Tips for Developing Your Music Production Skills
The beautiful sounds of music have so much power over your emotion and soul. Think of what happens to your mind, body and perhaps even spirit when you hear a beat come on the radio. This power often inspires people to make a living out of music in one way or another. That said, it’s hard to get your foot in the door. If you’re looking to develop your own music production skills, there are a few things you should know. Read on to learn more!
Meet a Producer
One of the best ways to get insider information about the industry is to meet with an actual music producer. Whether you visit someone at the local or national talent level, you’ll get to see what the life of a producer is really like and what the day-to-day happenings of the business are. Most towns have a local music producer, and he or she will likely be happy to meet with you for a brief interview. Be sure to prepare interview questions before you go – you don’t want to forget anything in the few minutes they found in their schedule for you.
Education
Knowing how to produce music is different from acquiring the latest skills, technologies and tools in the industry. No matter where you are in life, it would definitely benefit you to receive some formal training in the field. You could start taking classes at a community college or adult education center, or even obtain a music production degree from a university. Some music production programs might be shorter than the traditional college degree (or available in the evenings or on the weekends), which can be particularly helpful if you are a returning student.
Look for Internships
Once you have met with that music producer, be sure to keep his or her contact information on file. After you work toward receiving some education in the field, you may wish to contact the producer to find out if any internships are available. Remember, internships are generally unpaid opportunities to secure practical experience in the field. Your college probably has some internship opportunities available for you as well. Be sure to check with the career center and work on crafting an excellent resume to be accepted into the internship you want.
Put in Effort
Not everyone is going to have the time to spend each day on music production skills, but you really need to carve out time for it on a regular basis. You want to ensure that you have the best skills that you possibly can and that you are working on your mistakes. When you are at your internship or working with a professional music producer, be open to both positive and negative critiques. To put it simply, you are not going to learn if no one ever points out the mistakes that you make. If you’re looking to make it in the industry and be known to a large scale audience, your skills need to be practically flawless, so always look for opportunities to improve.
Being a music producer is a dream that quite a number of people have, but most aren’t quite sure how to bring those wishes to fruition. When you follow the tips listed above, you are providing yourself with a greater opportunity to succeed in the exciting world of music production.
Author Pam Johnson is a music production professional who obtained her Masters of Music Production from one of the most highly acclaimed programs in the country. Her job can be found on the list of Highest Paying Master’s Degrees.