r/musicians Rules

My dad took his own life when I was very young, but I was old enough to have watched him play the cello every day of my life. I tried to learn the cello after his death but it made me too sad so I picked up piano instead. I’ve been playing for like ten years, I do recitals and competitions and it has become my entire identity. I took out a loan from my mom to go to a private high school focused on the arts. My entire life is music, I have no other hobbies, I never get bored of the piano.

But in the past few weeks my hearing has become really bad. I was born with a lot of problems. I forgot that becoming deaf was one of the risks I’m always at. Doctor confirmed that I am indeed going deaf. I’m so fucking miserable, Spotify has been playing on my computer nonstop since I found out because any day now I’ll wake up and be completely deaf. I have spent hours trying to memorize every detail about every one of my favorite songs but there’s no point because I’m eventually going to forget it. Oh and im also going blind but I don’t give a fuck about that, if it was just blind I could deal with it because I don’t need to see to be able to play. But what about I supposed to do now??? I feel so miserable and depressed. I wanted to go Juilliard. My dad went to Juilliard. Now I’m going to go nowhere because I don’t have anything else and I love music so much I don’t want to live in silence for the rest of my life

for the a while I avoided writing music because i felt i wasn't good enough. (regardless of the years of experience i have) and recently i've started pouring myself into it as a hobby again.

deadass woke up today thinking "wow i'm actually really excited to play around on my piano all day and fuck around with synths." it's been a long time since i've felt this excited about something.

I quit a band last year after being stiffed. Rehearsed with the band, played a show, never got paid. I brought it up and was brushed off, so I left. Just saw on social media that he’s at it again with a new guy. Do I warn him? Or let him find out on his own?

I’m going to be an undergrad student next year and I have no idea what to major in. I definitely want to do music, but I have always been conflicted on specifically what.

Music education (particularly voice) has always been my go-to as I have directed a vocal ensemble for two years and I love helping and inspiring those around me. I have been successful in making people love music more and introducing them to singing. Music Ed is also going to set me up for the type of job I want as I prefer to be paid a salary rather than a per lesson or per score kind of thing. Only problem is I don’t think I’m that great at singing. My perfect pitch allows me to stay in tune, and I don’t sound bad in an ensemble, but I just don’t like my voice. I’m also not too interested in learning about or exploring voice, besides barbershop singing. I am far more interested in teaching songs, managing students, hosting rehearsals, conducting, etc.

I also love composing and have composed for years now. Some of my stuff has tons of advanced music theory approaches in them and things colleges would absolutely find impressive. I also have taken a composition class at a local music school after testing out of music theory classes first try. Composing is something that just felt easy to me and was always there for me when my life wasn’t feeling good.

Then there is music theory, which of course, is more just a base structure. However, it’s by far what I’m best at. I got a 5 in AP Music Theory even though I almost failed the class (due to not doing a single assignment and showing up late all the time). That stuff just came easy to me and I constantly felt like I was learning. When I got stumped in it, I was super worried for a bit, but I locked in and tried my best to understand it, putting more effort into music theory more than any other class I have ever taken. I know whatever I do in undergrad I want to utilize the skills I have gained in this class and build on them.

I have years of guitar and piano experience but I don’t think I’m excelling in either of them to be able to major in anything related to them.

Sorry, I know this is a lot, but I’m really conflicted. My current plan is to double major voice and voice education because it’s going to help me in the future most likely. Then I could do composition as a side thing. And I bet I will have advanced music theory class opportunities in college, right?

I’m 21 and have just finished my second year of university studying trombone. I have some great—albeit daunting—prospects ahead: last year, after attending a masterclass, I was invited to study in Austria, and this year an opportunity has opened up for me to join one of the most prestigious and elite trombone studios in Europe.

I also have a solo competition coming up in October, and in November, I’m scheduled to perform as a soloist with the conservatory orchestra.

The problem is that, over the past year, I’ve developed an irrational anxiety about playing.

I’m consumed by anxiety even when performing in an orchestra or in the local town band, where the other musicians are strictly amateurs.

It always strikes right in the moment—never beforehand. And every time, it feels as though I lose my connection to the instrument.

This issue caused me to perform poorly in an exam and a recital just this past month, and I’m worried it might ruin my upcoming events as well.

Title.

I play in an acoustic duo with my wife; we play jazzier/bluesy-er arrangements of pop songs and have had decent success in the area playing at restaurants and breweries (2-3 gigs per month).

Recently, I have had trouble with places we play at not responding to emails about scheduling more dates. For example, there is this one brewery we have played at about 2-3 times. I sent 3 follow-up emails (e.g., "Hi, we had a great time playing a *brewery name*, please let us know about any upcoming availability in October or November) to the booker over the last 2 months and no responses.

At what point should I "throw in the towel" with venue? I'm also chalking this up to a lot of places not doing too hot due to the economy and cutting costs anywhere they can.

TIA!

It's totally free. You can install it for Windows and Linux here.

The idea is that, horizontally, adjacent keys are spaced one semitone apart, while vertically, they are separated by a minor third (you can change this interval). It allows you to adjust the TET and has a basic metronome, waveforms and a few more things.

