Spotify and Music As We Know It

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So, you may not have heard of them….but a long time ago music listeners used to pay for their music by

purchasing magical little devices called CDs. Now, I’m not saying we need to base modern life off

prehistoric tendencies, BUT suspend your disbelief enough to imagine a world where music hypothetically has more value than $0.006. $0.006. As in: you can’t even shop at McDonalds for 100 times the deemed value of modern music.. thanks, streaming!

History:

This whole evolutionary change (you know, the one where we demoted the value of art) can arguably be tied back to the October 7th of 2008 in Stockholm Sweden. On this fateful day was born Spotify, a digital audio streaming device, developed and released by partners Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. Contrary to popular opinion, Spotify’s foreign roots and sleek color scheme were not its sole motivators for success; rather, this was a result of excessive planning and a brilliant business model. Come summer of 2009 (less than a year following its official release) Spotify raised $50M in their second round of funding which was essential in the paying off of major record labels.

Reaction:

Not surprisingly, Spotify faced mixed reactions upon its release to the public. Its initial business plan massively underpaid artists and exercised the objectively suspicious need to pay off record labels who otherwise were unwilling to hand over their precious songs to be distributed to the public for practically nothing.

Artists were the first to catch on to the consumer-heavy focus of Spotify’s business model: essentially underpaying musicians only to cut the literal value of music by 99.4% (which was revealed when Spotify later released a statement illustrating the payout per new streamer to be less than a cent).

Underpaying artists may be in the best interest of consumers (and happy consumers means a happy Spotify bank-account) however, is discounted music really worth the scamming of artists and overall wear and tear streaming has on the entire music industry? Many don’t think so.

Artists and producers such as Thom Yorke, Taylor Swift, Nigel Godrich, and David Byrne spoke out against Spotify not only as business men and women fighting for economic equality, but also as concerned lovers of the art itself with fear for streaming’s influence on its future.

“If Spotify reaches its goal of gaining a definitive hold on the new delivery system then another precedent will be set and the idea that recorded music is practically worthless will become normal.” – Nigel Godrich

Influence:

As it was so beautifully stated by Mr. Godrich (likely in a British accent), Spotify and streaming as a whole will continue to demote the worth of music so long as

the literal marketed value of a song continues to drop so drastically.

As profit brought in by music alone declines, labels must find other means of making money off of artists and the easiest way to do this is by “branding” a musician. AKA owning the artists’ names not merely their music; naturally leading to creative restrictions from labels.

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At the end of the day, music is music. It evolved into what it was 10 years ago and it continues to reshape into what it is today just as it will tomorrow and forever. There’s no way to stop a changing industry from growing but there is a way to help it. To aid it rather from becoming something you don’t want it to be. At the end of the day- you, the fan- have the most influence of all. What you choose to buy sells and what you don’t will likely conform into something you will. So make the change you want to hear, music as we know it is ours to protect.

 

[avatar user=”joseydunbar” size=”medium” align=”left” link=”http://www.youbloom.com/spotify-music-know/” /]

Josey is a content writer for youbloom as well as a member of the marketing team. She is music obsessed and a diehard Tom Petty fan. Josey currently lives outside of Los Angeles where she enjoys excessively sunny days, train adventures and organic chai (yes, Josey is high-maintenance about her chai).

youbloom’s Top 10 of 2017

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In 2017, independent artists from across the globe came together in Dublin and Los Angeles for a weekend of master classes, collaboration, and performance. Youbloom artists have been hard at work pumping out fresh sounds all year long. To wrap up this 2017 we thought we’d share some of our favorites. Tune in everyday for a new featured artist.

10. Shivan

Music Box is one of three singles released by the solo artist Shivan in the last year and it was a tough choice picking which one to feature. In Music Box, Shivan meshes silky smooth vocal harmonies with sparse synth tones of bells and plucked strings culminating in an airy atmosphere. This spacious intro gives way to a head-bobbing interlude powered forward by Shivan’s hocketing voice put through a vocoder. Shivan’s sound in general is clean, at times funny (take a listen to Manta Ray), and never lacking in innovative catchiness. You can check out more of his music on Spotify and SoundCloud.

