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  • quick update here. sorry I haven't posted in like.... over a year. whoops.

    please checkout my youtube channel and subscribe over there: https://www.youtube.com/colinpthomson

    and follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/colinthomson

    oh heck, fine, here are all my socials in one place:

    https://snapchat.com/add/colinpthomson

    https://www.instagram.com/colinpthomson/

    https://www.youtube.com/user/colinpthomson

    https://twitter.com/colinthomson

    ✌️

  • If you enjoy the show, please leave me a Rating and Review in iTunes! Click Here to leave the review!

    Mateo Messina is a Grammy winning composer who writes music for film, television, and the symphony. His signature sound can be found on many of today's Oscar winning movies & independent film hits. Since the age of 23, Mateo has written, produced, and premiered 18 symphonies. Each premiere has been a benefit concert for families at Seattle Children's Hospital. To date, he and his team have raised over $1,000,000 for these children and their families. Mateo is an accomplished musician, a unique storyteller, a seasoned producer, a dependable man of his business, and one of today's most innovative composers.

    "As you climb the ladder, you don't get less 'no's. Hopefully, the 'no's that you get just come from 'more important' people." -Mateo Messina

    (click to tweet)

    Key Take Aways:When you commit to more than you know you can handle, you might discover that you're capable of more than you thoughtAs you move up, in any industry, you continue to get the same number of 'no's. But hopefully the 'no's that you get start to come from people higher and higher on the ladder. You must get used to rejectionWhen you don't know, don't let that stop you. Sometimes you have to jump in, and learn as you goSometime's it better to not know what you don't know. Just give it your all, and jump inAsking the right questions can be one of the most important skills to the musicianJust show up every day. Whatever you do, whether you feel like it or not, just show upBeing talented is a baseline. You have to be fun to work with and hang with as well, in order to get jobsWord of mouth and personal recommendations will get you further than anythingLearn more about Mateo Messina:

    MateoMessina.com

    Twitter: @Mateo_Messina

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/066

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  • Aaron Mojica is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Mic Check (www.miccheck.co), an online recording equipment rental service that ships gear straight to your door.

    Prior to co-founding Mic Check Aaron also co-founded Prosource (www.prosourcehub.com), an audio, lighting, staging, and video rental and event production business based out of Chicago, and Creators League (www.creatorsleague.com), an online community for individuals with a profession in the creative industries.

    Prior to his career as an entrepreneur, Aaron attended Indiana University and studied Arts Management, Marketing, and Music, studying at the renowned Jacobs School of Music.

    Do you ask why?

    Do you ask why things are the way they are, and how they could be better? Do you look for ways to improve what you see around you, and then take actions to make those improvements? Do you observe the world around you enough to find your niche, and understand how you fit into it?

    Aaron Mojica does, and out of that habit of asking why things are the way they are, and how they can be improved, has come the project Mic Check. Mic Check makes it possible for any musician to have access to the best microphones in the world for a fraction of the cost, through providing musicians with the option to rent the microphone for the length of their recording project, at a fraction of the cost of purchasing the microphone.

    So what goes into starting a business like this? What can musicians learn from someone who created something like this? In this conversation, we dig into the backstory. We dig into what created the initial drive to bring something like this to market, and all the unexpected things that always happen on the road to building a business into a successful venture. There is a lot to take away from Aaron, and all of his experience.

    Musicians need to look for their niche. Look for the things that they can be doing that no one else is doing, the way they are doing it. Musicians need to find their USP (Unique Selling Proposition) - and then focus on it! Hone in on that, put all your effort there, and continually refine it!

    Key Take Aways:Find your niche, and really double down and be consistent about continuing to grind on that one thing!There are very few overnight success. People only think others are overnight successes because they didn't see the work that went into itIt's actually encouraging to know that it is possible to have a steady build in your musical career, through your commitment and consistencyMake your fan engagement so high that it seems ridiculous to people, and they don't understand how you have the time to keep the engagement so highAllow your focus to be fluid. Have a willingness to change and flow with your projects, to lower your anxiety and increase your productivenessMentioned:

    Evernote

    Learn more about Aaron Mojica:

    ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    FaceBook

    Twitter: @MicCheckCo

    Instagram: @MicCheckCo

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/65

  • If you enjoy the show, please leave me a Rating and Review in iTunes! Click Here to leave the review! Key Take Aways:The Modern Musician Show is all about “hacks” for leading a better career as a musicianA good morning is one of the best productivity and creativity hack out thereWhen you win the morning, you win the day. So when you win every morning, consistently, you win every dayMost importantly: Get up at least an hour before you have to do anything. Be the master of your morning.Don’t let the schedule master you, by telling you when to wake up. You can choose to be the master by simply waking up on your own time instead of someone else’sWhen you first wake up, try to avoid email and social media.This is another way that you can win immediately, because as soon as you start checking these platforms, you are reacting to what you see, instead of making decisions for yourselfTry to establish, in the first hour, what the main 3 - 5 things are that, if you could get them done that day, would make it a productive dayThis might seem unrelated to music, but it is! It has made the biggest difference in my ability to be continually creative, and create things by being productiveSomething about that first hour in the morning is magic, and simply making your own decisions instead of reacting to other forces, and make all the difference in your creativity and productivity the rest of the day

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/064

  • If you enjoy the show, please leave me a Rating and Review in iTunes! Click Here to leave the review

    Charles “Chaz” Langley was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in Virginia Beach, VA. Chaz began honing his talent for singing at the Governor’s Magnet School for the Arts in Virginia! Since then he has begun his journey into the world of Live Stage, Background vocals, demos, jingles and eventually performing all over the world. He’s had the opportunity to entertain in various styles of music from Musical theatre, R&B, Pop, Gospel and Classical as well. It was the natural progression of R&B music that held his attention and still becomes prevalent in most of his music. Since moving to New York over 10 years ago, Chaz has had many opportunities to work with various publishing and record companies singing in different styles to strengthen him vocally. You may have heard his voice supporting various products and companies such as Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Ford, Behr Paint, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Budweiser, Miracle Gro Plant Food and many more! He's been sited and heard supporting artists such as Imagine Dragons, Keri Hilson, Larry Carlton, Michael English, Tabitha Fair, Lucy Woodward, Bekka Bramlett and Chris Willis. In addition to his singing, Chaz has been sharpening his skills at the art of songwriting. “I write the kind of songs that are simply Human Relations 101 and the kind of songs you can sing to. “I love to write songs that stay in your mind. Whether it be with a contagious melody or a lyric that makes you think about life, I love every aspect of song writing.” His songs have struck a chord with some of the industry’s giants! To mention, Chaz has recorded and produced his song “Walk Again” with Hayden Panettiere from the hit ABC show, Nashville! Chaz has also teamed up with Award winning songwriter Tina Shafer to write “Love Like you Never been Hurt Before…”which has been on hold for the first American Idol Superstar Kelly Clarkson!

    Chaz is now looking to use his talents in singing and songwriting to inspire an industry that’s yearning for a new voice and inspiration! You can find Chaz’s Music on iTunes and Sound Cloud!

    "It's like a computer. If you're constantly downloading things to your hard drive, it's gonna get cluttered. You've got to detox." - Chaz Langely (click to tweet)Key Take Aways:As an entertainer, to have the guts to tell people that they should invest their time and listen to you specifically. You have to really believe in yourself and your artA lot of getting breaks has to do with being in the right place at the right time, and you can develop habits of constantly putting yourself out there that will make it habitual for you to be in the right place at the right timePersistence is one of the most valuable skills you can developSometimes, you have to be a chameleon in music, to put yourself in a more advantageous positionEspecially when you're working to establish yourself as the go-to-guy for projects, you have to have constant availability "My best ability is my availability" -Chaz Langely (click to tweet)Learn more about Chaz Langely:

    ChazLangelyMusic.com

    iTunes

    SoundCloud

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/063

  • Born in the Phillipines, Bryan Callen spent the first fourteen years of his life overseas in countries like India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Greece and Saudi Arabia, before moving to the U.S. He went to highschool in Massachusettes and earned his B.A. in History at the American University in Washington D.C. He's played numerous roles on the small and big screen including, “Old School” “Bad Santa”, “Sex and the City”, “Entourage,” “Californication,” “7th Heaven,” “King of Queens,” “Stacked,” “Las Vegas,” “West Wing,” “News Radio,” “Significant Others,” “CSI,” “NYPD Blue,”“Suddenly Susan,” and “Frasier.” He recently finished a two season character arc on USA’s “In Plain Sight." Bryan is currently playing a recurring role on ABC's "The Goldbergs," just finished recording his stand-up comedy special, and is the co-host of one of the top 50 podcasts in iTunes, "The Fighter and the Kid."

