Jazz Piano Professionals
i am very serious about becoming a professional jazz musician and have a couple questions for scot, 7, and any other pros out there:
1. is there a financial chance out there as a jazz musician, or is it wise to keep a part time(or full time) job? i plan on moving wherever in the world there is a fertile jazz scene after i get out of college. i've heard japan's scene is the best.
2. what kind of places generally play jazz?
3. any advice about getting a good start in the music business? i know many american pianists start out backing up singers, and i could do that, just not all the time!
and for everybody: is mark levine's the jazz piano book any good?
thanks for the time!
1. is there a financial chance out there as a jazz musician, or is it wise to keep a part time(or full time) job? i plan on moving wherever in the world there is a fertile jazz scene after i get out of college. i've heard japan's scene is the best.
2. what kind of places generally play jazz?
3. any advice about getting a good start in the music business? i know many american pianists start out backing up singers, and i could do that, just not all the time!
and for everybody: is mark levine's the jazz piano book any good?
thanks for the time!
There are no comments, leave a comment.
in #2 i mean as far as gigs go
1. you play jazz because you love it. if it's your passion, then you do it for the experience. you are generally not going to be rich unless you are one of the few that make it big, and that doesn't really depend on your playing, but more who you know. networking with other musicians is extremely important in this biz. do not have a backup job because if you do, then you won't focus 100% on music, and you will not be as successful as you could if you are stressed out every day because you need to hustle some gigs. that's the only way to get really good and know the biz (others will argue about that, and there are a few great players like denny zeitlin who have serious paying day jobs)
2. jazz clubs? you will need to go to as many shows as you can. coffee shops where kids are playing, real clubs where pros are playing, everwhere. get your face and name known to every musician in your city.
3. if you want to get your pro chops up to speed, get a gig on a cruise ship for a year where you are playing six or seven days a week for anywhere from 4 to 6 hours a day. or a house gig, like in a hotel, but cruise ships (or casinos if you have any) are better because you will play a variety of music that you might not ever experience on your own. the more kinds of music you can play, the more of a pro you will be.
4. the jazz piano book is great. it's one of the many tools you can use to help increase your knowledge of the kinds of sounds you want to do on the piano.
jazz is a passion, as is any art form. if you have the passion for it, then you will invariable find that jazz will become your life. if you don't have the passion that makes it your life, then you will be a hobbyist, and perhaps a very good one.
the other thing that you must do is listen to jazz all the time. jazz is a language and you need to know it. most of the greats grew up listening to jazz as kids because their families and friends played or listened to it.
marc seales once told me, "if you want to do music, then do music. if you need to get a day job, make sure it's in the music industry- record stores, recording studios, give piano lessons, anything that is about music."
he's right- you will have to decide if this is your direction. if it is, then do music, if it isn't, do something else.
2. jazz clubs? you will need to go to as many shows as you can. coffee shops where kids are playing, real clubs where pros are playing, everwhere. get your face and name known to every musician in your city.
3. if you want to get your pro chops up to speed, get a gig on a cruise ship for a year where you are playing six or seven days a week for anywhere from 4 to 6 hours a day. or a house gig, like in a hotel, but cruise ships (or casinos if you have any) are better because you will play a variety of music that you might not ever experience on your own. the more kinds of music you can play, the more of a pro you will be.
4. the jazz piano book is great. it's one of the many tools you can use to help increase your knowledge of the kinds of sounds you want to do on the piano.
jazz is a passion, as is any art form. if you have the passion for it, then you will invariable find that jazz will become your life. if you don't have the passion that makes it your life, then you will be a hobbyist, and perhaps a very good one.
the other thing that you must do is listen to jazz all the time. jazz is a language and you need to know it. most of the greats grew up listening to jazz as kids because their families and friends played or listened to it.
marc seales once told me, "if you want to do music, then do music. if you need to get a day job, make sure it's in the music industry- record stores, recording studios, give piano lessons, anything that is about music."
he's right- you will have to decide if this is your direction. if it is, then do music, if it isn't, do something else.
