Anyone that thinks being a great lead singer is easy does not understand the skill. Sure, anyone can stand up in front of a band and pose as a lead singer and vocalize in some manner, but that is not what makes them great. Mastering the skill takes developing charisma, timing, having a solid understanding of the material being presented, delivery of the material, and a voice that fits the genre. We have all seen lead singers we have loved and hated. It’s a rough business. How many of us have looked at and listened to a band and evaluated the singer to a higher standard? I think we all have; it is instinctive. Why? Many people, especially non-musician types, do not recognize vocals as a real instrument, like drums, guitars or keyboards. Being the lead vocalist is perhaps the hardest instrument to master! A band can have all great musicians, but if the singer sucks, the overall opinion of the band suffers. There have been lots of bands who have made it in the music industry without the luxury of a serious or strong lead vocalist. Some last only a short time or have lineup changes. Other bands adapt the music around the singer’s voice and make it work. The first indicator or a lead singer’s quality is how his or her look fits with the band. For example, if you are watching a heavy metal band and the singer is dressed like he is in a surf music band- with a Hawaiian shirt, shorts and flip flops- viewers might wonder what is going on. That personal presentation is distracting because it does not fit the genre. It doesn’t matter how good the singer is, he or she is a fish out of water. A singer has to look the part depending on the music being played. Next, it is important that the lead vocalist can really sing and/or is singing on key. Granted, different genres have different ways of “singing” the lyrics. I get that, but the important part is how he or she will manage that vocal ability throughout the show. Is he or she going to lose power with their voice or lose it entirely? Singing death metal and pop music are two completely different styles and presenting the vocals is very different. Some would argue that yelling vocals and screaming are not singing, but is is expression nonetheless. Some singing is just more melodic than other styles. I grade hard on what the lead vocalist is doing with themselves while performing or while the band is playing and they are anticipating the next line. Is the posture good and appropriate for the tune being performed? Certainly you would not want to see a vocalist presenting an aggressive posture while doing a soft ballad! Turning your back on the crowd is a big no-no in my book. Back away and go get your sip of water, tambourine or whatever you need to do. How much does the singer interact and look at the crowd; not just the people up front, but the sides, the middle and the back of the venue? Using the entire venue is critical. Being a lead singer is definitely not easy. It is very much a skill. Mastering that skill takes a lot of hard work and dedication. It is okay for a singer to fail a bunch of times before he or she finds the right fit and can consistently perform the craft. In many ways becoming a professional lead singer is a survival of the fittest activity. The music industry, especially for a lead vocalist is a rough business. The strong will survive unless he or she has self sabotaging behaviors. That’s a topic for another blog. Happy singing! How to Be a Great Lead Singer is a guest post by Mike Murphy. Mike has been writing songs for 35 years.

In this day and age, we are constantly inundated with new music from a multitude of channels—Spotify’s Discover Weekly Playlists, Youtube recommended videos, and releases pouring onto every streaming service you can think of. And say what you will about the quality and style preferences heard in some of today’s hottest tracks, it is truly an exciting time for the music industry. However, all of this new music can be overwhelming at times. If you are an avid music lover, you want to know how to block out the fluff and find really great up-and-coming artists… but this is easier said than done. It takes a lot of time and effort to stay current in today’s music industry, but with these tips, you’ll have  no trouble finding the next great artist. Check Out Your Local Open Mics. No matter where you are currently living, chances are there is a bar or restaurant somewhere in the vicinity that hosts an open mic night. Open mic nights are a great way to get the community involved, draw a crowd, and ultimately provide free entertainment for the establishment. Next time you see a sign for a local open mic night, make a note to check it out one night. You might be surprised by the kind of up-and-coming talent that is just starting to get out there! View Trending Tracks on SoundCloud. SoundCloud is a wonderful place to go to find up and coming music. The platform tends to lean towards independent and DIY artists, so you can be sure that all of the likes and shares are authentic. No matter what kind of music you are into, you’re likely to find some really great artists on SoundCloud. If you’re in the mood for something new, check out the top songs and most shared tracks on SoundCloud. Many of the top tracks on SoundCloud are also featured on the most popular music blogs and publications as well. Head To Shows Early To Catch The Opening Acts. Live shows are often fairly long endeavors, and can go pretty late into the night. While it might seem like overkill, it’s important to plan ahead so that you have enough stamina to last the entire night. This is because some of the best new artists are on tour opening for the bands that you already know and love. If you have any upcoming concerts planned, trying going on the earlier side to catch some of the opening acts, as this is a great way to find the newest talent. These are bands and artists hand-picked by the headliners, so you can be sure that they legitimate. Staying on top of the latest music industry trends is exciting and fun for anyone with a passion for music, but the platforms and methods for finding new talent are always changing. It can be very time consuming to weed through the noise to find the really good stuff, but this blog offers some easy solutions to get you started. Next time you’re on the hunt for a hot new band, try out one of these tips and let us know if they lead you to any artists that you plan to follow for years to come! Where To Find The Best Up And Coming Bands is a guest post by Freddy Tenny. Freddy Tenny is an audio engineer and avid music lover.