    Do You Like Rejection?

    If you've been in entertainment for any length of time, you know how hard it is to make a buck. You know the anxiety of waiting for a call-back, the frustration of rejection, and how hard you can work without feeling like you're making any progress. It takes a special kind of person to succeed in this environment, and that's what this episode of The Modern Musician Show is all about. Regardless of what area of entertainment you work in, rejection is going to be a constant part of your process of improvement and eventual success. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

    But it's not easy. So it's important for you to take a step back on a regular basis and reevaluate why you're doing what you're doing. If you're in it for the money - there are easier ways to make a living. If you're in it for the fame - again, there are easier ways to get noticed. But if you have burning desire to impact the world in a positive way, to enrich the lives of others with what you have to offer, and feel like you will not be satisfied doing anything besides your art and creativity, then the entertainment industry just might be for you.

    But what does it look like? Do you have to be a starving artist? Do you have to wait tables? Should you say "yes" to everything? How hard do you really work? Is it true that it's not what you know but who you know? Should you expect your influential friends to give you jobs? These are just a few of the questions covered in this episode with Bryan Callen.

    "The culture that makes space for it's artists and 'weirdos,' is the culture that has the most impact." -Bryan Callen (click to tweet)Key Take Aways:It's important to understand who you are. What makes you special? What strengths are unique to you? And then go all in on thoseThere can be a lot of pressure to be serious, or successful, or accomplished. But if we're too wrapped up in that, we might miss all the fun along the way, and possibly even our really callingIt's important to lay a foundation. While you can learn a lot on the job, your foundation, and time spent honing your craft, is essential to your eventual successAs an artist, you have to get involved in the big questions to some extent, because it will inform your artAs an entertainer, you've got to learn to love the hustle. Think about it as a gameSometimes you have to try a lot of things, and be willing to spread yourself thin, to find your one thingOn the other hand, be very careful and thoughtful with where you spend your time and effort. From an economic standpoint, you have to be ruthless about your time and energy, putting it only into those things that are important to youIt's important to be someone who can recognize talent in others, and understand how to bring those varying talents together to form something greatIt's essential to be ethical. Your word is your most important thing. Take a careful look at the motivation behind everything you do"As an entertainer, you've got to learn to love the hustle. Think about it as a game." -Bryan Callen (click to tweet)Learn more about Bryan Callen:

    BryanCallen.com

    The Fighter and the Kid Podcast

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/061

  • Christian Howes grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied violin through the Suzuki method from the age of five, performed as a soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at age 16, and later earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the Ohio State University.

    During his teen years he began playing guitar and bass in rock, blues, and fusion bands. At age 20, he began playing violin in gospel church settings. These experiences ultimately led him to pursue a singular goal to become a versatile jazz musician and composer.

    Since then, he has gained respect from critics and players alike, establishing himself as a world class jazz violinist and educator. From 2001-2009 Howes became an in-demand violinist on the New York scene, collaborating with a bevy of top shelf jazz artists, including Greg Osby, D.D. Jackson, Frank Vignola, Joel Harrison, Dafnis Prieto, Dave Samuels, Spyro Gyra, and a 4-year chair in Bill Evans’ “Soulgrass” band.

    Christian was a favorite of the late Les Paul, with whom he worked closely for 11 years. Following a three-year tenure as Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and after establishing his “street cred” in New York City, Christian returned to his hometown in order to be close to family and set out to build his career exclusively as a bandleader and entrepreneur.

    In August 2011, Christian was ranked as the #1 “Rising Star” violinist in the Downbeat Critics Poll and nominated for the Jazz Journalists Association’s “Violinist Of The Year”. In 2012, he was voted among the top three violinists in JazzTimes’ “Expanded Critics Poll“. The same year, he received the Residency Partner Award from Chamber Music America for his educational outreach with school orchestra programs. He now regularly tours throughout Asia, Europe, and the U.S. as a leader of his own groups and a soloist with orchestras. Howes toured Ukraine in June 2014 at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy, as a cultural ambassador, underscoring U.S. support for a free and democratic Ukraine.

