Studying Music Online

Brian John is a Student Advisor at berkleemusic.com. He has a Bachelors in Piano Performance from Miami University of Ohio, and a Masters in Composition from Longy School of Music. Brian’s background is primarily in Classical music, but a 4 year stint in a home-grown jam band gives him a unique perspective on both genres. He continues to compose and perform for people across the US.

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With our next term just around the corner, I thought I would take a moment to share a few ‘survival tips’ for jumping back into the learning environment.

Most of our students here at Berkleemusic are adults with active careers, whether in music or in another field. I was in the same boat as many of you not long ago. I experienced my ‘term of firsts’ last fall: my first online class, my first Berkleemusic class, and my first time back at school since attaining my degree. Through my experience, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to get the most out of these courses, so I thought I would share a few of them here.

1) Read early and often. As our veteran students know, and our new students will discover, there is a lot of material to absorb each week. Many students (myself included!) bolt through the lesson reading and get to the assignments as quickly as possible. While this may seem time-effective and efficient, you are really doing yourself (and your education) a disservice. I had this realization when I got to my first quiz at the end of my first week – I had read through the material, but I found that I had not absorbed nearly as much as I had hoped! Thus, I recommend reading the lessons at least twice: once before your major weekly assignment, and once after you have completed it. This will allow you to revisit the concepts you were introduced to with new insight, whether it was gained through your own assignment, or through viewing your fellow classmate’s assignments.

2) Be active within the course! Berkleemusic has designed these courses so that you don’t have to be online at any given point in time. However, it does not excuse you from being online! The network, and these courses, have been created with the intent that students will be learning as a community, and making connections within the learning environment. This is the purpose of having assignments viewable by every student within your specific course section. I know it’s sometimes intimidating to look at other assignments, and realize that perhaps others in the course have more experience and expertise than you. In my fist course, even in lesson one, I realized that most students had more experience, equipment, and knowledge than I. Use this to your advantage – ask questions, post feedback, or start a forum thread. Where else will you have the opportunity to learn not only from your instructor, but also from colleagues around the world?

3) Stay in touch. This applies to everyone within the Berkleemusic community. You can create contacts within the network, you can send a message to your instructor, and you can call your advisor. Instructors within our online courses are teaching because they enjoy sharing their knowledge with students around the world! They are there for you if you need clarification on an assignment, or on feedback that they have given. Take the time to get to know your instructors, as they are taking the time to get to know you and your work. Also, take advantage of your Berkleemusic Advisors! We are here as your resource, whether you have questions about technology, academic policies, or the next steps within your educational journey.

These are just a few techniques that I picked up during my first course, and I have been using them to survive and thrive ever since. I hope our new students find this helpful, and can’t wait to hear feedback from our veteran students as to what has worked for them! I look forward to working with you all this Summer, and participating with you as I continue my own academic journey.

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Berkleemusic’s online summer term begins June 27, 2011.

Find out more at berkleemusic.com or contact a Student Advisor:

1-866-BERKLEE (USA) | +1 617 747 2146 (Intl) | advisors@berkleemusic.com

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Michael Moyes is a Student Advisor at Berkleemusic.com. He finished his studies at Baylor University, where he studied Piano Performance and Business. Michael has performed Piano as a soloist, in a combo, and accompanied by full Orchestra. He is recently completed his Master Certificate in Arranging and Orchestration from Berkleemusic. You can hear some of Michael’s music on the Berklee Music Network.

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1:23AM on Friday April 4th—ears and mind exhausted, I submitted my final assignment for Orchestration 2. This particular assignment also happened to be my last requirement for my Master Certificate in Arranging and Orchestration. It took me 2 years to complete this beast and I have been letting out a huge exhale since.

Writing music has always been a dream of mine but it’s not my core profession (yet). Tackling a Master Certificate while working full time as an online student advisor, being a husband, and trying to have a social life was tough, but would I do it differently if I could do it all again? No….and then again, maybe yes.

It is easy to get overwhelmed when working towards an ambitious goal. In a couple of my classes I fell into the trap of waiting until the end of each week to start working on lessons and assignments. When an advisor can’t follow his own advice, there is a problem. Carving out bits of time in the morning before work or in the evening after dinner ended up being the formula for me to stay relatively stress free, complete my work on time, and learn more from my professor and classmates. This method won’t work for everyone but I know students who use a lunch break at work to review their assignments, carve out time on Sundays to get a head start on next weeks lesson, post to discussion boards while on the tour bus, or even set their alarm one hour early every day so they can write or record distraction free. I assure you, the rewards will be plentiful and I am already seeing the benefit.