9. We Bless This Mess

In their new single, Ocean, We Bless This Mess brings their soulful, raw fervor to a new level as Nelson Graf Reis leaves off the bass and drums to create a more stripped-back level of intimacy. The track starts with the sound of waves, barely audible and gently lapping. The waves quickly give way to Graf Reis’ soulful solo voice waxing sweetly against the brittle strumming of his guitar. Occasionally his own voice is subtly layered by vocal harmonies while at other times, it all falls away completely and were are left alone with Graf Reis’ beautiful, wailing words reminding us: “Step by step, you breathe the same air as eye.”  If you want to see the music video that accompanies Ocean you can find it here on youtube. And to see what else We Bless This Mess has cooked up, find them on Spotify or follow them on Twitter to see when they’re playing near you.

 

8. The Magnettes

https://youtu.be/iqK2B6UPR4o
Ugly Youth, the newest album by the Suisse duo The Magnettes, is full of catchy songs that quickly hook listeners. The captivating and distinct sound of the Magnettes is fun and similar to that of Madonna. Their June release can be found on sites such as Soundcloud, and iTunes. Killers in a Ghost Town, the leading song on the album incorporates a wide variety of instruments in coherence with a more modern techno style.

7. OSIYM

OSIYM has been making a lot of noise this 2017, dropping 3 new singles and with music videos to match. Youbloom is excited to name one of these singles, the party anthem FLEX, as #8 on our countdown of 2017 releases. With its infectious beat and slick bravado, FLEX is a hot addition to your party playlist. The rap duo Nova and Charlie Black have become synonymous with the boom bap and trap scene in their hometown of Toronto and thanks to their witty word-smithing and on-stage charisma, OSIYM’s music has spread the continent. While there’s a lot of exceptional talent spilling out of Toronto right now, OSIYM is in no danger of being drowned out. Take a listen on Spotify or Soundcloud, and see what we mean.

6. Royal Prospect

Royal Prospect started 2017 off strong with the March release of Hearts. Hearts beautifully displays the group’s lyrical ability as well as the amazing vocal capacity of lead singer Oscar Reingsdahl. The song begins with a slow taste of the chord progression that later speeds and evolves as the mood of the song changes. The overall lyrical message is both relatable as well as captivating to the listener. Hearts can be found on iTunes and Soundcloud and check out their music video on Youtube. The group followed up Hearts with the September release of I Feel Alright. Unlike Hearts, which is a very vocally heavy song, I Feel Alright places great emphasis on the instrumental abilities of Gustav Reingsdahl (Guitar), Hannes Tingfors (Bass) Oscar Reingsdahl (Guitar) and Hannes Pennsäter (Drums). See what you’re missing and check out Royal Prospect! 

5. Hannah

In her new EP, Blossom, Hannah swishes together a cocktail of jazzy piano accompaniment, chill-step hip-hop beats, and her soulful voice to create a mesmerizing piece of poetry. Originally from Chicago, and now making noise in Los Angeles, Hannah’s sound is unique and colored by the iconic cities she’s lived in. Blossom, on the surface, is a mellow set of Rap and R&B charts to chill out to. Listen a little closer, and it’s a story of Hannah’s life, her experiences, and finding her identity in a world off-kilter. Take a listen to Blossom on SoundCloud or Bandcamp.

4. Ivy Nations

Ivy Nations has undoubtedly had a successful 2017 with the release of two new singles and accompanying music videos. In early April, the group released the soothing track Live By Design. The steady and notable rhythm of this single immediately pulls in the listener as it sets the tone for the song’s entirely. The music video, which can be found on Youtube, beautifully captures the mood of this unique and unforgettable song. Check it out on Soundcloud and iTunes. Following Live By Design, Ivy Nations released the single Sentimental Hearts. This song has a happy and upbeat tone portrayed by the swift major chord progressions and catchy lyrics. You can catch Sentimental Hearts on Soundcloud and iTunes. Also, don’t forget to check out the new music video on Youtube!