    After releasing a string of independent releases as a leader, he signed with Resonance Records in 2008 and released three critically acclaimed albums. The first, “Heartfelt”, featuring pianist Roger Kellaway, showcases ballads and lyrical works. “Out of the Blue,” released in 2010, features guitarist Robben Ford, and demonstrates a wide range of modern and traditional sensibilities, steeped in the blues. His newest release, “Southern Exposure,” featuring accordionist Richard Galliano, draws from a Hispanic sphere of influence.

    In 2001 he founded the Creative Strings Workshop and Festival, which convenes during the first week of July every year in Columbus, Ohio. Says Howes, “The Creative Strings Workshop and Festival offers string players from Columbus and around the world an opportunity to study improvisation, composition, and styles outside the realm of classical music, while bringing the city of Columbus a plethora of talent and musical energy.”

    In 2011, Howes launched an online lessons website, the “Creative Strings Academy,” which boasts the largest enrollment worldwide of string players studying jazz and improvised music.

    In 2014 Christian formalized his “Creative Strings” initiatives with the founding of Camille Catherine, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the expansion and improvement of music education, with a focus on the development of curriculum and programs for classically trained string players and teachers to expand their skills as creative musicians. Christian regularly visits school orchestra programs offering “Creative Strings Residencies”, combining collaborative performances with interactive clinics.

    Since 2007, he has also built an innovative online production business, “Christian Howes String Recording,” which provides live string sections and more to music producers worldwide via a remote, collaborative “virtual” orchestra.

    Christian is an active blogger, and he is frequently engaged to speak regarding music education and music business. He has worked with homeless, at-risk, and prison populations, as well as humanities departments at universities, incorporating diverse social causes into his broad, inspirational message.

    Key Take Aways:Non-profits don't have to not make moneyNon-profits can be a great vehicle to do what you are passionate about, and remain true to your visionEspecially as instrumentalists, a lot of times your audience will be students of your instrumentConsider offering clinics on whatever your musical niche is. A lot of times, there's already a budget setup for this. Get on the phone with the school, and find out!Selling is asking for the opportunity to be of service. It's not self-serving, it is in fact generous to the people you will serveDon't have a "handout mentality" when you ask for people to come to your shows. Ask because you know that they'll love the music and have a fantastic time!Learn more about Christian Howes:

    ChristianHowes.com

    The Creative Strings Podcast

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/60

  • Key Take Aways:Emails are your most treasured possessionWith algorithm changes in FaceBook, and the constant possibility of the same happening with other social networks, your email list is the only thing that you can confidently call your ownIf you don’t have an opt-in offer currently running on your site, your wasting trafficOpt-in: Something of real value that you give away in exchange for an emailCreativity is super important when choosing an opt-inDO NOT: Just give away a track. Streaming services have devalued digital music to the point where this makes no senseConsider: behind the scenes videos, interviews with you and the band, unreleased demo tracks, extended tracks, bonus track unavailable elsewhere - just be creative!Think about having a few different opt-ins sprinkled throughout your website - targeted at different interests that your audience may haveYou need an email provider like Aweber or MailChimpThen you can just setup an auto-responder, where the first email that is sent immediately upon opting into the email list contains the opt-in offerIf you don’t have an opt-in currently running, this is your FIRST priority. Don’t waste any more traffic you get on your website!

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/059

  • Dr. Noa Kageyama began his musical journey at the age of 2 when he was given his first violin - a Cracker-Jack box with a ruler taped to it. Midway through kindergarten, he gave his first performance with orchestra as a student of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki (founder of the Suzuki Method) in Matsumoto, Japan, and shortly thereafter, made his TV debut on WBNS-TV’s Front Page Saturday Night.

    His second year at Juilliard, he signed up for a course titled “Performance Enhancement for Musicians” taught by Dr. Don Greene. It sounded interesting, although he was pretty skeptical that an Olympic sport psychologist and former green beret could tell him anything about being a concert artist. To Noa's surprise, what he learned that semester changed not only how he performed, but how he felt about performing. His whole approach shifted. Even his practice habits changed dramatically.

