Now that we have the basic room and have found it to be sound (pun intended), we will need to fill it with equipment. If you were expecting a long list of the ultimate recording equipment in both hardware/software, let me remind you that I am a retired professor of music and not a wealthier member of society. This studio was done on a budget and for those of you who are in the same financial situation; you may be surprised at what can be done with limited funds. Recording equipment- Analog- Yes, there are people still using tape for…

If you hear of one, please let me know. Until then, let me show you the best I have ever designed and built. To construct the best of all worlds in these areas is imposable for each requires its own elements. The best recording studio may not have the correct attributes needed for the best rehearsal hall. The very best practice area may not work well as a recording studio but I have been very pleased with the room I call home for most of my work. Some of the strengths were planned and some were accidents. Let me share…

So You Want A Career in Music? Part 1 So do tens-of-thousands of other people. Wanting something does not necessarily make it happen. Even with all the “If you want it badly enough, it will happen” believers propagating all their wonderful and deceptive rantings. In order to focus on a career in music, we must first limit and identify our particular area of interest in order to understand what is necessary to accomplish our goal. What are a few areas a musician can be a part of? 1. Performer Becoming a musician is a lot of hard work and few…

What to Expect from Your Teacher When you visit your local physician with an ailment, you expect to leave with a solution to your problem. If you visit your dentist with a tooth ache, you expect to leave his/her office with relief, but too often trumpet students leave a trumpet studio with the idea that they (the student) has been granted a great privilege to be in the company of this almighty guru. Too many students worship their instructor and in a few cases it is justified for helpful teachers are to be revered. When you study an instrument, you…

The first part of this post dealt with issues related to terms and your direction in your musical career. This post will focus on an area that I know well and that would be the study of an instrument (in my case the trumpet). No matter what your area of performance, trumpet, sax. piano, bagpipes or voice, the following information will apply to you. What to Look for in a Teacher The selection of your applied teacher is more important than the selection of a school. This may sound odd but when you consider that you will have more personal…

Many are currently considering a career in music and wondering which school would be best to attend. This is a very important decision and choosing the best school to attend will affect your life in many ways. After more than fifty years teaching and attending colleges and universities around the country, I feel well qualified to post my opinions on this topic. I have attended great schools and bad. I have taught at great schools and less than great schools and I will share whatever knowledge I have in hopes that this information will be helpful in making your decision.…