 

3. The Fontaines

Choosing to feature The Fontaines on our Top 10 was easy. Deciding what to feature was the hard part. With 5 singles and 2 EPs out this year, the LA-based band has been pumping out breezy indie-pop ballads and New-Wave rock charts like you wouldn’t believe. In the end, we settled on Evaporate. We know what you’re thinking! Choosing the single that garnered the group 100,000 streams on Spotify and hundreds of new fans isn’t exactly bold but if you go ahead and press play, you’ll see why we just can’t stop listening. Comprised of funky guitar riffs, retro synths, and eerily sweet vocals, Evaporate gives off an air of old-school cool that’s hard to come by. You can hear more of what The Fontaines have been cooking up on Bandcamp or SoundCloud but of course nothing beats a live show and you’re in luck, they’re playing at the Troubador in West Hollywood on January 11th.

2. Cider Wasps

Cider Wasps’ 2017 featured the release of their EP Ethereal. This album was a compilation of five tracks, some of which had been previously made into music videos in 2016 such as their hit Hummingbird. Thirty seconds into this song and you’ll be dancing along. Hummingbird displays Cider Wasps’ ability to simultaneously rock-out while maintaining steady control over their sound and producing quality music that’s as catchy as it is artful. The band’s unique style is also portrayed through the vocal layering in Magic Beans. Check out Magic Beans, Hummingbird and the rest of the EP as well as upcoming tour dates on Cider Wasps’ Website.

To anyone who loves early 2000s rock, your year is about to get a whole lot better: check out Cider Wasps on iTunes, and Soundcloud!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7SPSBRhcFA

 

1. Faulkner

The bi-coastal band Faulkner is back with their sanguine new single, Hot Streak. In style with the bouncy alt-rock ballads and sleek production present in their previous EP, Revanchist, Hot Streak manages to hook and groove, while still delivering in substance. Between lead singer Lucas Asher’s visceral imagery sung in punchy verse, and the soaring synths that sound unmistakably of The Killers, Hot Streak has a flavor you won’t want to put down. It’s no surprise since the group collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and worked with producers like JP Bowersock (The Strokes) and Mark Needham (The Killers). Bash into the new year with this New Wave cut on Spotify and see why it was youbloom’s #1 in our Countdown to the New Year! Faulkner will be gracing the Peppermint Club in LA on February 8th, 2018.

Interview with Osairis Front-Man, Aundra Island

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0269ea547ebb68819d8097514945bcc5“I didn’t know at the time that you could be of a darker shade and have dreadlocks and play speed metal.”

Recently, youbloom was fortunate enough to nab a little airtime with the Progressive-Rap, Rock-Fusion trio Osairis. An eclectic description indeed but one that’s only fitting for a band who’s sound has been likened to that of Cream and Hendrix as well as Rage Against the Machine and Living Colour. Osairis’ drummer and front-runner, Aundra Island works in tandem with guitarist, Casey Loudon and Berklee Bassist Gaku Murata to commandeer the stage with punchy, political verses book-ended by sweeping, Hendrix-esque guitar solos. Today, I picked the brain of the man behind the beats, Aundra Island.

Robert: Osairis is a collaborative group right? You’ve had different members in and out throughout the years? When and How did Osairis in it’s current form come together?

Aundra: Well, how we got together was we had an offer to open up for Angela Moore from Fishbone. And the name of Angelo Moore’s (Lead singer of Fishbone) side-band is Dr. Madd Vibe so he said he’d make an offer where if I could get a band together I’d be able to open up for them. For years I had been associated with the Black Rock Coalition but it had been through the West Coast Division I knew Angle Moore and it was actually his hairstylist who put me in contact with him.

Robert:  So Casey, Gaku, and yourself play this gig for Dr. Madd Vibes. At what point did it click for you guys and you realized that you could work together as a group for more than just this one gig?

Aundra: You know there were other guys that kept playing with the group too but as far as the 3 of us clicking, it just took 2 -3 gigs for us to mesh. It’s funny because we all come from a similar background. Gaku graduated from Berklee and Casey graduated from Musicians Institute and I had attended Cal Arts. I got to a point where I had played jazz all my life and I wanted to move away from that. Being in a rock ‘n’ roll context with jazz chops that’s pretty much what I wanted to do and we all came from that similar background.