I have written plenty of pieces at this point and I am well equipped to write for Film and TV which was at one time merely a pipe dream. Former classmates of mine have morphed into industry contacts. Professors like Ben Newhouse and Beth Denisch have my back and are interested in hearing new music I write. Having relationships with people who readily endorse your work and give you great feedback and advice is invaluable. Essentially the seeds that I planted 2 years ago are starting to sprout and I am in a place I never thought possible. You can check out my Arranging and Orchestration projects on my Berklee Music Network profile.

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Berkleemusic’s next term begins on June 27, 2011.

Find out more at berkleemusic.com or contact a Student Advisor:

1-866-BERKLEE (USA) | +1 617 747 2146 (Intl) | advisors@berkleemusic.com

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Julia Polanco is a Student Advisor at Berkleemusic.com. A Berklee College of Music graduate (Professional Music major and Voice principal), Julia has worked as a vocal coach in Los Angeles with Interscope Records, and as a lead and background singer, voiceover artist, and vocal coach in the US and Europe. Now in Boston, Julia currently performs as a lead singer with a high profile cover band, teaches voice privately, and writes and performs with an original band. Check out her website at juliasimonemusic.com.

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Ah, networking. We hear about it all the time but what is it really? The world wide web tells us that networking is just communicating. Could it be that simple? It really is!

As musicians, producers, performers, songwriters, or composers, it doesn’t matter how amazing you are, you need to know how to promote yourselves and how to network! The old days of having to be signed by a label to be heard beyond your own city’s limits are long gone. Things are different now. The tools are out there for independent artists to use, and most of them are free.

If it is viral—it will spread! I’m stating the obvious here, but instead of thinking about it in the figurative sense, apply this concept to your career. The internet has made networking very easy to do. It doesn’t matter where you are anymore, now you can reach out to pretty much anyone around the world.

I would start by recommending the obvious: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and MyspaceMusic. Many people use these sites for personal (and sometimes overly dramatic) content, but you can use it in a smart, original, and professional way. Major record labels use interns 24/7 to update statuses, post comments, reach out to fans, and tweet on behalf of their artists. You can approach it in the same way, no matter how “big” you are.

Here are great examples of how other musicians are making the most of these free social media sites:

YouTube: Karmin is engaging fans in a smart and original way with quality homemade videos of their original songs and covers. The perk with YouTube searches is that fans of the artists that you cover will find your videos while searching for their favorite tunes. Once captivated by the cover, the audience will then get to know your original music! Karmin’s latest video post already had over 13,000 views just over a week! http://www.youtube.com/karmintube

Twitter: Debbie and Friends – Debbie tweets about her concerts, radio shows, new videos, blog posts, and collaborations. Twitter is a professional, concise, and a perfect way to get your fans’ attention, let them know you, and expose them to all other media that you use on the web. http://twitter.com/DebbieCavalier

Myspace: Midatlantic uses MyspaceMusic to its fullest. On one page, you have an actual press kit with videos, music, bio, reviews, upcoming shows, contact information, and pictures. You can also see their fan base and buy their music, too. It’s ideal for musicians! http://www.myspace.com/midatlantictheband

Facebook: Dear Havannah plays it smart on Facebook. They make it personal yet keep it professional. Their wall is completely dedicated to their fans. Each post lets you know them as a band and as individual musicians. It’s a smart way to keep your fans engaged in what you do and to stay approachable. http://www.facebook.com/DearHavanah

Basically no matter what you do, keep it real, simple and network as much as possible. If you can think of a reference in regards to online networking or if you want to share your own don’t hesitate to post your comments below!

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You can follow @BerkleeJulia on Twitter, and become a fan of Berkleemusic on Facebook.

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Mark Hopkins is a Student Advisor at Berkleemusic.com. He finished his studies at Berklee College of Music, as a Guitarist/Songwriting Major, in 2009. Mark is a regular gigging musician who has toured extensively and released 6 albums in the past 10 years. You can hear some of Mark’s music on myspace.com/markhopkinsmusic

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Here’s a question I get all the time as an advisor for the online school and as a working musician: How do I get my own gig?

There is a fine art to becoming a successful working musician. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be Picasso to do it (however, no finger painting, please). Half the battle is as simple as believing in your product. That’s right. I said your “product.” When you are a professional musician, you are in the sales industry. Don’t sweat it, though. You’re selling something you absolutely love: music!

Here’s a proof positive way to get ahead in your town’s music scene:

1) Fine tune your act. Whether it’s acoustic or a 7 piece funk/fusion band, you need to have a professional sounding product to turn some heads.

