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Artists | Books That Help
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Songwriting :
2005 Songwriter's Market
by Ian Bessler & Michael Schweer
The Songwriter's Market provides helpful, hard-to-find info for songwriters of every kind of music -- from rock and hip-hop to classical and country -- just what you need to build and maintain a successful life in songwriting ... like 1400 easy-to-reference and updated market listings ... key advice on how to market work for future sales, from writing popular single-song hits to creating a publicity campaign ... interviews with insiders who've "made it" and are willing to share their secrets for songwriting success ... and more.
6 Steps to Songwriting Success
by Jason Blume
"... Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs" ... Jason presents an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to mastering the key elements consistently found in hit songs. Incorporating inspiring anecdotes, effective exercises and common sense checklists for self-evaulation. Jason Blume is one of the few songwriters to have singles on the Country, Pop, and R&B charts simultaneously. His recent credits include songs recorded by the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.
88 Songwriting Wrongs & How to Right Them
by Pat Luboff, Pete Luboff (Contributor)
"... Concrete Ways to Improve Your Songwriting and Make Your Songs More Marketable" ... "This book is written in 88 bite-sized chapters that cover the songwriting process from inspiration to royalty collection. We have received feedback from many songwriters on how much this book has helped them and how much they enjoyed reading it. Each chapter illustrates a songwriting "mistake" - either by using our experiences or songs brought to our workshops - then explains how to avoid those pitfalls in your songwriting. Written in a friendly, fun, accessible style." ~~Pat Luboff - www.writesongs.com
Between the Strings | The Secret Lives of Guitars
by John Schroeter - with an Intro by B.B. King
My guitar-playing cousin, out in California, mailed me this book as a birthday present and I'm having a really FUN read! If you're looking for a good, relaxing read ... something light, inspiring and insightful ... and something that shines a deeper light on some of your guitar heroes ... here are 80 to 90 short and VERY entertaining stories about guitars by players and luthiers like Richie Furay, Pierce Pettis, John Michael Talbot, Johnny Cash, Bruce Carroll, Chet Atkins, Rick Derringer, Robbie Robertson, John Hammond, Peter Frampton, Bob Weir, Janis Ian ... the list goes on and on!
The Craft and Business of Songwriting
by John Braheny
Braheny has been in and around the songwriting side of this business for many, many moons! We first met when I auditioned for the (first) L. A. Songwriter's Showcase, way back in 1969, in Len Chandler's garage! More recently, John hooked me up with Mary Shanahan, when I performed for the Austin Songwriter's Group in 1996, and was responsible for me performing at that gig. John started the L. A. Songwriter's Showcase with Len, and over these many years has made a sterling reputation for himself in the music industry ... he's a good friend, he certainly knows what it's all about, and he shares it well in this book!
How to Make a Good Song a Hit Song
by Molly-Ann Leikin
"...Rewriting and Marketing Your Lyrics and Music" ... Here's something that covers the craft of writing, combined with the art of marketing and selling your work, all in one volume and at an affordable price, too! Molly-Ann does a good job on both subjects.
How to Pitch and Promote Your Songs
by Fred Koller
Fred Koller is a good friend of mine. I knew Fred in the early 80s, in Nashville ... we cowrote some songs together ... jammed a lot together and had many wonderful conversations. Here's his book about how to do it all. Fred really talks to you in this work ... he tells it like it is, and believe me when I tell you that he knows what he's talking about -- he sits on the Board of the Nashville Songwriter's Association International (NSAI) and he's written songs for many outstanding artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Michael Martin Murphy, Odetta, Leon Russell, The Sons of the Pioneers, Keith Whitley, and Lorrie Morgan - just to name a few.
Visit www.FredKoller.com | Check Out Fred's CDs! : "No Song Left to Sell"
Sammy Cahn's Rhyming Dictionary
by Sammy Cahn
This has been my favorite rhyming dictionary for years! Sammy put together a very cool, and very user-friendly rhyming dictionary that not only goes by the rhyming sound, but also by single, double, and triple syllables, as needed. It's great! I usually go to it when I'm stumped, or when I'm looking for some fresh ideas for a new verse ... and, to be perfectly honest, it has "come through" for me almost never! But it has helped me through many frustrating trials, has gotten me over many serious humps, and has led me down countless unexpected paths of discovery ... and that makes it worth having around!