Robert: What artists have influenced Osairis’ sound?

Aundra: Ultimately Hendrix was my inspiration. I looked to Hendrix as a demi-god. But we also had bands like Rage Against the Machine, Sound Barrier, 24-7 Spyz, Urban Dance Squad, Faith No More, and Van Halen. But ultimately Hendrix and Living Colour.

Robert:  Did Living Colour help bridge that gap between Jazz and Rock for you?

Aundra: My first Rock ‘n’ Roll concert was Living Colour and ever since than I was pretty fascinated with Living Colour because I come from a jazz background and within my jazz background I studied Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, and Count Basie. So I saw Living Colour at the Key club in LA and I was probably only 14 at the time. I didn’t know at the time that you could be of a darker shade and have dreadlocks and play speed metal.

Robert: Yeah, that’s definitely a niche-market huh?

Aundra: Yes. Very

Robert: I noticed with your live performances it stays with the rock vibe but then you guys have these improvised solos for 16 bars and I think that’s where I heard the jazz influence come through.

IMG_20171214_215542_081

Aundra: Yes because we like to utilize being a power trio. You know a lot of guys now a days use that term but when I think of actual power trios – Rush, Cream, Primus – We’re like them, we’re gonna make sure all of our chops come out and make sure we can bounce off each other with ideas whether it’s in the studio or live. 

Robert : Osairis’ sound has been labeled as Progressive Rap before. How would you define Osairis’ sound?

Aundra: You know it’s funny, The guitar player, Casey Loudon, his dad came to one of our concerts one time, it was at this festival called Punk Black out of Atlanta, they do kinda this black rock thing. It’s funny cause he said we sounded like progressive rap and I don’t really look at us as that. I look at us as more fusion; a mix of Jazz, rock, and hip-hop.

Robert: Do you write all the lyrics for Osairis’ original tracks?

Aundra: Yes and lot of people will actually confuse our originals with covers because I always try to make sure that when we write original material it doesn’t just appeal to us in the band, it appeals to everybody.

Robert: And what could you tell us about your album, Electric Purgatory?

Aundra: It’s funny because some people have said I’ve gotten the idea from the Black Rock Coalition’s film but it was actually based off of a nightmare I had of being in the music business for a while. I saw all these angels and it wasn’t like an acid trip but that’s where the title came from. So the album is pretty much a few originals and covers. I call Electric Purgatory my Chinese Democracy because I just stayed in the studio and kept recording, recording, recording and I knew at some point I was just gonna have to finish it. That album probably took me about 3 years to make.

Robert: Wow! That’s a long time for one album!

Aundra: See it’s funny how nowadays you can make an album in 15 minutes but you see for me it’s all about making the album of quality.

Robert: And what about your other albums?

Aundra: The second album, Road Warrior, is all originals except for one but we do sample from bands like the Who and Jay Z. The Third album is a live recording of the night we opened for Angelo Moore of Fishbone. 

Robert: What’s the best show you’ve ever played? Why?

Aundra: We opened up for Winger at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go.  That place is like our second home. Not only are those guys solid but they believe in independent artists. Chain reaction too, back when we were just starting up we contacted them and they were kind enough to get us going.

Robert: And what is it do you believe that these types of venues do to help independent artists?

Aundra: Well you both get to piggy back off of each other. The venue let’s you come in and play and you’re able to promote yourself at the venue you’re playing. We’ve also had a lot of help from other bands like Awukii, they’re kinda like the Bad Brains out here. We’ve had help from this band out of Atlanta called the Tulips with this guitar player named Gabby Logan. The Howling Stars out of Atlanta and from Sound Barrier who we opened up for. We’re all able to bounce off of each other.

Robert: It’s good to just to be able to have that network to rely on.

Aundra: Yes.

It’s kind of like if Hendrix played rap metal…

Robert: Has Osairis been on tour before?

Aundra: We stay in LA for the most part. The hard part is seeing if you can find a huge profit on that. We wanted to play in Ireland with youbloom and then they asked us to play LA instead but that would have been fun.

