I’m gonna post about this topic instead of responding here, it’s a great question, and I don’t have a good answer, but rather a series of disconnected thoughts. So… it’ll be like every other post I write.

And since you mentioned it, how does one get into the session singing world? Sight singing belongs with Scott like Phil Shackleton belongs with Logic Audio.

I have some smart friends.

I understand your perspective, I really do. Here is a list of things that I could do (or I am pretty sure I could do) if I applied myself:

1. Screenwriter
2. Worship Pastor / Senior Pastor (yikes)
3. Film & TV Composer
4. Singer / Songwriter (my chosen focus)
5. Session Singer (my new day gig)
6. Choral Conductor
7. Video Editor
8. Audio Editor / Mixer
9. Record Producer
10. Talent Scout / Developer

I have aptitude (and have proven myself in varying degrees) in all of these areas that has been lauded and encouraged by smart people. I think that if I do not choose one of these, I will simply not ever break through. The idea of Jack of all Trades is, I’m afraid, a rabbit trail. Madonna (or pick your successful person who wears many hats) did not become Madonna The Multitalented Diva by focusing on many things. She became who she is because she first made a name for herself in one area, and then crossed over using her fame and clout.

It’s my opinion, and this opinion is based on watching some EXTREMELY gifted, connected, and (most importantly) well funded people flounder around well into their 30s never catching a break because they refuse to focus on one area.

I have a friend who is one of the most talented people I have ever met. He has performed for Oprah, Maya Angelou, Will.I.Am, Morgan Freeman, Norman Lear, Salma Hayek, etc… I have never seen someone command a stage with just a microphone and the contents of his mind. He won the national slam poetry champoinships, and was featured by Russell Simmons on HBO. I’d ask him, “Are you going to break through as a poet, rapper, actor, director, or writer?” He’d answer, “yes.”

He lives with his parents.

What of those people who are good at many things, but not “monster players” or “sick engineers” or whatever other hip ways of saying they’re better than I am at their one thing? What about the people who are exceedingly well-rounded? Are they wasting their time? What should they pursue? Random small-time gigs where their contractors don’t know the difference? Are they left to fight over the scraps from the aforementioned prodigies’ and go-getters’ table? Please note that these are still people with great talent and even initiative, but are perhaps lost in the sea of options and unclear vision.

Sincerely,
Jacques of all trades

I’m pretty sure there’s a website devoted to nothing but that. Hang on, I’ll email bobby to get the link.

The Chad: you are the sweetest man alive. It totally looked like I was fishing, but I swear I wasn’t. Does this blog make my butt look big?

Aly: right you are. And your ‘chest a C’ remark, while terribly pertinent, did make me immediately imagine myself balancing a class of Tang on my jublies. Here’s to you for my biggest laugh today.

Cerise

It’s true on any instrument. The fundamentals of music just don’t change all that much, from genre to genre. Good execution is still good execution. Learning to control pitch, time, tone, breath, phrasing, all of those things matter in every genre.

I’m holistic when it comes to music - I’m a “use the whole buffalo” kind of guy. I firmly believe that no time invested in music, earnestly invested, is ever wasted. It will pay dividends in the most unlikely of places.

[My caveat here is that I sing about as much now as I run for president. But on the occasions I do, I'm better for every run-in with Sam Barber.]

Well… I remember you sounding great! You’re truly exceptional.

What??

I totally and utterly disagree that classical training and pop singing can’t be accomplished together, at the same time in your life, with integrity. I love you, The Chad, even though you’re saying that my cover of Rod Stewart’s ‘Forever Young’ wasn’t the pop masterpiece that it is. (What??) But I disagree that 1. the agility/history/strength/range that classical music imbues can’t be used in a great way for a pop/rock/jazz singer, and 2. you can’t do both. Huh-uh. It takes more work, yes, but I think musicians (not all of them, perhaps) can benefit from both and DO both to the utmost of their potential. I do. For honesty’s sake, my classical teacher disagrees with me, too. But she’s amazing, so…I smile and nod. Arrogant harpy that I am.

I mean, come on. Are you all forgetting that awesome Ralph Macchio movie “Crossroads”? The only reason Eugene could out-play the devil on electric guitar was because of all that Bach he had to sweat through. We all know that movies are the truth - ergo, I have you in the crushing grip of reason on this one.

I realize that the fact that I’ve already admitted to being one of the useless musicians (i.e., not ‘doing’ anything, waiting for Sting to knock on my door, etc.) kind of renders my opinion null. But I got a good classical/pop/rock/jazz musical education. I’m not ‘doing’ anything and that grieves me - Michael’s given me some clarity in that respect. All of this doesn’t mean that I suck, though.

Cerise

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I’m not ripping on classical music, I think everyone should be educated as to how we got where we are. I love classical music. I wish I could do what Morphea does and sing in a legit chorale.