Not everyone is lucky enough to go to high school with their musically-inclined buddies or meet compatible musicians while attending college. Sometimes, a musician must actively recruit members for a band. Luckily, it doesn’t matter if you form a band organically or through planned machinations. What matters is finding like-minded musicians and getting the most out of your experience. There are probably as many ways to form a band as there are bands. Regardless of how you put your group together, there are some dos and don’ts that you might want to consider. Below are seven tips for artists looking to form a band. Do Be Professional. Being a musician conjures up images of licentious groupies and wild partying.  In reality, it’s a lot of hard work. Being in a band is like starting a business with one or more partners. That means you’ll need to show up on time, be prepared, and stay sober—that includes the formation process. You can be wild and crazy on stage, but before and after, you should act like a professional. Do Know What You Want. Before starting a band make sure you know what kind of music you want to play and what type of career you’re hoping to achieve. This will help you find like-minded musicians. When discussing your project with others, be clear and honest about goals and expectations. You’re going to encounter plenty of personal issues while in a band. Don’t let simple misunderstandings be one of them. Do Consider More Than Just Talent. You’re going to spend a lot time with your bandmates. Do you really want to hang out with a bunch of jerks? Sure, you want musicians with talent, but don’t let that be your only deciding factor. Before joining forces with another musician, get to know them a little to see if you’ll enjoy their company. You’ll still have conflicts, but it will make being in a band much more enjoyable. Do Get a Dedicated Email Address. Perhaps you’re going to find musicians on the internet. Perhaps you’re going to find them at jam sessions, local music gigs, or record stores. Whatever method you choose, consider getting a dedicated email address that you can give to potential bandmates. This prevents someone of dubious character from having your personal email address. Don’t Be in a Hurry. You’re probably very excited to form a band, but be patient. Don’t necessarily pick the first musicians that come along. It may take weeks or months to find like-minded musicians you’re comfortable with, but when you do, the wait will have been worth it. Don’t Poach Musicians from Other Bands. Some music industry insiders recommend poaching musicians.  You attend a gig, find a musician you like, and steal him or her away from their current group.  The problem with poaching is the musician you steal is likely to be stolen from you. If they’re not loyal to their old band, why will they be loyal to their new band? A better route is to occasionally check in with the musician to see if they’re still in a band or let them know that you’d like to work with them in the future. If the fates are kind, you’ll be jamming in no time and without burning a single bridge. Don’t Stop Practicing. Throughout the process of forming a band, don’t neglect your chops. It will be easier to recruit like-minded musicians if you’re constantly improving your skills and challenging your musical abilities. It will also show potential members that you’re serious about music and forming a band. Bert Gordon is a writer living in Vancouver, Washington. He has been writing about music and the music industry for nearly a decade.    