    Dr. Noa Kageyama is now on the faculty of The Juilliard School in NYC and the New World Symphony in Miami, FL where he helps talented musicians prepare for orchestra job auditions. He conducts workshops and “webinars” on performance enhancement and overcoming performance anxiety, and has done so for institutions including the New England Conservatory, Peabody, Indiana University, Northwestern University, and the U.S. Armed Forces School of Music. He's been a speaker at seminars such as the Starling-Delay Symposium and National Orchestral Institute, for organizations such as the Music Teachers’ National Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing, at summer programs like The Perlman Music Program, and in online/media programs (hear a clip from WNYC’s Soundcheck).

    Dr. Noa Kageyama started the BulletProof Musician blog so that he might share with you what he has learned over the years from both his musical background and his psychology training.

    Key Take Aways:Poor performances are not always a result of not enough practice timeThere's no one solution to performance anxiety. There are a lot of things that helpA lot of performance practice is mental, not physicalIt's important to have some sort of consistent pre performance routine to get in the correct performance mindsetHave a clear target of what you want before you being. Usually this will be the sound aiming forHave a clear memory of what that sounds feels likeIt's importance to differentiate between how you practice and how you perform. During practice, you have to be focused on all the smallest details. During a performance, all of those details will usually get in your wayA lot of times it is mental aspects that separate the best artists from the restRecommended Book:

    "The New Toughness Training for Sports" by James Loehr

    "Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning" by Peter Brown

    Learn more about Noa Kageyama:

    BulletProofMusician.com

    BulletProof Musician Blog

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/058

  • Sam Matla is the founder of EDMProd, a blog and resource website that teaches electronic music producers how to make better music and overcome creative problems. He published The Producer's Guide to Workflow & Creativity after running EDMProd for two years, which has received an immense amount of positive feedback and helped musicians and producers across the world.

    Key Take Aways:With any project, you have to be able to come to the point where you say it's "good enough"The multitude of choices available to the producer can be paralyzingWhen a style of music becomes generic or over-done, it's often the perfect opportunity for someone with new ideas to build on it, and do something really excitingAs a producer, or anyone in music, you cannot overestimate the power of networkingYour work ethic has to be on point if you want to make it in the music industryAs an EDM producer, start with your local scene. Don't try to skip this stepSet clear objectives for every work session to stay productiveDon't try to skip around on different tasks. This becomes a very inefficient way to workMost people work better in the mornings, for a variety of biological reasons. Consider at least trying it, even if you consider yourself a night owlLearn more about Sam Matla:

    EDMProd.com

    The Producer's Guide to Workflow and Creativity

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/57

  • Conceiving music that can range from acoustically intimate or ethnically eccentric to a grand, adventurous orchestral excursion able to traverse the globe, Tulsa-born composer Greg Edmonson is a unique musical voice in Hollywood, one that has experienced widespread acclaim in the diverse worlds of film, television and video games.

    Greg's talent on the guitar first brought him to Los Angeles, where his work as a session player led to composing as the next step in his musical journey. Studying the craft with the renowned Dr. Albert Harris, Greg landed his first scoring gigs for the hallowed TV animation company Hanna Barbera. His work for the medium caught the attention of one its most in-demand composers, and soon Greg was working alongside multiple Emmy-winner Mike Post on hit series such as "L.A. Law," "Quantum Leap," "Wiseguy" and "Cop Rock". An Emmy nomination for one of Greg's songs served as proof that he had found his niche and was on the scene to stay.

    Greg's next taste of success came on Mike Judge's long-running animated series, "King of the Hill." For that edgy comedy Greg created a satirical American sound that combined Texas guitar with an orchestra - music that could be as humorous as it was heartfelt. He followed that ride by developing the distinctive sound of Joss Whedon's revered sci-fi show "Firefly," conjuring a unique orchestral Americana style that artfully integrated such culturally diverse instruments as the dobro, duduk, and saz.

    To continue to stretch out creatively, Greg also wrote the scores for several acclaimed independent films, including "Blue Ridge Fall," "Luckytown" and "Montana Amazon." Craving the challenge of not just a new medium but also a range of genres, he composed inspired music for movies whose content was diverse as a gritty crime tale, an emotion-drenched drama, and a dark, quirky comedy.