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Recording :
How to Build A Small Budget Recording Studio From Scratch ... With 12 Tested Designs
by F. Alton Everest, Michael Shea (Contributor)
Practical guidance in the design, construction, and operation of your own affordable acoustics studio. Every aspect of designing and building an audio studio is fully discussed: floor plans, control rooms, wall and ceiling treatments, reverberation time, air conditioning, noise considerations, and more! The authors carefully describe procedures, necessary equipment, likely cost, and possible design parameters. Emphasis is placed on low cost studios designed with your specific needs in mind. From studio plans, sound lock and acoustical treatment, to studio proportions and noise factors, this revised edition provides everything needed to: Set up a listening room, a recording studio, and a control room. Achieve good sound in a listening room, a recording studio, and a control room. Control background noise in these rooms. Make acoustical measurements. Learn how the new type RPG diffusors work. Use the new Tube Traps and more.
Practical Recording Techniques
by Bruce and Jenny Bartlett
Here's a useful and comprehensive introduction to professional audio recording aimed primarily at the beginning and intermediate level recording engineer, but useful also for people like me doing home recording. It covers all aspects of equipment, sound, techniques and procedures. In addition to what you'd expect (it's recent enough to cover digital applications), there are sections on spoken word recordings, on-location recording, hum prevention, how to judge sound quality, and a short but interesting chapter on how an engineer can learn to listen to the art, and not just the sound, of the music being recorded. The Bartletts offer sound advice for how to mic various instruments (well, how would *you* go about micing bagpipes or a hammered dulcimer?). It contains a very useful guide for analyzing and correcting bad sound. Additionally, there are appendices covering the technicalities of dB, SMPTE and a suggested reading list. The glossary is excellent. ~~A reader from Singapore
The Home Studio Guide to Microphones
by Loren Alldrin
Want to know the secret to great recordings? Here's a hint: It's not in your latest 24-bit effects processor or whiz-bang digital recorder. Instead, great recordings start with the right microphone positioned well. Sound simple? It is. In The Home Studio Guide to Microphones, you'll learn how mics work, how they
differ and which mic to use when. Plus, you'll learn how to best record dozens of popular instruments. Finally, an extensive buyer's guide gives you specs and application info on over 70 popular mics.
The Mixing Engineer's Handbook
by Bobby Owsinski
Real world advice from a working professional. Actually, many working professionals... the book draws heavily from a couple dozen interviews of some of pro audio's heavy hitters (advice from Bruce Swedien and George Massenberg is always welcome!). Lots of different approaches to common problems and tasks, all specific enough to be of real help. I bought this book 2 weeks ago, and it has already helped me create better sounding mixes. skeller47 from Pacifica, CA USA
The Drummer's Studio Survival Guide :
How to Get the Best Possible Drum Tracks On Any Recording Project
by Mark Huntly Parsons, Rick Van Horn (Editor)
This book is as good as it gets. If your going to record drums you MUST have this book. It covers everything. Room acoustics, microphone placement, drum prep, EQing and efects, the vibe of the studio and musicians, how to deal with problems of all kinds. Nick from Canada
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Performing :
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Business Stuff :
101 Music Business Contracts - Updated Edition
by R. Williams
Contains over 100 contracts and agreements for recording artist, musicians, record companies, managers, songwriters, labels, producers, indies and any and all others in the music industry. Entertainment law at it's best!
All You Need to Know About the Music Business
by Donald S. Passman, Randy Gross (Illustrator)
How to Pick a Team; Personal Managers; Business Managers; Attorneys; Agents; Broad-Strokes Overview of the Record Business; Advances and Recoupments; Real-Life Numbers; Other Major Deal Points; Producer Deals; Advanced Record Deal Points; Advanced Royalty Computations; Loan-out, Independent Production, Label, and Distribution Deals; Copyright Basics; Publishing Companies and Major Income Sources; Secondary Publishing Income; Songwriter Deals; Copublishing and Administration Deals; Advanced Copyright Concepts; Group Issues; Touring; Merchandising; Motion Picture Music; Performer Deals; Film Songwriting Deals; Composer Agreements; Licensing Existing Recordings and Existing Songs for Motion Pictures; Music Supervisors; Soundtrack Album Deals.
