The top three keys to success in music are to make singing a part of your daily life, learn to play an instrument and be a part of the action.
Sing as a part of your daily life
Singing has to be a daily thing if you want to be good. “You get up in the morning, you brush your teeth, you comb your hair and then you sing,” says celebrity vocal coach Cari Cole. Any successful singer makes singing a part of their life style. The bonus is that singers are the happier than those in any other career. See: Best jobs in 2012
Learn to play an instrument
While singers may not need to play an instrument, Cari Cole says it is very helpful. If you choose to play guitar, pick your favorite style of music—whether it is folk, heavy metal or classical—then learn how to play that style of guitar from the start, says Jerry Grote, executive at Schmitt Music. Learning guitar is not like learning the clarinet. You do not need to start with book one of music fundamentals to learn guitar. Do any readers remember playing their first music lesson “stepping up, stepping down, then you skip?” Instead, most guitar instruction studios start you by playing your preferred style of music.
Be a part of the action
“Create a network,” says Cari Cole. Collaborating with others and being a part of the music industry is critical to success. One of the main activities for singers is establishing and maintaining relationships. This means developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Part of getting involved is collaboration with others. Jeff Beck, who has enjoyed a successful lifetime career in music puts it in his own words, “You grow up in camaraderie. A band is better than any pickup players.” Later in life Jeff continued to collaborate with other artists, “nothing happened and then all of sudden I was on 15 other albums, just by a couple of Jack Daniels and a promise… things happen.” See the video: Guitar Hero Jeff Beck Discusses His Career.
Being a part of the action means being an active listener. Give full attention to what other people are saying. Take time to understand the points being made. Ask questions and do not interrupt. Failure to demonstrate this critical skill can be a turn-off the fans and colleagues.
Clive Davis, a very successful music executive, encourages musicians to write songs with others, and to sing songs others have written. His recent book, The Soundtrack of My Life, is filled with examples of how artists have become successful by listening to advice given them. He also gives many examples of artists who never made it because they failed to listen.
See more information on keys to success in music.
Comments