What skills are required to be a professional musician today

I have been thinking about this a great deal lately. The music industry has changed since I first started as a professional musician twenty years ago. Imagine what things will be like in twenty years time from now. I am optimistic.

When I started out the key skills were ability on an instrument, teaching skills, people skills and that was largely it. Thinking about what is required of me these days, I came up with this list (in no particular order):

1. playing the guitar
2. understanding a high level of music theory
3. strong sight-reading skill
4. extensive knowledge of many musical styles
5. ability to teach
6. video and audio production skills
7. knowledge of the latest equipment
8. writing skills
9. understanding of social media and openness to the constant changes in this area
10. ability to promote events
11. negotiation skills
12. learning to live with minimal sleep
13. events management
14. knowing how to play a second instrument (piano for me)
15. people skills (this is by no means last in terms of priority)

We can see that this list is substantial and in some ways overwhelming to think of what is required. However, many of these can be combined into manageable groups. That list would look something like (in no particular order):

1. promotion
2. musical skills
3. technology skills
4. people skills

Computers make learning most of these skills less challenging. If I need to know something I google it... or I visit YouTube to find a tutorial. This sharing of information makes life easier and more complicated in some ways. Still, I would not want to go back to the way things were. My first cellphone was a brick and hardly did anything useful compared to my iPhone.

If you have these skills that does not necessarily mean you will have a career in music. There are many more factors that combine to make a career but if you have these skills then you are in a very good position to do well in music. Good luck.

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YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/nickgranny

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... and you can download my latest album from:  nickgranville.bandcamp.com/album/home

The music books that had the most significance influence on my musical development

1. The Advancing Guitarist - By Mick Goodrick. This book is a gem. Mick Goodrick has taught many great players including Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Mike Stern and continues to teach at the Berklee School of Music. This book is not a method book, rather designed to inspire practise and potentially change the way musicians think about practise and music. Yes, it is a guitar book but I would recommend it to any instrumentalist as a considerable amount of the information is universal. 

2. Effortless Mastery - By Kenny Werner. This book was an eye opener for me. This book is a documentation of Kenny's approaches to learning and music. I have owned three copies of this book over the years and each have been loaned to people who did not returned it. I guess that speaks volumes about how great this book is. A must for all serious musicians. 

3. Total Guitar Magazine - multiple contributors. Thats right,  not one book but a magazine. For a while I subscribed to this magazine and would religiously learn to play everything contained in the magazines. This meant I learnt a broad range of musical styles and approaches as often the contributors to these magazines are a cross section of musicians. Also, I learnt a lot about the equipment used by the professionals via this magazine. Now days I really like Premier Guitar Magazine among others and try to learn as many things as I can from this - both lessons and about gear etc. 

4. The Encyclopaedia of Reading Rhythms - By Gary Hess. Many years ago during my studies at music school I was introduced to a book of etudes designed for drummers by Joel Rothman. It was designed to teach you rhythm via snare drum playing (I clapped) of rhythms and learning to read. I found this book useful. I was discussing this book with Lance Philip (excellent Wellington drummer & educator) as I had lost my copy and he mentioned the Encyclopaedia of Reading Rhythms book as a similar resource. I checked it out and found this to be exactly what I wanted and quite frankly a better book than the one I had. I worked on this book extensively, and continue to when I get the time. It is well organised and I really like the check lists. 

5. 14 Jazz and Funk Etudes - By Bob Mintzer. This book is a collection of tunes with solos and a play-along by saxophonist Bob Mintzer. It is available for most instruments. The thing I love about this book is the solos contain a lot of jazz vocabulary and the playalong CD is of a very high standard - featuring jazz greats. Many of the tunes are jazz standards or classic styles (such as blues, funk etc) so are useful for practising anything else that you might be working on in addition to the material presented in the book. Much of the material in this book is difficult but there are easier editions that are similar to this book. 

