Whether you have a passion for music but find that your talents lie more on the business side than in performing, or you simply have spent a lot of time with other musicians and think that your talents lie in supporting them, music production might be the role for you. However, how exactly do you get into that kind of role? Here, we’ll look at some steps and how it’s an easier process than you might think, today.
Getting To Grips With The Role
Music producers do more than press buttons and direct their performers; they play a key role in shaping the sound of songs. Producers shape arrangements, guide performances, manage studio sessions, and often mediate between artists and labels. There are music production courses that can help you get a better understanding of the various processes necessary, but it’s also important to note the different kinds of producers out there. Whether you’re into beat-making, engineering, or developing artists, shape your career around your strengths.
Start With The Gear You Have
While studying can certainly help sharpen your senses and get a better idea of what musicians and labels expect of producers, if you want to build your skills, it’s best to start getting hands-on with it as soon as you can. You don’t need an expensive studio setup. Modern technology makes it easier to get started with a laptop, headphones, and music-making software. There are plenty of tutorials you can follow to help you produce your sound on YouTube, as well, so keep working on your craft.
Learn From The Greats
Being able to produce music well is the start, but making a career out of it means knowing a sustainable and profitable model to follow. Studying those who have done it best, like Clive Davis, can show you the different roles you need to fill, not just as a beatmaker, but as someone who discovers and shapes musicians' careers, developing the artists you work with. Look at the trajectories of the great producers who came before you, reading their memoirs, watching documentaries, and listening to interviews. Beyond the celebrity gossip, there’s a lot of wisdom to pay heed to.
Find Your Collaborators
Music production is rarely a solo sport; you need musicians to work with. From vocalists to songwriters, instrumentalists, and others, you should be on the lookout for those who are looking for producers. Start building your connections, network voraciously, and keep an ear out for any talent that could have productive relationships with you in the future. Producers often have to play the bridge between different professionals in the music-making process, too, setting the tone, communicating clearly, and bringing the best out of the artists you work with. Start building your network early.
Music production is a role that allows you to play a key part in the creative process, to collaborate with others, and to make your mark without having to be the star of the show. It could be the perfect role for those who appreciate the business of making music more than anything else.
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