Got a big group for your studio – why not have them all contribute on a track?!
Sometimes you end up with 15 beginner participants in your studio and they all want to make a beat right now! Music Production for Large Groups gives you some tips on how to create a “patchwork quilt” music production project. This allows many different participants with different tastes, preferences, ideas and skills all to contribute to one big tapestry… your final track!
In addition participants:
Learn basic music production and songwriting techniques
Learn collaboration while working towards an end goal
Are inspired to work on solo music production projects
Produce enough tracks to release an album
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How to…
Establish:
End goal/s (i.e. “Album Release” party and/or performance at end of the semester)
Session days and times. Meet with the group on a regular basis.
Participants who are interested in contributing (include as many as possible)
Themes or topics, decided upon as a group and influenced by the music mentors/staff
Participants collaboratively produce style/genre, samples, sounds, and beats
Break down the beat into smaller sections or individual elements for participants to perform/record
For example, to produce the drum track:
Participant “A” performs bass drum pattern on trigger pad
Participant “B” performs snare drum pattern
Participant “C” performs hi-hat pattern
Participant “D, E and F” record claps on 2 & 4
Etc…
Repeat this process for bass and chords
Participants layer single notes on guitar, bass, and/or piano
Involve different participants for each Verse, Chorus, and Bridge. Mentors continually keep the momentum going.
Add lyrics once beat is finalized
Download a rhyming dictionary App on iPads
Each participant writes lyrics to contribute to the project (i.e. 1 or 2 bars worth of lyrics)
Each participant performs their lyrics in the isolation booth right away. This gets them hooked, motivated, and involved.
Mix and finalize the track
Participants who don’t want to sing/perform can help with the final mix by editing and adding effects.
Participants can also get involved in creating album art, photo/video, etc., to help support the album’s creation.
Repeat this process until participants have produced several tracks
Rehearse and prepare for an album release party, and have all participants perform their original songs
Give participants a true “indie-label” experience by helping an up-and-coming artist complete an original album
Help guide an independent, solo artist through all aspects of a music production including songwriting, lyric writing, production, engineering, performance, and marketing/promoting their brand. These projects give independent and self-directed participants the freedom to produce an original album while having support from staff members along the way.
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How to…
Create an invite only in-house “record label” for dedicated participants
Solo artists are invited to be part of “record label”
Meet with Solo Artist to discuss their project timeframes, goals and outcomes
Artist is responsible for all songwriting, lyrics, production, content, ideas, artwork, etc.
Coach the artist on production process, needs, and goal setting
Recording sessions should be booked in advance and as needed
Support, support, support! And keep Solo Artist on task
Help troubleshoot with music industry questions like:
Publishing album online
Marketing/promotion on social media
Booking performances
Etc.
Record a “commercially ready” original album and post for sale (iTunes, etc)
Help artist book performance and market their album to friends, family and supporters
Three proven ways to get participants engaged in songwriting right away
Songwriting and especially lyric writing can be a daunting experience especially if a participant has never done it before. The three examples below get participants writing original songs as quickly as possible using techniques used by professional songwriters. Participants will learn basic songwriting/lyric writing skills and techniques and work as a team to create original songs/lyrics and record/perform their own original songs!
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How to…
A “blank canvas” can be intimidating for even the most experienced artist. The following examples have built-in “creative limitations” to help keep participants focused on completing the task at hand and sets them up for success. Keep your participants accountable to work within the boundaries of the writing activity or songwriting technique and watch how it helps drive participants’ creativity.
Here are 3 examples of successful songwriting activities:
Example 1: “Just write” – Encourage participants to explore stream-of-consciousness lyric writing.
Pick any topic (really ANY topic… e.g. “water bottle” was used once and worked great!)
For 5-10 minutes, participants write in a notebook (or on their phones) without stopping.
Encourage participants to go back through their notes and look for lines or words that jump out.
Help them look for metaphors or build a story behind the theme they chose.
Participants can then rewrite or continue to develop lyrics into a full song.
Example 2: “Scaffolding” – Create an original song using the song form and chord changes of another song.
Participants choose a song they like and are familiar with and analyze the song form and chords.
Participants choose a new theme/topic and write new lyrics to the verse, chorus, bridge, etc.
Participants then take their new lyrics and rewrite the melody of the song.
Optional: You can also choose a new chord progression, key, tempo, and/or whatever works
Record and/or perform!
Example 3: “Changing Perspective” – This activity places a participant/s in their peer’s shoes, encouraging empathy and shift in perspective and voice.
Divide participants into pairs.
