Choir director; thousands of schools from elementary to college; thousands of churches who use choir directors.

Therapy: Are you a musician who has also studied psychiatry? You can practice the trade of music therapy in a wide array of settings. Some of the sources of employment for Music therapists are the following:

Schools

Universities

Nursing Homes

Mental health clinics; the author worked as an assistant music therapist one summer when he was in college; it was a great experience.

Correctional Facilities

Private practice

Business: Ever wonder what it takes to work in business management? Besides business smarts, an ability to talk the language of music will take you places the non-musican cannot go:

Artist Manager or Agent

Talent Agent

Concert Promoter

Independent Radio Promoter

Music Business Entrepreneur

Music Business Consultant

Record Company Executive

music publisher

Tour Coordinator

Performance: Actors are more highly valued if they have a musical education. Today, with so few actors multi-skilled as they were in the era of the large studios, this can be a real advantage. Below are some of the jobs for which an actor who is also a musician may “incidentally” be qualified.

performing artist

Soloist, instrumental or vocal

studio musician

Background vocalist

Theatre musician

Accompanist

Church musician

Product demonstrator for instrument manufacturer[ta

Movies / Video Games: If you study movies or video game production, a background as a musician will help you prepare for music related jobs such as the following:

Conductor

Music Composer

Music Editor

Music supervisor (to scout for music)

Arranger (to determine the mix of song elements per the conductor or producer’s specifications)

Sound designer (of effects to accompany music score)

Jingle writer / composer

From education to video games, there are careers available for those who happen to have a background in music which the rest of us never see. Each of these fields requires time and study for proficiency, but they represent a career path that is nonexistent for non-musicians.

Sure, you already knew that playing music could improve your quality of life. Now you know it can improve the quality of your career.

Article Source: http://www.learnguitarcertified.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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So, let’s talk about tuning a guitar. When it comes to guitars, it doesn’t matter whether you play an electric guitar, acoustic guitar or a classical one. The strings at the so called standard-E tuning are always tuned the same.

Some basics first. The most widely used guitar tuning is the standard-E tuning. It means that the strings produce tones E, A, D, G, B, e. If you need to remember that (to impress some girls, for instance), you can always think of a sentence: Eat All Day, Get Big Easy.

So, the thickest string (the top one) has to be tuned to the E note. How to do that? Well, the first option is to match it with the E note on the piano or another properly tuned guitar. The other option is to use a special instrument, the so called tuning fork. It produces the tone of 440 Hz, which is exactly what you need. But to really match the right tone requires quite a good ear for music and some experience. The best option almost always turns out to be a purchase of a special gadget, called electronic tuner. It has a little display that shows you which way to turn your tuning pegs while playing a single string. There is a free option as well – you can get one of the guitar tuning programs and install them on your computer, if it has a microphone. A huge majority of modern computers and especially laptops do have them.

Once your E string is tuned, the rest is pretty easy. If you have an electronic tuner of any kind, it will show you exactly how to tune all of the other strings. If you do not have one, you need to hold your E string on the fifth fret and match it with your A string. You still remember that the A string is the second thickest string, right? Once your A string is properly tuned, hold it on the fifth fret and tune the D string. And the same goes for the G string. But – life is not that easy, is it? We do have an exception. To tune your B string, you need to hold the G string on the FOURTH fret. For tuning the e string (the last one), hold the B string on the fifth fret again.

You can use a pitch pipe to tune your guitar if you wish and this takes very little effort. You simply need to blow through the relevant holes in the pitch pipe and adjust the strings of your guitar until they match up with the notes. You should start with the sixth E string and do the top E string before moving on to the others.

What could be simpler than an electronic tuner? This has a display screen which tells you whether the notes are in tune or not. You strum one string at a time, the tuner assesses the tone and lets you know whether it is correct or needs adjusting higher or lower to get it just right.

You can consider here some of the best lessons and techniques for learning guitar online guitar lessons.

Article Source: http://musical-information.blogspot.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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There are a number of different beat styles. Some common categories are east coast beats, west coast beats, club beats, and chopped and screwed beats. The type of beat can determine whether it is classified as commercial or underground although many times there is crossover.

Finding the correct types of beats like those found in successful hip hop, r&b, and pop music can enhance your performance in a very noticeable way. This is why it is imperative for you, as an artist, to have the right beats backing you up, in order to showcase your talent.

There are numerous elements to consider when deciding on a song’s beats; however, you must always keep in mind what your listening public wants to hear. Ensure that your performance stands out so that people remember more than just the beat that is stuck in their head. Always remember to chose carefully when selecting rap beats, hip hop beats, or r&b instrumentals; making sure that the beats motivate you to write a song that will stay with the listener.

A song with a hot beat can still reach the platinum level, even if it is not so great. Because the beat is compelling, the song repeats over and over in your head. Haven’t you ever wondered how a certain song went platinum in the first place?

Pay attention to the percussion instruments that provide a lot of bass; fans seem to be drawn to a deep, soul shaking beat. Whether you are working with rap, r&b, or hip hop instrumentals the beats should have similar traits that move the crowd.

The beat is the foundation for a strong, catchy, melody. It may even have a melody already incorporated into it. It ’s often common for rap and hip hop instrumental beats to have the melody built in while others give you the room so that you can either rap to it, or sing in the chorus like ‘50 Cent’ does.

It ’s important that your beats sound great whether played in a club, or on the radio. If the beat has a been mixed and mastered correct, it will make you sound as great as any big hit artist after you add your vocals to it.

As a new, and not yet established artist, you may not have all the money necessary to get the highest quality beats, but you can find professional quality beats for a reasonable amount of money on a handful of websites.

When trying to find a beat it is best to pick one that highlights your talent and does not detract from it. The beat you choose should not only be hot, but it should also go well with your talent and allow it to show through.

A good beat is important, but your talent is the key to your success. Practice your craft everyday. The perfect beats can be utilized by a person, to enhance their talent, thus allowing them to obtain this higher level of success.

With the help of quality music beats, many artists grow to amazing heights. The right music beat can improve an artists performance, seemingly overnight!

At BeatsLocker.com Every Beat is APPROVED By TOP A&R Involved In Todays Biggest Hits! Get Access to Hot Beats never available before to Indie Artists. Hundreds Of Original High Quality Beats. No “Per Track” Fees! Variety of Styles – Timberland, Swiss Beatz, Scott Storch, Dre… :

Article Source: http://www.content4reprint.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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