It does not mean because someone is:
Famous
Grade 8
Higher in the educational system
Has achievements on their walls
Richer
That they are better than you. To be great in this world is nothing but hard work. And if someone challenges you never have to accept. But if you choose to leave them speechless.
Music is not a competition
Surprise them with kindness
Hard work always
Do it for you, do it for them, but don’t do it because they asked you to.
If you come in and purely want to learn a specific thing we will teach that. Though my lessons are taught in a holistic approach. For example I’ll teach you how to play a song, but will also explain how the song is written. The thoughts and feelings behind the notes chosen and therefore the reasons behind why you like it.
I do this because you won’t need a million lessons, you won’t have any more questions. You’ll know and be able to do anything in music. Doesn’t matter the level or who you are. I teach everybody as if their going to become a professional. Because it’s these people that will have more of a chance of making it. As well as being completely fulfilled.
It’s not just a music lesson. It’s a science/math/philosophy/biology….. It’s a life lesson!
A little bit of inspiration for you….. People say a career in music is hard and it’s true. Though nobody tells you the positives and the ways to make a living out of it. You may even come in contact with negativeness such as; ’that’s not a real job’ ‘get a real job’ ‘it’s hard to break through.’ The latter being the truer out of the lot. Being a firm believer in that if you put your heart and your mind to anything, you can achieve it!
But for me personally…. I remember seeing a video by a philosopher called Alan Watts entitled ‘what if money was no object’. I watched it at the most perfect time in my life. After leaving university and thinking, “what I’m I to do now?” ‘With all the dreams of being a rockstar’ which I persuade though deep down it’s not what I wanted to do. It’s only took me till now to really understand what I do want to do with my music.
After watching the video I said to my self, “well I taught a few people while I was studying in college and university why don’t I do that I’m clearly alright at it, maybe?”…. But what’s made be good at it now is after 9 hour long days for the past 7 years. Is grabbing my books and continuing to study into the early hours. Learning all that I can on all aspects of music. There’s not been a question I couldn’t answer in a lesson and its all down to this continued work. I also want to say that experience is such a big factor in excelling as a teacher. With each lesson that goes by I come up with new systems and ways to teach people in the quickest and effective way.
Teaching was the first thing I thought to do, but there’s been a few things now. They include playing cover gigs which I sing most weekends and jumping up for occasional guitar and bass duties. Recording and mixing to which I’ve done one album and loads of songs. Helped composers and songwriters with their works. Been asked to help out on a few projects.
I’ve been offered a job in nearly every private music school in Liverpool and just yesterday a took a new job as a peripatetic Teacher. I sometimes think, “why do people keep calling me up?’, but then again I think….cause you work your bloody ass off boy! Like some weird karma where the universe can see that you don’t stop and deserve somewhat of a break.
Why I’m I telling you all this?…. well if you take anything from reading this its that hard work pays off and to see that there’s loads that you can do to make a career in music, think outside the box! So many people theses days want everything now, but learning something like an instrumental gives dedication which I think carries over in all aspect of life. It’s also why I strongly believe music should be a priority in Schools…..(I’ll get onto this rant another time haha!).
Just a sort list that’ll help you pay the bills:
Teach (more instruments the better)
Cover work (agencies)
Session work (helps to read)
Get into a touring band (contacts)
Recording and Mixing (Mastering if this is your thing, but there’s a reason why it’s called mastering).
Songwriter (contacts, research)
Choir Master (loads of jobs if you look)
Sound Engineer (get out there, contacts)
CruiseShip (reading a must)
The internet! (search there’s all new ways to use your skills, take that fiver as an example)
And that just to name a few!
If you need any extra advice on what you need, what you should know, who can you speak to, just let me know! There’s a lot I’ve left out here to stop it boring you. This is my personal experience other people may say different and that of course is absolutely fine, there’s not one way to do anything ESPECIALLY in music and there shouldn’t be. Friends of mine are smashing it in other fields and I’m sure they will be happy to offer their insight. I’m really happy in myself as of late and seeing so many of friends doing so well too is just beautiful! 30 next year, it's not all bad!
Thanks for reading,
Neil Potter
That Alan Watts video, I hope it moves and inspirers you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch3_xc8zSP0
How can we sing better?...
Well I always tell my students that singing’s like making an epic butty (or sandwich if you’re from the south). Which always gets a laugh or a confused face....
There are so many layers we need to work if we want project our best voices and I use this analogy as a way of making it fun and easy to understand. Some are lucky enough to do 80% naturally; but to understand the inner workings of your voice is to better understand the instrument as a whole.
The first layer is of course the bottom piece of bread; this will be your breath. It’s one of the important ones and if not achieved correctly your entire sandwich (technique) will fall apart. Plus if you’re going to study this make sure to use a teacher that explains it as breath management where you sing on a steady steam of air and not ‘singing from the diaphragm’. There’s a lot of misconceptions in singing and this is one of the biggest culprits.
The filling ingredients: - remember to keep the sternum elevated, rib cage and solar plexus expanded, the jaw relaxed, the tongue relaxed and up at the back, the the soft palate relaxed even when in the higher parts of the voice, the larynx either neatural low or high depending on the style you’re going for, the mouth rounded, compression achieved by frying, resonate chambers full of buzz, forward placement, the 6 different registers, smooth over of both passaggio’s, diction and vowel modification, and for that added bit of tomato ketchup grit/rasp.
The last layer, the top piece of bread. Will simply be practice practice practice, but don’t over do it!! Singing is very similar to going the gym. We use muscles in our throat and larynx and the more you work in the right areas the stronger your voice will be. Though you have to start slow and work your way up so you don’t pull a muscle, but don’t also fear the crack. Cracking is good, it’s a sign you’re working something new.
If you’re fortunate to be able to afford lessons make sure you go through each one these techniques and you’ll soon be singing how you want.
Please feel free to message me if you’re in the area; now get them ingredients out the fridge and lets get singing!
Thanks for reading,
Neil
I’ve been supporting myself as a musician for the past 7 years now and I always like to help out fellow musicians and teachers. If you read these blogs and find them useful I’m very glad! Free free to share them and help other starving artists too!