I just think that, speaking totally as a singer here, there are habits and characteristics of classical singing that make it impossible to turn around and sing a pop vocal with any integrity, or vice versa. Same 12 tones, yes, but different worlds entirely. Nothing worse then a classical singer trying to sing pop. Nothing.

Only that there’s no such thing as classical training and jazz training, really. It’s all just notes. You should hear Chick Corea sit down and rip through a Mozart sonata.

Hmm.

I might disagree, professor Lee. It’s taken me a long time to undo some of the rules I learned at APU. Of course, I never would have been here had I not been there… so it’s kind of a moot point.

I think classical music (especially if you’re a singer) can make your pop tone pretty silly sounding. Classical singers can be retrained, but I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t compromise one to better the other.

Piano may be a different animal, and as I am a competent hack on that instrument, I will not weigh in.

One of the cool things is the church is so much more open to musicians than a few years ago. Younger musicians are pushing the church to get better, Michael, put that passion in your student so pastors like me will not be able to overlook the amazing artists in the church.

I am not a musician and I have to say that the people that I know who are pretty well fit your description - full-on passionate about their craft. I just wonder…is there time for the late-bloomers to grow up?

I had an epiphany about my junior year - I was not going to be a professional horn player, or a soundtrack composer, as I had intended when starting at APU. It wasn’t that those weren’t great things to be, or that I wasn’t good at them… my soul just knew I wasn’t willing to put in the time to be great instead of good. God knows it would have been A LOT of time! I backed out of some of my music schooling (although I still somehow finished with a Theory/Comp degree) and ended up taking some business classes and putting more into the guitar and recording, because that was where my heart was.

It’s worked out ok so far, the business training gets me through the musically slow times (like the last year). Interestingly my hobby of building web sites has been paying the bills for almost 5 years now.

My single is being played on two more stations than the Apologetix latest… I feel my life is complete. Didn’t have a good place to put that but I had to say it.

That’s a fantastic question, and one that I don’t know if I have a good answer to. I know that will bring a lot of joy to my students who are reading this. That’s right kids, Prof Lee has no idea why you’re spending 30k a year to be here!

The analogy I use is that going to school is like running through a hardware store. There’s no benefit to running through it, and no prize for reaching the other side. The only thing that matters are the tools that you grab along the way.

The great advantage of a good school, one with a well-developed program, is that it puts you in contact with tools you would never have thought to grab otherwise. If I had emerged from High School and went straight into trying to play keyboards professionally, I would never have learned about music technology, how to orchestrate for strings, anything about choral music. All of those things that my music degree forced me to do have ended up being invaluable in my professional career.

I might still have been able to make a career at it, but there’s no way I could do the dozen things other than playing keyboards that now go into making my living as a musician.

Networking isn’t a small thing, either. When I got out into the industry, I was jealous of those friends of mine who went to places like Berklee, or USC. They got into town, and had a list of people to call who already knew them, and knew what they could do. It seems like they hit ground running a lot faster than I did. At the time I graduated from APU, there had been maybe a dozen people, total, who went from APU out into the industry, and made a living at it. Most of them I didn’t know. Compare that with someone who goes to USC, and graduates with 50 other people who will all be out making a living. That’s a pretty significant advantage.

So, stay in school kids. Don’t do drugs. Don’t hang out with degenerates like Chad and Jeremy.

For film, or music or any career where the degree doesn’t ultimately matter, whats the point? The people that are going to succeed probably would with or without a degree. The only legitimate answer I’ve come up with is networking. Any others?

er… maybe I’m in a mood today. I’m going to hang up now.

192K is ok for mp3, I wouldn’t call it “good”. Apple’s mp4 or AAC is better than mp3 at 192K. I can’t stand the sound of 128K mp3.

Nice post, Mike.

Cerise

Can you please give this speech in P. Forum at least once a year, as well as a “brief reminder” version at the beginning of every Music Tech class meeting? Shake those people out of their idealistic reveries.

As for the mp3 guy, I’ve never seen anyone go through APU with such passion for (and knowledge of) one particular field. Now that he’s here and I see what can be, I wonder why more aren’t like that and what I’ve been missing this whole time being surrounded by mediocre, uninspired musician-wannabes. We need a jumpstart. Henceforth you shall be known as the musical defibrillator.

You will help so many if you can figure out how to impart this to the likes of me that are now within the realm of your influence. I fervently hope they listen.

Cerise

“I’m an artist… gimme a tuba and I’ll do somethin’ cool with it.”

I’ve straddled this line for far too long. On one hand, I was writing and becoming who I was in college. On the other hand, I spent a lot of time frustrated that “The Break” wasn’t coming.

Thank god for Tom. He really shook my s**t up.

Hm. I would like to hear that compression example though. That sounds pretty interesting. So…192K bps great for mp3s? Or is 128 enough?

Hopefully, someday you can listen to a few things I have mixed/recorded/ mastered and give me you personal opinion on them.