6. A Modern Method for Guitar - By William Leavitt. I have found this book invaluable for teaching. Many times when students come for a masterclass lesson I ask them what they work on. Often they mention this book as a good on to work on their reading. This is only part of what this book is good for. It has lots of scale, arpeggios, rhythm guitar stuff and more and is laid out in a logical way. 

                                                                            Keep in touch:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/nickgranny

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nickgranvillemusic

... and you can download my latest album from:  nickgranville.bandcamp.com/album/home

    

Is your attitude up to the required level for gigging?

It never ceases to amaze me how some musicians work really hard on their playing only to lose gigs or are not asked to do gigs due to their attitude. Do not get me wrong, I am not for saying for one second I am perfect - I have learnt many lessons the hard way.

Lets look at what is involved in doing a gig:

For a local gig in one's home town the band might typically play two sets of forty-five to fifty minutes each. That is around two hours total (give or take) of playing. In order to do the gig the band must know the material which means rehearsal etc. Once at the gig there is setup time; lets say thirty minutes or more. Then the break in the middle of the gig is usually twenty minutes (despite saying we will be back in ten minutes! ha.). Then there is the pack down and maybe a beer after the gig to wind down and talk about the gig. If we consider all of this we can see there are many more hours of interactive time between band members than playing. All this interaction is greater when touring or doing a gig out of one's home town.

It is common sense that people are only going to book those who they know can play the music and are easy to work with. No one wants to work with someone who is difficult or unorganised or is plain and simply troublesome. Being a musician and making music is hard enough as it is.

Recently I had an experience with a difficult musician who was way out of line. The silly thing is I was about to offer this person some gigs - but won't be now. So if he had been cool, that particular gig we were doing would have been better, and there would have many more dates for his diary.

I have learnt many lessons about attitude. Recently I had someone (different person) who was difficult on a gig. I could have confronted this person for being a dork but decided to remain calm and let it go and deal with it another day. In the mean time I happened to stumble upon someones comment on facebook which was 'it is better to remain friends than to be right'. So I decided to say nothing to this person and to let it go. This was the best thing to do.

Here are a few ideas to consider that could make life easier for all:

1. Turn up on time and with the required gear. In fact I would recommend being early.

2. Learn the music. A great attitude won't get you anywhere if you can not do what is required.

3. Be nice to everyone. Many times the guy or girl who is playing next to you will end up becoming the band leader ... or he / she might end up recommending you for future gigs ... or he / she might stop you getting future gigs!

4. Stay focused at rehearsal. If you are playing then focus on that, not your smart phone (no facebook, txt etc unless you have a break or are tacet). I know one band leader who gets extremely annoyed when people txt / facebook / email during rehearsals! This person has a long memory.

5. Pay attention. Do not noodle when the bandleader is talking!

6. Say thank-you when people help you. e.g if someone pays you a compliment, or offers you work, or gives you a ride, or recommends you etc. Seems simple but many people do not do these things. Pay people back for help - consider recommending them for gigs.

7. Be nice to everyone. I know I have said this previously but it needs repeating. You never know where someone is going to end up. The guy who is pouring drinks behind the bar might end up running it one day and might have the power to get you gigs.

8. Never complain about the money. Do not take the gig if you are unhappy with the money offered. If you accept it, then you do so for the amount agreed. However, you have every right to complain if you do not get paid what was agreed.

9. Do not bad mouth people. I know, I know, it is easier said than done but sometimes this gets back to the person... and as I said earlier - you never know where people are going to be, or how they might be able to help you. The only time it is ok to bad mouth someone is if people rip you off. Then spread the word, to ensure others are not getting ripped off too. Even then, often it is best to let it slide and put it down to experience (just don't work with them again!) - besides karma will get them.

10. Make friends. One of the best things about the music industry is the cool people you will meet. Make friends with people. The music gets better. Everything gets better. I have met and are friends with some amazing musicians both locally and internationally and am very grateful for this.

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