foundations of modern music creation

“Foundations of Modern Music”

How modern music is made & how to “make it” in the modern music industry

1. Introduction to Music 2. Modern Music Structure & Machines

3. Marketing Your Sound: “Recordings to Rockstar”

Youth like you have been leaving their mark on history ever since the beginning…in fact, you make history every single day!

Let’s learn how to leave YOUR mark on history with music!

History of Modern Music

Use your music paperto takes notes &

follow along. Define terms!You will begin learning basic music notation and common structures

used in Modern Music.

WHAT is Music…?Yale University defined music as “an organization of repetitive rhythmic sounds that creates an emotional response.”Does this mean what is music to one person may not be music to another?Would you define music differently than the above definition?

Why am I qualified to Teach this to you?

I have owned

3 music/record/clothing stores 2 nightclubs

1 live music coffee shop 2 record labels

Many event production comp.I HAVE ALSO…

Djed professionally for 30 years, playing to crowds in excess of

14,000 in 41 States and 6 foreign countries.

I have also… composed & produced electronic

music on vinyl & mp3s which have sold on 6 of the 7

continents

Anyone care to guess which continent I haven’t conquered - yet?

Why Most Modern Music is Similar…

• The 1st common feature is that the VAST majority of modern music is organized in a similar repetitive manner…the reason a DJ can beat mix songs together is because they are structured alike. This standardization has became the common time signature in most rock, hip-hop, blues, EDM, country, funk, and pop.

• The 2nd common feature of modern music is its use and reliance on electronic instruments to produce sounds, effects, & sequencing.

• So, the standardization PLUS the invention of electronic/digital instruments are the two things that combined to lead to common modern music.

Music Notation

• Although the common use of computers to compose music now has created some changes in music notation, it is still the basis by which one musician can transfer a song to another musician.

• Music notation, the 5-line staff with the 7 notes of the musical alphabet, and the guiding rules of music theory have developed in earnest since around the Renaissance. They give use a framework to convey musical ideas to others.

Music Structure…Notes

TREBLE CLEF: One of the most common phrases to remember the names of the lines is: Every Good Boy Does Fine. To remember the

spaces, just remember that they spell FACE starting from the bottom.

Music Structure…Notes

The lines on the bass cleft, from bottom to top are: G, B, D, F, A (Good Boys Don't Fight Anyone), and

the spaces are A,C,E,G (All Cows Eat Grass)

Music Structure…Timing

• Music is arranged in a repetitive musical count called its TIME SIGNATURE or METER technically. Many exist (such as 3/4, 4/4, 9/8, 12/8, 5/8, 3/8) Today we will focus on the most common one

• Modern music is largely based on a 4/4 time signature, which means it has FOUR COUNTS PER MEASURE – or a repetitive rhythmic count of 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 in groups of FOUR, then FOUR, then FOUR and so on…

Music Notation in the Computer Age

• Modern music production programs incorporate a view of played or composed music called a “Piano Roll”. The blue rectangles represent ¼ notes…see there are 4 columns between each darkened vertical line and the blue note fills ¼ fully, illustrating it is in 4/4 meter/time signature

What’s Above Measures?

• A song is further organized into PHRASES. Phrases are a series of measures (4/4) that combine to create a “thought”. Think of it like the parts to a long sentence…they are separated by commas and each part expresses a thought that combined have a “full thought”.

• Phrases are used to add or subtract sounds to the song, or organized how long parts of the song continue. At the change of phrases musicians often leave a pause or add a sound to bring in the new phrase called a CADENCE – it’s like the audible musical comma.

In the beginning…

“Invention of the Synthesizer: Mini-Moog”Next slide…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLx_x5Fuzp4

A clip from the Moog documentary…

PART 2: Music Production Tools

Digital/Electronic tools are useful & used constantly in Reggae, Rock, House music and “EDM”, Pop, Hip Hop, & also Country.

Music nowadays is mostly produced with the help of computers and synthesizers. Let’s see how!

As synthesizers & drum machines have been replaced by computer programs it has become more affordable to have a “home studio”.

Due to greater access and easier use, it is now possible for one person to create songs that would have needed an entire orchestra

of musicians before. However, more people in greater access creates a more competitive market, so…getting to the top is harder.

ABLETON•Ableton like most music production programs

is based on the use and manipulation of sampled sounds that are digitally based.•There are several other popular professional

quality music production & editing programs: Logic, ProTools, Cubase• There is also a quickly expanding number of

apps for your cell phone (good & bad) that are made for producing music. We will be using one in this class to practice your music notation and com position skills

ABLETON

Now that you’ve WATCHED Ableton being used, it’s time to have you try it yourself!

Let’s use microphone sampled sounds of your voices and take loops from your

phones’ music (i.e. the beats) create a song of your own.

Watch this brief video by Hip Hop luminary, DJ Jazzy Jeff to see the program work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SH4g4FHZHw

PART 3: Making Money at It

• Making a living in our society as a professional musician is generally one of the worst paying jobs a person can have…BUT not always!!!

• To succeed in this industry it requires persistence, focused hard-work, flexibility, practice, & a marketable sound.

• It is important to carefully craft your professional self: artist name, logo, look, polished sound, good promotion & distribution

PROMOTION

Build up to A TALENT AGENT – Below are some of the most prestigious:

http://www.amonly.com/ or http://www.circletalentagency.com/

The best way to promote your project is through your own efforts…Attend events supporting style of your musicFREE CDs given awayFREE PerformancesPromo Packet for PromotersSocial Media – particularly groups supporting style of your musicWebpage+ANYTHING you can think of to increase & build a fanbase

Mr. Bersick (Burrrr…SICK)

Although Mr. B’s name is BerSick(And my name in the classroom)

……..

The moniker I use in the EDM & Hip Hop scenes as a musician & DJ is Chris Sick

(I dropped the “Ber”) for promo reasons

DISTRIBUTION – keep your copy!!DIGITAL – mp3 and wav sales usually give the label 50% and then label gives artist 50% of that…of $2 per download.

• iTunes.com – you must have UPC bar codes for each song• beatport.com – Requires a URL web address; Mastering on songs; Email &

Application • juno.com – Relatively open access if approached professionally. Email &

Application. • chemicalrecords.uk - Relatively open access if approached professionally.

Email & Application.• addictech.com – Mastering on songs. Email & Application.• http://www.addictech.com/?keywords=Sick%20Sounds&type=distinct&page=2

VINYL – Cost is roughly $1200 for 200, then MUCH cheaper, but creative options are HUGE!

• http://www.discmakers.com/products/vinyl.asp

Me @ “Legends” – NYE, Salt Lake City

Crowd was in excess of 10,000

https://youtu.be/sLx_x5Fuzp4

One of my stores:

“Sick”

DJ 12” Records

T-Shirt Styles(Mostly Music)

Girls Club & Party Clothing

SIGN

Outdoor Event on an island in the Great Salt Lake

ME “Sick”