    Greg's ability to draw out a character's melodic humanity brought him his most epic projects: three acclaimed scores for Sony/Naughty Dog's blockbuster "Uncharted" video game series. He created the symphonically action-packed, but distinctly humane sound of treasure hunter Nathan Drake - following this iconic hero through the world's most exotic musical locations. In order to bring a multi-dimensional, cinematic sound to this ongoing franchise, Greg introduced an unusually broad spectrum of moods and themes, including indigenous ethnic instrumentals, nail-biting suspense, eerie ambience, and powerful action cues. The striking originality of his scores for "Uncharted" has won Greg the recognition of his peers, culminating in a variety of industry honors that include prestigious awards from the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS).

    Despite years of success, Greg remains excited and passionate about the creative challenge of composing. "My objective when writing is to marry melody and emotion in service to the story," he says. "Every memorable musical composition moves the listener on multiple levels. I strive to create music that is integral to the story, using the tools at my disposal to express ideas and feelings in ways that words alone cannot - but without drawing attention away from the narrative itself. If my contribution to the story can penetrate the heart, mind, and soul of the listener, seamlessly blending with the other creative elements of the project, then I have added real value and helped to create an unforgettable experience."

    Greg Edmonson lives in Los Angeles with his artist wife Suzanne and their three cats.

    Key Take Aways:Network in real, relationship-building ways, every single chance you getA lot of times being the person that gets called has to do with how accessible you are, provided your skills are entirely up to the jobThe more time you can spend with a project, the more you can begin to understand every nuance of itAs a session musician in Los Angeles, your chops have to be on pointBuilding relationships with contractors, composer, and everyone else, is the defining factor in how much work you will get as a session musicianYou absolutely never know where you break will come from. It's almost never where you thinkBecause you never know, you have to treat every gig as the most important you've ever doneLearn more about Greg Edmonson:

    GregEdmonson.com

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/056

  • Key Take Aways:Twitter is one of the older social networksTwitter is often used by more “academic” types - writers and suchTwitter requires a different strategy than Instagram. The noise level is far higherThe higher noise-level has to do with the relative ease of putting together a post on Twitter, versus other platformsTo cut through the noise, you gotta be tweeting all the time!Twitter is one of the best places to connect with high-profile people. Try it! Tweet at some people for fun to see if you can get a responseVideos, limited to 30 seconds, are a great way to natively tease your musicUse appropriate hashtagsUse emojisTweet your random, deep or shallow thoughts and ideasTweet quotesTweet linkstweet @ people, and reply. Use a period before the at sign (like .@colinthomson) if you want other people to be able to see itRepetition is OK on Twitter, MUCH more so than other platformsInteract, interact, interact!!!

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/055

  • Key Take Aways:Artistic development should be an integral part of managementThere is still a lot of value in a label, provided the label is aligned correctly with you, believes in your vision, and will work hard for you. Distribution is not part of thatYour project has to be 100% of the way there before pitching it to a label. Demos don't countSpend plenty of time in research to make sure you are reaching out to the right personWhen a label is looking at you, they are going to make sure your social networks are up to date, your bio is good, you have a continuous visual style, and are already well on your wayThe overall online presentation is a good indicator of gritGet a pro SoundCloud account. It's importantDon't put playlists in your SoundCloud SpotlightMake sure all your content is on every platform, and funnel it all wherever you want (iTunes, website, email opt-in, etc)It's important that you continually put out content, so that people are continually reminded about youGet more info about how to use SoundCloud in the Bonus Round at ModernMusician.co/BonusLearn more about Budi:

    BudiVoogt.com

    HeroicRecordings.com

    The SoundCloud Bible by Budi Voogt

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

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  • Key Take Aways:Active listening is something you can instill in your children early on, and how knows, maybe they'll become a producer someday!Understanding what makes a song tick is the most essential ability in a producerThere's a lot of chance involved with meeting the right people. There's only so much you can doAs a producer, a lot of times friends and your networks are the best way to discover artistsNever become too jaded to listen to new music you're givenIt's important to have a good, friendly relationships with the people you work with, especially in musicArtists need to know who they are as an artist, before they start working with a producerIf your producer/label/anyone makes you - that means that they can take it away from you, tooArtist need to learn how to define success for themselves, outside of expectations from other people around them "A producer is a professional enabler" - Andy Freeman

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/053

  • Nathan Kelly is an American composer in Los Angeles, best known for working as an arranger for recording artists such as Joss Stone, Andrea Bocelli, Dionne Warwick, The Tony Awards, and film scores.