The Complete Guide to Internet Promotion for Musicians, Artists & Songwriters
by Tim Sweeney, John Dawes
This book is like no other written about promoting your music on the Internet. The strategies contained in this book have been used by the most successful artists on the Internet today. The system in this book will lay the groundwork you need for a successful career in the fast paced music business.
This Business of Music :
The Definitive Guide to the Music Industry
by William Krasilovski, Sidney Shemel, and John Gross
Sections on recording companies and artists, music publishers and writers, and general industry aspects provide detailed information in areas such as contracts; independent record producers; work permits for foreign artists; copyright laws; public domain music; trademarks; music sampling; and taxation. Appendices offer extracts from copyright regulations, sample agreements, and current AFTRA rates. Includes forms for basic contracts and agreements.
Secrets of Negotiating A Record Contract :
Musician's Guide to Understanding & Avoiding Sneaky Lawyer Tricks
by Moses Avalon
To help artists avoid signing contracts laced with hidden agendas, this book exposes the multilayered language of recording agreements crafted by major-label lawyers. It dissects and deciphers actual recording contracts, presenting the originals and Òreal EnglishÓ translations side by side. The book explains the need for each contract clause, offers advice on negotiating certain points, outlines alternatives for developing new contracts, defines common terms, and shares insider stories.
Tim Sweeney's Guide to Releasing Independent Records
by Tim Sweeney, Mark Geller
Packed with hundreds of money-saving tips, helpful hints, and never-before-revealed secret strategies used by industry insiders, this informative guide will teach how you to set up your own independent record label; make a great-sounding record without spending a lot of money; get quality distribution into major retail chains and indie record stores; design a winning promotional strategy for your release; convince college and commercial radio stations to play your record, and use the exposure generated by your release to bring! yourself to the attenetion of a larger label.
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The Doctor Is In :
The Musician's Survival Manual :
A Guide to Preventing & Treating Injuries in Instrumentalists
by Richard Norris, M.D.
"I wish I'd found out about this book before I was ever injured. It not only acts as an aid in recovery, but also as a preventative means. It is easy to read, well-organized, and not only provides accurate and extremely helpful information, but also provides information on other relevant and useful resources." ~~Susan Green
You Are Your Instrument :
The Definitive Musician's Guide to Practice & Performance
by Julie Lyonn Lieberman, W. Donald Cooke
"This is the most helpful book I've ever read. It deals with everything a musician needs to know. It helped me learn how to memorize music more thoroughly, how to deal with stage fright, and how to protect my body from injury. I have given copies of it to all of my friends." ~~A reader from New York City
The Art of Practicing :
A Guide to Making Music from the Heart
by Madeline Bruser, Yehudi Menuhin
"If a musician could only read a single book to learn about how to PREVENT injury, this would be the one ... The Art of Practicing also examines how to bring the highest level of artistry and communication to your playing. It includes question/answer sections throughout and instrument-specific advice. I really can't say enough about this book." ~~mpaul@unlinfo.unl.edu - Lincoln, Nebraska
The Alexander Technique :
Indirect Procedures :
A Musician's Guide to the Alexander Technique
by Pedro D. Alcatara
Introducing the principles and procedures evolved by F. M. Alexander (1869-1955). A comprehensive introduction to the Alexander Technique and its applications to all aspects of music-making -- from technique and sound production, to daily practice, concert preparation, and the mitigation of stage fright.
How to Learn the Alexander Technique :
A Manual for Students
by Barbara Conable
"This is a book to read with enthusiasm and attentiveness. It could influence profoundly a teacher's effectiveness with students ... A book of immediate usefulness to the performer and teacher, and one which will stimulate productive self-evaluation and awareness. It is persuasive and positive in tone, easy to read and wonderfully enticing." ~~Thomas Mastroianni, American Music Teacher
The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Alexander Technique :
A Practical Program for Health, Poise, and Fitness
by Glynn MacDonald, Glenn MacDonald
"I first learned about the Alexander Technique about 10 years ago and found it helped my chronic shoulder and neck problems and persistent pain. What I discovered was that I was causing my own problems - without being at all aware of it! It was, to say the least, a humbling experience but one I'm very glad to have gone through ... I would certainly recommend the Technique - and this book - to anyone with a stress-related condition. I would also suggest 2 other books: Fitness Without Stress by Rickover and How to Learn the Alexander Technique by Conable" ~~A reader from Tampa, Florida
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