How to Promote Your Music – It’s really frustrating, right? You are a songwriter and you write really good songs. People such as your friends and family have listened to your songs, and they tell you that you have the talent for writing awesome melodies and lyrics! However, the problem is that you have not been able to get clients to hire you to write songs for them. This is leaving you frustrated, and results in many sleepless nights. The truth is that if you do not know how to promote your music and let people know about the services you offer, then no one will hire you – it’s that simple. In this article, you will learn some easy ways on how to promote your music and get clients as a songwriter. 1. You need to niche down and dominate it in order to get clients as a songwriter. Before we get started on the tips to market yourself, there is something very important you need to know about. That is you need to pick a niche and then dominate it. You can do this by picking one genre of music and mastering it. You do not want to be known as that “music songwriter,” instead you want to be known as that “jazz” or “country” or “rock music songwriter.” By picking a niche and dominating it, you become the go-to guy when clients need lyrics in that genre of music. This gives you an edge and helps you stand out amidst the many songwriters out there struggling to get by, and this edge will lead to more clients. 2. You need to go digital to get clients as a songwriter. Thanks to technology and the internet, you can reach millions of people everyday. Most businesses nowadays a website and a company email, so you need to take advantage of these opportunities as a songwriter too. One way to connect with potential clients is by starting a blog and providing value for your fans and audience. The keyword here is “value;” you want to provide so much value for prospective clients that they see you as an expert and the go-to guy when they need your services. Also by having a website and a blog, you can upload samples of your writings and lyrics that people can download and review. One final tip in this section is to collect email addresses on your website, and stay in touch with them so they become familiar with you and your brand. By building your fan base online, you will have an army that will spread the word about you to their friends and increase your reach. 3. You need to embrace social media to get clients as a songwriter. Social media is probably the hottest thing right now. If you are looking for the fastest way to spread your name and become known then you need to jump on the social media bandwagon. By having social media profiles on the major platforms (Facebook, X, and Instagram), you can easily be heard by a lot of people. Recently, Facebook announced that they have about 1 billion active users on their platform. That’s really huge, and you do not need that amount of people to become successful. All you need is a way to reach some of those people, preferably within your local community, to build up your fan base. By posting your lyrics and songs you have completed online, you get to have people connecting with you and your brand. Maintaining a social media presence is one of the most effective strategies to get yourself known and attract paying clients to your business. 4. Get out there and network to get clients as a songwriter. This is one idea that a lot of people find very difficult. Most people would prefer to sit in their house and do all interactions by email or phone. But unfortunately, this does not work very well. As a songwriter trying to get clients, you need to be ready to meet people and do a lot of networking. You don’t even need to travel outside of your locality! Start small by meeting people around your community. An important mantra in the songwriting business is “it’s all about who you know.” While this might sound like a cliché, it is absolutely true. You need to keep your ear to the ground and network with people in the same industry as you. Something to be careful about in networking is that you want to avoid coming across as a needy or offensive. Think about what you can offer to the other person even before you pitch your services. This way the relationship is more of a win-win situation than a needy one. 5. Pick someone and develop them to get clients as a songwriter. This point is all about working with an up-and-coming artist by providing lyrics for them. The advantage of this is that you get to flex your creative writing skills while using the artist as a stage to project your lyrics. The truth is that when starting out, you are going to find it a little difficult to get noticed by the “big boys” in your industry. The best way to get on their radar is to have a performer who is constantly singing your lyrics. This way, you are not just pitching written lyrics, you are showing them a complete product that includes melody and instrumentals. This helps you become recognized as an expert and someone that they actually want to work with. Promoting yourself is crucial to your success and will help you get clients as a songwriter. It is probably more important than stage performance or understanding song theory. The truth is that if nobody knows you, then nobody hires you. How to promote your music and get clients as a songwriter is a guest post by Uche Ibe. Uche Ibe is a passionate singer and blogger as www.welovesinging.com. He enjoys teaching people how to sing and helping them become better singers. You can connect with him by visiting his blog or sending him an email.