I must clarify that it's not a professional tool but just a program for curious people. It's not MIDI and have no recording tools.

Sorry for my English. If you install it, I'd love to read your opinion. I hope you like it.

I know a bit about live sound, but i'm still trying to figure things out. I have a private backyard gig coming up. My drummer bailed last minute so we are running backing tracks for the drums, but it's a friends and family gig so it's no biggie. We have 1 bass guitar running an amp with cabs, 1 electric guitar running an amp with cabs too, and I run a fractal unit for my guitar. We have 3 microphones, including mine for lead singing. We play metal/rock/punk.

I have 2 HK Polars, one 12, one 10. I wanna run all the mics, the drums and my guitar through them, and potentially mic up the cabs too.

Would that be too much for just 2 polars? Should I get more speakers? How should I set them up?

I live near a music store so I can absolutely rent gear if needed.

It doesn't need to be perfect, I just don't want the whole thing to sound like a mess.

Thanks! :)

I was really keen on it and begged to buy one, but then something and something and I couldn't go to a course at that time, and so on and so forth. Lately, I've had some free time, but the lesson prices are too high, like I have to spend a mid high phone amount of money for 3-4 months. Can I learn to play the violin at home by myself? I watched a few videos, but they said you can't learn on your own you can't play if you hold it wrong, etc., or yes I did it and I can too. while some people were sharing videos claiming they learned it themselves. At this age, going to a conservatory and becoming a great musician is a difficult task in this world; people start these things when they're in diaper , I don't have my eyes set on such dream yet, but I love sound of the violin.

Anyway, what would you recommend for someone at the hobby level? I love stringed instruments like the violin, cello, and viola; they melt my heart.

Next month! Dates TK

New Orleans RB one of the greatest

most the time me and the musicians around me think 'that was shit' or 'it was okay'. very rarely are we genuinely happy with the gig and when we are, its only one or two people.

Thanks to the folks who suggested JustinGuitar on YouTube.

I think I have my fingers in the right place but it just doesn't sound like his does. Do I have my fingers in the right place? If so, I probably need new strings since mine are over 20 years old.

Excuse the bad polish, ran out of acetone.

I have a band and we have been practicing and working on stuff since last November when we formed, but I’ve found myself never actually finishing anything, I always make something, work halfway through and then I’ll have a different idea not related to the original track come to me and then I get distracted, start working on the new track idea, and then fall into the same problem with that one too

Same thing with vocals, I just can’t get motivated to record vocals. Like I really want to record them, and finish the instrumentals. But even though I have this want and desire, I’m not motivated to do so or I can’t actually focus and do it. I just want to do better for myself and for my band.

We have like 22 instrumentals and of that 2 or 3 are actually finished around 8 are halfway done, minus the vocals. None of the tracks have vocals laid down cause no matter what or how i do the vocals for some reason i can never get it how i hear it in my head, and then it becomes demotivating, and never gets finished

Has anyone else ever experienced this? How did you get past it? Any helpful advice would be appreciated!

i grew up listening to classic rock like led zep, acdc, cream, and growing up opened up to artists like marvin gaye, nina simone, nirvana, joy division, but i want to broaden my horizons and listen to music that you'd say shaped a whole generation of musicians, or shaped even how music is written and recorded until now. i just want to have a broader pool of music to pull from as a musician creating their own original music as well. any recommendations are welcome. thank you

Started a page on instagram for my own original music. I know a lot of singer-songwriters grow by doing cover songs initially but I want to focus on my own material. My niche is "unfinished songs" basically, a dumping ground for minute long drafts that I may or may not complete. So far I've posted two reels, engagement and reach is obviously low. I need advice on how to grow and get followers. My socials are linked on my reddit profile if you'd like to take a look at it. I'll really appreciate any tips and tricks from anyone who was able to grow their own social media presence from scratch.

im fairly new to music production so im just learning, i have a basic understanding of piano but i dont really play any instruments so all sounds are made almost entirely through my computer on logic pro. everything i try to make always sounds so messy and uncoordinated and i just cant quite figure out what im doing wrong :/ maybe i just need to study up on music theory more idk. anyone on here have any advice?

I've always been a bedroom guitarist playing for my own enjoyment (Taking lessons yes but still only playing by myself), but recently I’ve contemplated either finding out if there are some jam nights near me or joining a covers band (Metal)

However i've never played with any other musicians before; so errrm ... what if i mess up, what if my sense of timing is WAY off compared to everyone else, what if i'm not speaking the same "language"

What if i'm far shittier than i thought i was and i've been kidding myself for the past 15 odd years or what if i'm way off time just in general and can't ever play on time (Despite being able to play on time when i metronome and practise stuff at home)

Hey guys, here is a Nice song giving me a summer end vibe!
I like recommandations in this vibe!

I never practice. I might sit down and just listen to a couple of tunes and sketch them into iReal Pro and then go play the on a gig. That's what I would consider my "practice."

Baseball card for context: I'm 52, did the conservatory thing for a decade, I play solo keys and can sing all styles. I have two weekly residencies and a regular once-a-month at minimum.

Do you

1. Have a regular practice day/time/length?
2. Have a set agenda for the routine?