If I'm not back in 24 hours, call the president.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
by Scot Ranney on 05/08/2005, 03:28
i get most of my gigs by hanging out on the scene.
people would hear me play, and i'd hand out cards and schmooze and then get calls.
then there is also word of mouth, someone would need a pianist who could do the job and my name would pop up and i'd get a call from someone i've never even met or heard of.
in fact that's how i met my wife.
hit the clubs, talk to the musicians during their breaks. let people know that you play. maybe you'll get invited to sit in for a song or two.
you say you're in college. that's probably the best place to start making connections. get to know all the good players at your school. your music teachers will have connections too. use them.
there are also all kinds of musician referral sites on the net. if you're really serious about working and want to travel, check out some of the sites and register with them. often it's free.
people would hear me play, and i'd hand out cards and schmooze and then get calls.
then there is also word of mouth, someone would need a pianist who could do the job and my name would pop up and i'd get a call from someone i've never even met or heard of.
in fact that's how i met my wife.
hit the clubs, talk to the musicians during their breaks. let people know that you play. maybe you'll get invited to sit in for a song or two.
you say you're in college. that's probably the best place to start making connections. get to know all the good players at your school. your music teachers will have connections too. use them.
there are also all kinds of musician referral sites on the net. if you're really serious about working and want to travel, check out some of the sites and register with them. often it's free.
well 7, i'm in a community college transfering to a 4 year this fall where there is a good jazz program. i've been looking to jam in my hometown, but coordinating people is tiresome, and true jazz musicians(bass players ecspecially) are rare. anyway, i appreciate the advice with the teachers- i've studied up on one who had toured nationally with his quartet prior to becoming a teacher.
scot- thanks for the tips.
another question:
how do yall create midi files of your playing?
i have a capable keyboard, but i've read that it takes software, very pricey software, to export my playing into midi.
do ya'll purchase that software, or is there another alternative?
thanks
scot- thanks for the tips.
another question:
how do yall create midi files of your playing?
i have a capable keyboard, but i've read that it takes software, very pricey software, to export my playing into midi.
do ya'll purchase that software, or is there another alternative?
thanks
i don't think anyone goes into jazz to make money. i'm told the hottest selling jazz albums (aside from people like diana krall) sell bout 8500 copies. i think mine sold 300-500 hehe...but mine was just an easy listening kinda thing...
if you really want to make a living in music, you need to be invloved in a broader spectrum of musical opportunities like - different styles, recording, teaching, etc. as scot mentioned, stay involved with the music industry somehow.
i did the gig slamming thing for about 30 years, this invloved playing in jazz groups, shows, duos with singers, weddings and bar-mitzvahs with bands and/or solo piano, piano bar, dixieland on riverboats, recording anything from country, to gospel to jazz to commercials - you name it and i've probably done it. it was a nice ride and i made enough money to raise a family of three boys and a couple of dogs...
but now, i realize 30 years have gone by and i've never really gotten around to who i am musically. i wanted to write and record my own stuff but i was either too busy or subconsiously avoided it for fear of failure - who knows. right now i'm teaching about 45-50 students a week and have pretty much quit gigging...i'm falling in love with playing again!
just be careful and think ahead a bit:)
if you really want to make a living in music, you need to be invloved in a broader spectrum of musical opportunities like - different styles, recording, teaching, etc. as scot mentioned, stay involved with the music industry somehow.
i did the gig slamming thing for about 30 years, this invloved playing in jazz groups, shows, duos with singers, weddings and bar-mitzvahs with bands and/or solo piano, piano bar, dixieland on riverboats, recording anything from country, to gospel to jazz to commercials - you name it and i've probably done it. it was a nice ride and i made enough money to raise a family of three boys and a couple of dogs...
but now, i realize 30 years have gone by and i've never really gotten around to who i am musically. i wanted to write and record my own stuff but i was either too busy or subconsiously avoided it for fear of failure - who knows. right now i'm teaching about 45-50 students a week and have pretty much quit gigging...i'm falling in love with playing again!
just be careful and think ahead a bit:)
midi software- there is some free stuff out there. go to downloads.com or nonags.com and do a search for midi.
If I'm not back in 24 hours, call the president.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
Scot is available for skype jazz piano lessons (and google hangouts, phone call, etc...)
Use the contact link at the top of the page.
by Scot Ranney on 05/09/2005, 13:00
i'd recommend purchasing band-in-a-box software for about $100. it'll do a few good things for you. (1) it'll give you some backing to jam with when you can't find drums and bass. (2) it's a great tool for driving your woodshedding, doing ii-v-i's in all keys and that sort of thing, and (3) it'll record your playing and export it as a midi file (with or without backing.) i've found it extremely valuable.
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