Robert: Hey we’re gearing up for the youbloomDublin festival in May again and we’re wanting to get more of our LA sound over their this year. Youbloom is trying to do just what you were talking about where we connect bands and strengthen that network. For bands coming to a new city it can make a world of difference just knowing some of the local talent, and not feeling like complete strangers when coming into the city.

Aundra: Hey we’d love to be able to fly over their and play in Dublin.

Robert: Does Osairis currently have something in the works? A new album or some sort of project?

Aundra: Yes, We’re in the phase of producing the album MEDIA: Multi-Ethnic Destruction In America. This album is going to be dark and heavy. It’s going to be a combination of commercial, political, and lyrical content. Like the first 2 albums combined but it’s gonna have a really cool and interesting appeal to it.

Robert: And what inspired this album for you?

Aundra: To be honest there’s not enough content out. It seems like every time I listen to the radio these days, everything on there is just bubble-gum and it’s like there’s a real world out there. You know, don’t just force feed the audience what you want them to hear. Sometimes there isn’t any light at the end of the tunnel and you just have to deal with it, not everything is just peachy keen.

What MEDIA was inspired by was Public Enemy. I didn’t want to go the route I had gone with the other two albums. The other stuff is rock but this is a more heavy rock. It’s kind of like if Hendrix played rap metal but it’s not gonna be so experimental, a lot more straight and in your face.

Robert: Can we expect a little bit more collaboration on this album?

Aundra: Ya we’re having different artists come in. From Sound Barrier we’ve got Spacey T, Ronny Drayton from 24-7 Spyz, Robert Brown of White Chapel, and Daniel Lape as one of our guitarists. Just playing around with it. I’m trying to see what the heaviest sound is I can run with and blue print it.

Robert: And what’s that process look like as you bring different musicians in to the studio?

Aundra: They’ll just come in and I’ll show them this idea I have or show them what I want or what I’ve already recorded. I always say this band is kind of like Deep Purple where we’ve had just about everyone in this band.

This is why I want MEDIA to be perfect from start to finish but I’ve only been working on it for a minute. Each album that I do I try to treat it like it’s my first album. Then I make sure that there is always gonna be some sort of change. One thing I’ve learned from Miles Davis is that you can keep the same style as long as you adapt to whats going on around you. That and keep a brighter way of thinking and you’ll be okay. If you listen to Davis from 1955 – 69, from Kind of Blue to Witches Brew, it’s all the same thing, he just stretched out the arrangements but he always stuck to the same style, the same thing.

Robert: So MEDIA is in the works and it sounds like it’s coming along nicely. Don’t let the rest of us rush you along, it sounds like a really cool work in progress. I know the fans and I will be excited and waiting for that release date.

What advice would you have for other independent artists who are trying to make it in the industry?

You can keep the same style as long as you adapt to whats going on around you.

Aundra:  My obvious advice would be learn various styles of music. Study the greats who have come before you and after you. Learn to read charts. Have a good attitude but also be able to stand your ground because things aren’t always gonna be smooth as butter. Don’t let anyone doubt you because some people have doubted me but it’s those challenges that have made me who I am today.

To hear more from Aundra and Osairis check them out on SoundCloud or Youtube. Friend them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter to stay up to date on that album release: MEDIA. The band plays in Los Angeles regularly so when you’re in town be sure to check them out!

 

 

Robert Loustaunau is a content writer for youbloom and is a member of the social media team there. He is an avid music maker and listener. He enjoys the simple things in life: coffee, a good book, and quality time with his lovely girlfriend.

11 Things You (Probably) Aren’t Doing That’ll Improve Your Band’s Rehearsal

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So you’ve got a band. You’ve got a following. Heck, you’ve even got goals! But recently, you’ve hit a plateau…your shows are just okay. Maybe you need better sleep, or better equipment, or maybe you just need to get…better.

It’s time to unite this raw artistic fervor into a little something called rehearsal.

Conducting an efficient rehearsal is paramount in improving your band’s sound. To help with this, we’ve outlined a few methods to make your sessions run like butter.

1. Scheduling

Step 1: Make a rehearsal schedule.
Step 2: (And this is the hard part) Stick to it.

Going into a rehearsal with a plan is often the difference between rich, productive studio time and a jam session with the crew.

