A Community for Up and Coming Musicians
This article is for when you get out of college and you’re ready start your career but are not sure exactly how to go about it. The first step to establishing yourself as a musician is to sell your name as an artist. You really have to promote yourself – without being overly aggressive. You …
Continue reading “Marketing Yourself | The DIY Musician III”
As a multi-instrumentalist, I have had the opportunity to perform in several musicals such as “Singing in the Rain”, “42nd Street”, “Hairspray”, “Cabaret”, “Honk”, “West Side Story”, “Sideshow”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, among others. Because I am a Woodwind Player, my emphasis will be on woodwinds; I am not really in a place to describe the …
Continue reading “Things Woodwind Players Should Know About Performing in a Musical”
The importance of jam sessions to your education as a musician can not be emphasized enough! It is vital to attend, have gone to, held one of your own, thought about going to, etc. a jam session. Sit-ins or jam sessions truly give you a taste of what working professionally as a musician entails, they …
Continue reading “Getting the Most out of Jam Sessions”
So you’re looking for a new mouthpiece and you’ve found the process to be overwhelming. The selection is enormous and you just don’t know where to start. If this sounds like you, then you are in the right place. This article is here to help you simplify and de-stress (as opposed to distress) the mouthpiece …
Continue reading “Saxophone Mouthpiece Buying Tips”
Articulation and Style When playing jazz, think of swung 8th notes as a triplet subdivision. Accent downbeats (not heavily, but enough to help with the time and feel). With difficult passages, this will help you maintain a steady pulse. Tongue with the middle of your tongue, not the very tip. Technique Always touch the pearls …
Continue reading “Saxophone Playing Tips and Practice Suggestions”
We’ve compiled a short collection of tips for the advanced saxophonist (someone with two years or more of experience). If you feel anything is missing from this article, please feel free to let us know in the comments! You can also read our tips for the beginning saxophonist here. What should you keep in your …
Continue reading ““Must Knows” for the Advanced Saxophonist”
We’ve compiled a short collection of tips for the beginning saxophonist (someone with two years or less of experience). If you feel anything is missing from this article, please feel free to let us know in the comments! You can also read our tips for the advanced saxophonist here. What should you have in your …
Continue reading ““Must Knows” for the Beginning Saxophonist”
The Different Types of Performing Musicians There are really three main types of musicians – the local musician, the touring musician and the studio musician. More than ever, musicians are choosing to do a combination of both, but we’ll try to break down the two options for you anyway. The career that you choose is …
Continue reading “Touring, Studio, and Local Musicians | Music Career Choices Part I”
We interviewed saxophonist and educator Phil Sobel a few years ago in partnership with Rheuben Allen Saxophones. Phil Sobel is a world-renowned saxophonist and educator and he has made a huge impact on a number of saxophonists all over the world. He kindly did an interview with us, answering several of our questions and as …
Continue reading “Words of Wisdom from Phil Sobel”
One of the greatest difficulties in becoming a musician is starting to find work. Most kids that graduate from college do not yet have steady work in music, and many are not even sure about how to approach beginning their career. The music world is enormous, and when you are fresh out of college, it …
Continue reading “Finding Work as a Musician | Starting Your Career Part I”
