Miscellaneous

On the technological side of the glass, everything is properly sorted. A sizeable mixing console, a couple of vintage valve amps, high-end studio monitors and a solid PC running DAW software. You’re ready to have a performer on the other side of the glass sing or play into that equally expensive microphone. Right?

Writer’s block… the stories from fellow musicians who completely get stuck when writing songs don’t lie. Guest blogger Iris Siemons sees the struggle. As a songwriter, she can offer plenty of advice on inspiration, planning, dedication, flow and… that annoying inner critic.

To get straight to the point: if you don’t make music, you’re not really living. That may sound like a rather firm belief. But however you look at it, Guest blogger Iris Siemons, songwriter and singer, always seems to come back to that conclusion. Iris recommends starting with the most personal instrument there is—the one everyone carries with them: the voice. Singing is good for you!

More and more stories are appearing in the media about music having a beneficial effect on people and supporting recovery. We probably all recognise how music can comfort you or lift your mood. That can be therapeutic, but it isn’t music therapy yet. Guest blogger Jaimie van der Snel, a music therapist, gives you a glimpse into the possibilities of music as therapy.

Guest blogger and songwriter Jemy Gijsman takes us through the next step on your journey to success: recording a demo. Once the song is written, the lyrics are finalised and you’ve got the chords down on paper, you want to go further, so you need to get out there and start hustling. Since you don’t have your own studio and only have minimal knowledge about the production and mixing process, you need to do some research and find a studio that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and can help you record your demo. Once you’ve found the right studio, what do you need to prepare? And how can you find the right musicians to help you get the job done?

Guest blogger Iris Siemons is a songwriter and vocalist who recently released her debut EP, but becoming a self-sufficient full-time musician was a long journey, and during that journey, she picked up a few nuggets of wisdom and even founded a musical collective in her home town. Having spent years immersing herself in study, including a course in how to become an entrepreneur, Iris has finally come to a point where she can confidently answer the question: “How can I become a professional musician?” Here she offers five must-do’s for the pro-musician in training.

Guest blogger Iris Siemons writes songs for both herself and for other artists and, for a long time, she just didn’t see the point in learning anything about music theory. Why learn to read notes when you can just record them and then listen back? Now that she’s a little older and a little wiser, her eyes have been opened to the beauty of music theory; how it can not only help you to become a better musician and how it can actually serve as a really helpful tool for your writing practice. Basically, music theory is about far more than just reading music.

Your first DJ gig can be nerve-racking. Not sure what you need or what it involves? Then read on for first-gig tips and some gear advice. While we can’t take your nerves away, we can tell you how to deliver a successful set!

Love horror film music and want to know more about how it’s composed? In this article, I’m going to discuss three types of suspenseful, tension-building styles that are the cornerstone of many-a scary movie, and then give you ten examples of stellar horror soundtracks. In the second half, I’ll share a few writing tips for aspiring horror/thriller film composers. And don’t worry, there are no jumpscares!

Maybe your first booking was at your friend’s or your cousin’s wedding and it was such a success that you want to go professional. More and more couples are getting wed to a live-performed soundtrack, which only increases your chances of getting some gigs booked during the wedding season. Here, Guestblogger and professional wedding musician Kevin Okkema shares his tips to help you get more requests.

Ever considered penning your own original music for a musical? Then you’ve probably already noticed what a challenge it really is. In this blog, we take a look at how show tunes are put together and what separates a musical number from your average pop song or film score. Fix yourself a drink, sit back, relax, and allow the Bax Music theatre to take all you ambitious composers and curious musical-lovers on a tour of how musical music happens.

What exactly is hearing damage and how can it affect you? As a musician, how does hearing damage happen? How easily can it happen and, more importantly, how can you best prevent or limit its effects? Read on to find out more.