    Kelly studied music composition at the University of Texas, film scoring at the University of Southern California, and took further education at the Juilliard School of Music, Tanglewood, Massachusetts, Aspen Music School, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Bowdoin, Maine, and the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program, Seattle. His composition teachers were Tobias Picker and film composer Bruce Broughton.

    Key Take Aways:When you're really connected with you purpose, and what you want to do, a lot of times you things just start coming through for you, over timeAsk as many specific questions as you can. When you're working on a project, this is the best way to upfront know what is expected from you, and save yourself a lot of pain laterSuccess in music often comes down to communicationIt's important to make non-musicians feel comfortable to express music in whatever way that they can - without any technical understandingA lot of times, we don't even think about the amazing musicians and creatives that are already in our networkOutput is what you will, at the end of the day, be judged on. Finish projectsLearn more about Nathan:

    NathanKelly.com

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/052

  • Key Take Aways:Is artistry and productivity an oxymoron?No great work of art or creativity was ever achieved by accidentSome of the most successful people you know, that you may envy because you don’t think they’re as talented as you or others, simply worked harder than anyone else to get what they wantedWhat are you spending your time on?Examine everything you do, and ask if it is part of the 80% that get’s you 20% results, or if it is part of the 20% that gets you 80%Seize the morning. If you win the morning, you win the day. Try to organize the tasks that have to be accomplished in the morning - and to set clear goals for that dayExercise is one of the best ways to wake up and be productive for the rest of the dayThen work harder than everyone elseThe more I talk to people who work closely with hugely successful people, the more I see the commonality that those successful musicians simply worked harder than the restFinish your projectsKeep a to-do list - and cross things offThis is actually really good news for you, and you should find it encouraging and inspiring! It means that success is not all about luckWhen you work harder and smarter than anyone else (not in that order), you’ll get places no one else will get

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/051

  • Sahpreem King is a multi-platinum music producer, music business educator, academic lecturer, music consultant, and music business book author and music industry writer. He has written several music industry books, as well as worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop. He has an extensive background in music production, music marketing, business, and education design and technology.

    Key Take Aways:A lot of times listeners can't hear the difference between well-produced music, and second-rate work, a lot of times they can feel the differencePart of what makes music so great is that there are no boundaries. Especially right now, you can do anything you want to doAt the end of the day, music is all about connecting with people"If you don't change with the change, the change is gonna change without you" - Sahpreem KingProducers have to be strategic in their listening - and fully understand what an artistic can bring, and how the artist/producer chemistry is going to workHandle all legalities before you get into the studioBe very careful when vetting producers to work with. Make sure that they're extremely aligned with your artistic visionResearch every opportunity online very carefully before taking any actionDon't be a desperate artistic. Desperation causes you to sign bad contractsBefore assembling your team, you must know your single goal. Consider making a business planYou must find your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)Artists don't need a manager until they have something to manageThe specific team you assemble will depend entirely on what your specific goals areLearn more about Sahpreem King:

    SahpreemKing.com

    Twitter: @Sahpreem

    Sahpreem's Books:

    Surviving the Game: How to Succeed in the Music Business

    Dude, I Can Help You! 18 Mistakes Artists Make and How to Fix Them

    Gotta Get Signed: How to Become a Hip Hop Producer

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    Featured Artist: Ark PatrolSong: Let Go Ft. Veronika ReddLearn more about Ark Patrol:

    FaceBook

    Twitter: @ArkPatrol

    SoundCloud

    YouTube

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/050

  • Key Take Aways:

    Don't hesitate to reach out to people who can help you, and be respectfully consistent in your outreach strategyIf you want to work with someone who has a lot of opportunities, you need to make it easy for themQuality is importantOn YouTube, song selection will have a huge effect on how well you can growIf you have artistic integrity in everything you do, you will be able to transition into different types of work, and your audience will appreciate what you are doingIf you want to use other networks, especially FaceBook, upload something (like teasers) natively, and link to YouTube, so that you can have a better chance if getting into the FaceBook feedMake music you love!


