How to Get a Free Piano
Think a piano is way outside your budget? Think again! Free pianos are everywhere if you know where to look…
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How to Amp up the Drama as a Solo Performer
Not too long ago, a friend took me to a Willis Earl Beal show. Knowing nothing (behind the times, as usual), I assumed assumptions: He would be a songwriter with a guitar. Such was not the case. The show was much more interesting than that. He performed solo, accompanied only by backing tracks composed on…
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The Bandleader’s Guide to Your Merch Table
As a bandleader, it’s your job to cover all the bases — run rehearsals, plan shows on the road, arrange practices — and yes — execute a killer merch table. These 10 square feet of retail are your gateway to making a lasting impression and some extra dough for the band. It’s an opportunity to…
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Why It’s Important to Be an Organized Musician
Musicians often get stereotyped as being “flaky.” Unreliable musicians not only drive other musicians crazy, they hurt the relationships with venues, booking agents, and everyone else musicians rely on to get their music heard. But despite what stereotypes say, you CAN be a “creative type” and also know your way around a spreadsheet. So rather than hold yourself back, embrace…
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4 Tips for Constructive Criticism in Songwriting
As a former writing major, I know all too well the faults of bad criticism. It makes the writer feel bad, it makes the commenter look inconsiderate, and it doesn’t help the writing improve. In songwriting, something you’ve poured your heart and soul into, it’s especially uncomfortable to receive harsh criticism. The wrong things get attacked, and the…
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Start Your Own Jam Session in 5 Simple Steps
A jam session can be one of the best ways to build your network. My jam session in Brooklyn, Playground Sessions, brings together so many people on a regular basis. That session has sparked countless collaborations and performance opportunities. So here’s how you can go about starting your own. Step 1: Find a Space This…
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The 4 Elements That Separate a Good Mix From a Great Mix
The first thing to understand about music is that it’s completely subjective. You might make music for yourself, you might make music for an audience, but the audience will always form their own opinions about your labor of love. The same is true for me: some people love my work, some people hate my work.…
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5 Exercises to Write More Creative Lyrics
+ Improve your songwriting with Soundfly! Explore our range of courses on emotional chord progressions, basic songwriting technique, songwriting for producers, and many more. Subscribe for unlimited access here. Writing creative lyrics is a challenging task. If you want to write for radio, you’ll probably lean towards accessible themes of love with simple, easy-to-digest lyrics. Poetry, as beautiful as it…
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5 Chord Progressions to Kickstart Your Songwriting
Need a boost of inspiration? Try any of these fool-proof chord progressions to jumpstart your writing process.
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7 Strange (but Effective) Ways to Keep Your Voice Healthy
This article originally appeared on TakeLessons’ blog. As a singer, you probably know how important it is to take care of your voice — it is your instrument, after all! If you’re already staying hydrated and doing your daily warm-ups, take it a step further by trying these strange (but effective) strategies in this guest…