2) Explore Open Mic Nights. Where and when are they happening? What time do you need to be there to sign up? Grab the local city paper, scout it out online or in person. Be there early, shake a few hands, and get to know the other musicians. Most importantly, always be on time and make sure people know you are a reliable artist. That’s a rare commodity in the industry and you will shine amongst the group. Open Mics are a great resource to get your career started. Not only for the exposure, but also for the networking possibilities. I can’t tell you how many Open Mics I’ve done that have led to amazing opportunities.

3) Start thinking about how to market your product. You first and foremost need a Demo to start the grassroots campaign that will lead you to stardom. Don’t be afraid of rockin’ a Garageband demo. No need to be snobby about production quality—the most important thing is to have a solid song you can put in a future fan’s hand (we don’t notice how many hand claps are in your tune, and how they are mixed in perfectly with the snare drum).

4) Start handing out that Demo (with a flyer of your upcoming gigs) to every music lover you can find. “If you build it, they will come.” Sooner than later you’re gonna see some familiar faces at your shows. Sell your CD’s when you can, but don’t be afraid to hand them out in the beginning; consider it an investment in future merchandise sales.

5) Lastly, don’t forget to start an email list. Social networking is great, but Facebook and MySpace aren’t the alpha and omega. Fans still like getting personal emails from their favorite artists. On that note, give your fans a place to go besides typical social networking sites. Get an official website running where they can chat about how the new version, of that one tune, where you substituted a #9 chord for a regular old dominant seven, was mind blowing.

It’s a simple process, but it by no means takes minimal effort. Music is a business—the quicker you come to grips with that, the quicker you will see significant results. Most of all, as cheesy as it sounds, believe in what you’re doing. It will show through to your audience and the influential booking agents around you. Believe in what you do. It will take your career a long way.

Until next time, happy gigging!

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Berkleemusic’s online summer term begins June 28, 2010.

Find out more at berkleemusic.com or contact a Student Advisor:

1-866-BERKLEE (USA) | +1 617 747 2146 (Intl) | advisors@berkleemusic.com

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As a singer and performer, auditions are a part of my career. My students and fellow singers often ask me about stress management, and how to “nail” an audition. The most important thing is to be prepared.

It may sound obvious, but if you want the gig, dress for the part, know your lyrics, and know your tunes perfectly. Rehearse your songs and, if you can’t accompany yourself, hire an accompanist. Test your charts, make sure they are in the right key, and, most importantly, sing the “meat” of the song. Don’t start your tune with a 16 bar piano intro—the “judges” care about you, not the pianist. If you don’t have perfect pitch, have a pick up but keep it short.

Find out as much as possible about the audition: What? Who? When? Where? Do I bring an accompanist? Will there be an accompanist? Will there be a CD Player or an iPod input? If you want to bring a backing track, make sure that it starts and ends where you need it to. Garage Band is perfect if you want to edit your tracks.

Try to record your rehearsals and videotape yourself—you will see and hear exactly what you need to work on. Remember: auditions are short and you need to go straight to the point. You have to perform your song and sell it—but don’t over do it. Videotaping yourself or working in front of a mirror will do the trick. When you audition for live shows, think of your stage as a triptych—left, center and right— and address all three areas when you perform. It’s very important to show the “judges” that you own the stage.

If you are well prepared, you will feel less nervous. If you still experience high levels of stress, picture yourself in a safe and stress free environment, such as your rehearsal space, your bedroom, the beach—wherever you associate with calm and serenity. Focus on your interpretation, your tune, the words that you are singing, and your emotion—and just act the part! Sometimes stress overpowers your performance and your technique is all that you have left, so remember to add emotion to your song. Picture yourself in a positive environment and you will be able to focus on your interpretation.

You have to act confident. If you mess up your lyrics, improvise and keep on smiling! There is a good chance nobody will notice. At the end of your tune, even if you think that you completely messed up, don’t look upset. Smile and leave unless you are asked a question or being given helpful advice. Keep in mind that there are no excuses. If you are late don’t start babbling about traffic or your hair, try to be as professional as possible. Keep your act together, stay positive and most importantly—have fun!

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Check out Berkleemusic’s online voice curriculum, including our newest course, Jazz Voice. Our new multi-course Certificate Program Introduction to Singing is another great place to start! Berkleemusic’s online spring term begins April 5, 2010.

Find out more at berkleemusic.com or contact a Student Advisor:
1-866-BERKLEE (USA) | +1 617 747 2146 (Intl) | advisors@berkleemusic.com

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