    Bonus Round:

    Deeper Dive Into YouTube Specifics at ModernMusician.co/Bonus

    Learn more about Landon Austin:

    YouTube.com/LandonAustin

    FaceBook.com/LandonAustinMusic

    Twitter @LandonAustin

    iTunes

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/049

  • First and foremost, Jerald is a husband to his beautiful wife, Zanny, and a father to his wonderful children. Jerald Simon is the founder and president of Music MotivationÂŽ (musicmotivation.com). He is a composer, author, poet, and Music Mentor™/piano teacher (primarily focusing his piano teaching on music theory, improvisation, composition, and arranging). Jerald loves music, teaching, speaking, performing, playing sports, exercising, reading, writing poetry and self help books, and spending time with his wife, Zanny, and their children.Jerald created musicmotivation.com as a resource for piano teachers, piano students, and parents of piano students. He is the author/poet of "The As If Principle" (222 motivational poems), and the book "Perceptions, Parables, and Pointers.” He is also the author of 20 music books from the Music MotivationÂŽ Series™ (over 200 original piano solos between the books) including the popular series: Cool Songs for Cool Kids™ (pre-primer, primer level, and volumes 1, 2, and 3) and Cool Songs that Rock™ (books 1 and 2) which all feature original piano music Jerald has composed primarily with teenage boys in mind. He has also recorded and produced several albums and singles of original music as well as hymn arrangements. In 2014, Jerald started a "Cool Songs" annual subscription on his website where he produces and releases one new "Cool Song" for the piano every week with minus tracks (accompaniment parts), the PDF download, MP3 downloads, and a video tutorial where he teaches the "Cool Song" and music theory the fun way.


    Jerald also presents to various music schools, groups, and associations throughout the country doing workshops, music camps, master classes, concerts and firesides to inspire and motivate teens, adults, music students and teachers. He enjoys teaching piano students about music theory, improvisation, and composition. He refers to himself as a Music Mentor™ and encourages music students to get motivated by music and to motivate others through music of their own. CLICK HERE for a message from Jerald Simon to piano students (something all piano teachers, parents of piano students, and piano students should read)!

    Key Take Aways:It's so important that students learn theory the fun/practical wayInvolve students in as many aspects of music-making as possibleInvolve technology as much as you can, because students are comfortable with it, and it actually makes music come alive more for themHelp students take ownership of their music, through teaching improv, composition, etcAt the end of the day, it's not about us or our studios, it's about the students, and them connecting with musicWe need to work on bridging the gap between repertoire/songs and theoryIt's important to discuss goals with students, so that you both understand where they're heading, and you can do anything you can to help them get thereRecommended Books:

    "The Savvy Musician" by David Cutler

    "The Indy Band Survival Guide" by Randy Chertkow

    "The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino

    Learn more about Jerald Simon:

    MusicMotivation.com

    FaceBook

    YouTube

    Twitter

    Pinterest

    Instagram

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/048

  • Key Take Aways:There is no o secret sauce or formulaIn everything that you do - infuse your personal “brand” or whatever makes you really unique, into itIf you can find an area of focus that already has interest and a lot of attention, you can piggy-back off that momentumBut the key is to find a way to do it in a way that is still very much your brand, and very much youThis is the difference between selling out, and making good careers decisions with your music.The sellout will follow any trend to make a buck, whereas the smart artist will find a way to use that trend to gain traction for what is already special about themDon’t be an “anti” artist. Don’t assume that because something is popular, or maybe in with the younger crowd right now, that it as no meritInstead, try to understand on a deep level what's making music or trends popular, and then learn how you can assimilate those good aspects into your own work!Artist always have decisions to make as very as direction, and there is nothing wrong with focusing one way, for a time, because it is popularIt can only become “selling out” if you’re not putting your special, unique artistry into it.Be uniquely you, but also take into consideration which decisions will help you relate to your audience betterRelating to your audience - and bringing something that other value into the world is, in my opinion, the end all for the artistSo don’t be afraid to make decisions with all of this in mind - while maintaining your creative, unique, artist spark

    Mic Check is a recording equipment rental company that ships gear straight to your door all over the U.S. They make getting the equipment you've always wanted easier.

    Modern Musician Listeners! Get 4 FREE Days on your first rental! Checkout this exclusive offer here: ModernMusician.MicCheck.co

    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/047