Participants share a “small moment” experience from their day.
Optional: Pairs can pick a topic or theme so their lyrics are similar.
Loop a beat or chord progression (whatever feels right for the group).
Each individual writes lyrics about their partner’s experience (in first person).
Participants then add or change tempo/beat/melodies to adjust to the mood.
Participants can then rewrite or continue to develop lyrics into a full song.
Easy to understand definitions of who’s who in the music biz (for your youth participants)
Help your participants understand who the key players are in the Music Industry and the insider lingo. Examples include: What’s the role of a Producer, Artists and Repertoire (A&R), Songwriter, Record Label, and Music Publishing?
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How to…
Discuss the different roles with your participants or bring in special guest lectures:
Producer
A person whose job is to oversee and manage the recording (i.e. “production”) of an artist’s music
A producer has many roles that may include, but are not limited to:
Over the latter half of the 20th Century, producers have also taken on a wider entrepreneurial role, often with responsibility for the budget, schedules, and negotiations.
The scope of responsibility may be one or two songs or an artist’s entire album. In that case, the producer will typically develop an overall vision for the album and how the various songs may interrelate.
Today, the recording industry has two kinds of producers with two different roles:
Music/Creative Producer – Oversees the creation of the music
Artists and Repertoire (A&R)
The division of a record label that is responsible for talent-scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists.
It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.
Songwriter
Someone who writes the lyrics or music for songs or compositions.
To further clarify, someone who writes only lyrics may be called a lyricist, while someone who writes only music may be called a composer.
Songwriters of the past commonly composed, arranged, and played their own songs. More recently, however, the pressure to produce popular hits has distributed responsibility between a number of people. Popular culture songs may be written by group members, but are now often written by staff writers: songwriters directly employed by music publishers.
Some songwriters serve as their own music publishers, while others have outside publishers.
Record Label
Usually pays for project, markets/promote, tour support
Indie record labels (as opposed to major record labels) may be small, localized, and “independent” (“indie”), or they may be part of large international media groups, or somewhere in between.
The largest 4 record labels are called major labels. A sub-label is a label that is part of a larger record company, but it functions under a different name.
Music Publishing
Music publishing is the owning and exploiting of songs in the form of musical copyrights.
“Exploiting a musical copyright” means that the owner of a particular composition (the music and the lyrics) is putting that song to use in a way that generates money in the form of:
Mechanical royalties
Performance royalties
Licenses for synchronization
Licenses for sampling
Print rights for sheet music
Additional Resources:
Recommended Reading: “Copyright Handbook for Music Educators and Directors” A Practical, Easy-to-Read Guide By Pam Phillips and Andrew Surmani (ISBN 13: 978-1-4706-3598-5)
Go beyond “check one, two!” Tips that help participants feel comfortable and sound their best
Many young musicians have never performed on stage in front of others and the experience can be overwhelming. Give you participants opportunities to discuss and practice seven tips to have an effective soundcheck. Topics include helping your participants understand the importance of being friendly, on time, prepared, aware, assertive, realistic, and respectful.
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How to…
Before a performance, schedule a soundcheck rehearsal to discuss and practice the seven tips below. Use your personal performance experience to discuss why these proper etiquette during a soundcheck is important and how it will ultimately benefit their performance and sound. After the discussion, run practice soundchecks to help participants understand what makes an effective soundcheck. Help reduce stress and make the process fun until everyone is comfortable with their sound.
Seven Tips for an Effective Soundcheck:
Be friendly: No egos. Everyone is learning, trying their best, and wants you to sound your best.
Be on time: Whether you’re part of a band or solo act, there may be others waiting for you to check.
Be prepared: Do you have all your gear? Are you in tune? Are you mentally prepared?
Be aware: Watch the front of house sound engineer for any instructions or questions.
Be assertive: Can hear yourself and others? Having other issues? Speak up (in a nice way).
Be realistic: Don’t be shy! Perform like it’s the show – this helps engineer get accurate level settings.
Be respectful: Don’t distract others while they are sound checking by talking or playing an instrument.
Specific soundcheck tips for the band:
Singers:
Want to sound your best? Sing an actual song (don’t just repeat, “check 1, 2…”)
Sing close to the mic (the sound engineer will turn your volume up or down when needed)
Please DON’T tap the mic!
Pointing the mic at monitors or speakers will cause feedback
Instrumentalists:
Set your stage level volume on your amp/instrument so that you can hear yourself
Please don’t adjust knobs or levels when you’re done checking (unless asked)
Sound engineers will make you louder/softer for the audience as needed