It’s true that nowadays most of the schools provide music education to students as a part of their curriculum. However, even after being a crucial part of education most of the students lose interest in music after a point of time. They stop playing their instruments a couple of years after completing their education, which is really unfortunate. And in some cases, students start distancing themselves from their musical instruments when they are still in school. When you are still being taught by a music teacher the student has to have that inquisitiveness to learn new things about their instruments each day, but unfortunately that does not always happen in today’s society. Students must have a strong determination to understand the technicalities of playing different types of musical instruments, but when they start to losing focus they fail to make a mark or achieve success in this area. Music helps in growing your numerous skills, so you should not try to detach from it. In other words, you should try to take music seriously if you want to bring that discipline in your life and enhance your cognitive, and social skills. Here are 8 Reasons Why Students are Losing Interest in Musical Instruments. #1. Incompetent Music Teacher. If the teacher accountable for igniting that spark in you is incompetent, then you surely start losing your interest in learning music. Teaching is an art, and your music teacher has to be really good at it, otherwise he/she will never be able to transform his/her students into good musicians. It’s a job that requires sheer skills when it comes to getting closer to the students and sparking their interest in music. And if those skills are missing in your teacher, you can hardly become an enthusiastic musician. Your teacher has to be really inspiring who can motivate you to take new challenges and become successful in conquering them. #2. Parents’ Failure To Support The Child. Some parents are least bothered about enabling a proper music education to their children, because of which their kids start losing interest in learning musical instruments. Sometimes parents fail to understand the importance of music for their children and hence, they never motivate them to focus on deep learning in this area. And because of that, even kids start ignoring the significance of music, which is really heartbreaking. Parents are always very insecure about the career of their kids, so they want them to focus on their main subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and history etc., which is actually the biggest mistake. That means, rather than forcing their children to focus on only aforementioned subjects they should also try to motivate them to learn music, dance, and sports, which can play a great role in enhancing their personality and making them multitalented. #3. Failing To Practice Music Regularly. Music students must try to practice their instruments on a regular basis, otherwise, they won’t be able to enhance their musical skills, which will eventually kill their interest. That means, in order to keep their interest alive, it’s important for you to stay connected to your instruments. Whether you play guitar, piano, drums, brass, or percussion you should keep on practicing them regularly. #4. Unable To Find A Good Music Academy. Sometimes students lose interest in musical instruments because a student is really interested in learning different types of musical instruments but he/she fails to get a good music academy for that. In that case, even though you have enough passion for music, it starts waning away slowly and gradually in the absence of a reputable music academy. It’s very important that enthusiastic music students can get access to music academies which offers extraordinary workshops that can allow students to polish their music skills. Different music genres can help in study, so it’s important that children try to learn them. #5. Children Fail To Identify How To Improve Themselves. Since children do not know much about how to improve their skills, they usually stuck in initial stages itself. If you really want to learn something it’s important that you face new challenges and deal with them effectively. However, when you cannot identify a right way to proceed with your music studies, you surely cannot improve which eventually eliminates your interest in it. Therefore, having a right road map is tremendously important for music students. #6. Over Confidence Is Also Very Dangerous. Sometimes students are losing interest in musical instruments because they are over confident which makes them really arrogant and they think that they know everything and hence stop practicing with their instruments. Having confidence in yourself is really important for your growth, but over confidence is really harmful. You cannot expect to enhance your capabilities and skills if you have overconfidence in yourself. #7. Students are Losing Interest in Musical Instruments During Holidays. During holidays students are occupied with a variety of other activities due to which they do not find sufficient time to practice their instruments. As they stop studying during summer holidays, similarly they also stop thinking about music which is not really good for them. #8. Students Should Opt For Music Workshops During Summer Holidays. Parents should ensure that their kids attend a couple of summer music workshops during the holidays so that they can learn something unique from them. In this way, they can also meet new people and interact with them. And their no denying the fact that when you communicate with new people you definitely learn a lot of new things which brings a unique charm in your personality. The above description clearly indicates that due to the lack of motivation and students’ inability to find good music teacher they start losing their interest in learning their music instruments. Hence parents should keep on encouraging their kids to learn something new regarding music on a daily basis. 8 Reasons Why Students are Losing Interest in Musical Instruments is a guest post written by David Milsont.