2. Build a List of the Songs You Want to Work

The more familiar your band is with the material to be rehearsed, the more songs you can expect to get through. Allot a certain amount of time you plan to spend on each track and stay true to it. Ask yourself: is this session about creating new music, work-shopping what’s already been written, or polishing off the finished stuff?

3. Document Any Issues for Next Rehearsal 

Apps like SetBoss and Musician’s Diary make this easy by providing shareable templates and spreadsheets where you can record tracks directly, arrange them into set lists, log time spent rehearsing each track, and jot down notes as you go. Even a simple to-do list app like Things can streamline the rehearsal by getting the band on the same page through shareable schedules and to-dos.

4. Be mindful of others’ time and chops

Having a scheduled break time somewhere in the middle of the session can prevent burn-out and improve overall focus. Also, be courteous to your band mates when scheduling your rehearsal set list. If your quasi-ska band only requires the horn players in 3 tracks, then put those tracks back-to-back at the beginning so your brass can leave as soon as they’re done, they’ll thank you for it.

5. Warming up

Coming into a rehearsal “cold” can lead to wasted
time and possible injury. Warming up effectively
sets the tone for the rehearsal and should be used as a period to not only get the blood flowing
through the relevant extremities, but as a chance
for the group to settle in and begin listening to one another. Instead of making it a private and rushed affair, factor the warm up into the rehearsal schedule.

Effective warm ups:
~ Charts or covers familiar to the group
~ 12 bar blues & improvising
~If all else fails, Apps like Scales and Modes or FretBoard provide written and tabulated scales to play through as a group.

6. To Metronome or Not to Metronome?

When to use one: Always.

When not to use one: Don’t even think about it.

Tempo inconsistency is the cause for countless musical hiccups and is the ultimate killer of groove.

Practice. With. A. Metronome. And, while you might think all metronomes are created equal, there has been an epidemic of stilted, inconsistent metronome apps that have developed along the smartphone in recent years. We’ve dug through the bad and the laggy to present you some reliable metronomes.

Web: Metronomeonline.com promises a reliable tempo for free and is useful if you have a laptop handy.

Free Apps: Metronome Plus (iOS),  Mobile Metronome (Android)

Paid Apps: Drum Beats (iOS and Android) it’s $3.99 but includes hundreds of optional drum tracks to replace the standard metronome beat.

Physical Metronome: Korg Metronome. This is pretty much the standard for portable metronomes and is a worthy trade-off for the unrelenting accuracy it promises its users. You can find these little guys at any music shop and you should only ever need one.

Digital Audio Workstations: Cubase or Logic include metronomes with the most consistent tempos.

7. Pick a Leader

Coming to a consensus on who’s running this thing can prevent an Oasis-style meltdown between band members. Many bands have an unspoken understanding on who is calling the shots but for those who don’t, decide who is going to keep the ball rolling through the rehearsal. You can have one member who always takes on this role or try switching it up from one practice to another.

8. Record Rehearsals

 

Like hearing your own voice played back to you, hearing your own music sounding back can be grating at times. Nevertheless, playback is necessary to suss out the problem spots in your sound and be an effective critic of your music. The recording process need not be high-fidelity. This is recording for practical purposes, it’s not going to be your next EP (until it is, of course).

The mic on most phones or laptops: adequate.

Free recording apps: There is Rev (iOS and Android) or Voice Recorder Pro 7 (iOS).
Both apps allow you to transcribe the audio to various formats and export files to Google Drive, Dropbox, and Voice Recorder Pro 7 also exports to Microsoft                                                                               OneDrive, Box Cloud, iCloud Drive, and SoundCloud.

Handheld Recorders: Zoom makes handy little recorders in different sizes and price and while they cost a bit more than a recording app, on the whole their usability is more far-reaching in that they offer multiple recording channels, easy transfer and saving of files via memory chip, and a bevy of other features for you to peruse.

9. Remote rehearsals 

When the rehearsal time is right but location is not we must turn to remote rehearsing.

Websites like jamkazam offer a platform for musicians to rehearse, record, and join open jam sessions with other musicians from the comfort of their home wifi connection and there is even an app version that promises low-latency.

Another route you could go is investing in some hardware like Jamulus or Jam Link which make remote rehearsal work by providing low-latency network audio interface that is able to import and export uncompressed audio up to 500 miles at it’s highest quality. Think of this as Skype for your band, but with much less lag! Having said that, technology like the Jam Link and Jamulus is not impervious to a poor internet connection. They do require parties at both locations to purchase the necessary hardware so take these things into consideration as you decide on whether remote rehearsals are a must for your band. For more information on the topic you can hop over to this How-To guide on eJamming.

10. Run the Whole Show

This is an important step that often goes overlooked.

We spend so much time rehearsing the music that we assume the rest will just fall in place when we’re up on stage. In a final rehearsal, run through the set a couple times. This allows you to work out any kinks in the transitions between tracks. Switching instruments, adjusting balance, and yes, even the banter between you and the keyboardist could really benefit from a practice run.

11. Make time to Jam

 

Hey, you got everyone using the google calendar to find available practice time, you’ve “woodshedded” those runs before showing up, you kept the rehearsal on the rails; I thought this was supposed to be fun!

It is! So spend some time at the end of every rehearsal playing what you want. Whether this is a cover of the newest Yeezy or some Cream,  another lap through the 12-bar blues or something all you own, make time to unwind as a group. Often, it’s here that we stumble upon our next musical invention.

Now go forth and practice wisely!

 

 

Robert Loustaunau is a content writer for youbloom and is a member of the social media team there. He is an avid music maker and listener. He enjoys the simple things in life: coffee, a good book, and quality time with his lovely girlfriend.

How to Choose the Right Drums for You

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As a beginner drummer, not only do you give the lesson provider a problem but also the drum set you will be working with. The former is not really something which should bother you because availing drum lessons in Melbourne is not that difficult given that a lot of establishments offer this service within the area. As for the latter, buying the right drums could indeed be both a confusing and exciting moment for a newbie drummer.

 

Although drum teachers or tutors usually provide a drum set within their facilities wherein they teach newbies, many still prefer buying their own drum set so that they can practice at home. If you prefer to have a set of your own, it is highly suggested that you invest time and effort in researching about various drums which can satisfy the needs of a beginner while taking into consideration the price, features, and suggestions of your drum lesson provider. Drum teachers can help you in choosing the right drum set because they can basically give pointers on what a beginner should look for when buying your first drum set.

 

Before getting into detail as to which to choose, it would be best to be knowledgeable of the basic components of a drum set. It is composed of the bass drum, snare drum, and toms. For more sophisticated ones, it may include cymbals and hardware. Since there are a lot of possible configurations for a drum set, you should narrow it down to the configuration which fits a beginner. For newbies, the basic 4-piece drum set if recommended. It includes a snare drum, a bass drum, a floor tom and a mounted tom. These four components can provide for all the basic sounds needed. Aside from this, a 4-piece set only requires minimal space, portable, and highly affordable. All of these without compromising the sound produced for this basic set works well with either jazz or rock styles.

 

The tricky part in choosing the right drums for you is when you assemble seemingly different pieces into your own set. This includes the hardware like the stand and pedals making the drum set more complicated and more sophisticated. However, the hardware should not be confused with mere holders for toms. Choosing your drum hardware can be challenging but is made less complicated by the fact that it can come in “shell packs.” This pack is composed of a hi-hat stand, a bass drum pedal and stand for the snare drum. Some packs include two cymbal stands. Buyers should be wary on whether or not the drum set being bought includes a hardware pack already so there will be no need for additional expense for a shell pack. It might be hard to believe but most of the drum sets do not include the sticks. You generally separately buy it.

 

There is a wide range of drum sets you can choose from but you can narrow it down based on either the components or the needs you have to meet (the genre of songs you need to cover or play). However, you should not be discouraged. Shops or drum lesson teachers can be of great help in choosing the perfect drum kits which not only give off a good sound but also match your current capability as a drummer and of course your budget.

Author Bio:
Darren Perkins is a drummer at and the owner of Red Drum Music Studio. A studio that teaches drum lessons to the people of Melbourne, Australia. He shares his knowledge and expertise through teaching and writing articles.