5 (Stupid) Tricks To Be A Better Musician

Summary

The video script discusses the challenges of being a musician in the modern era, emphasizing the need for practice, creativity, and promotion. It highlights the difficulty of balancing inspiration and creation, the importance of intentional writing, and the acceptance of commonality in ideas. The speaker shares insights on the overemphasis on methodology versus musical implementation, advocating for efficiency in production and the power of minimalism in music. The script concludes by urging musicians to focus on live performance and authenticity, rather than endless tweaking, to create meaningful music.

Takeaways

• 🎼 The music industry requires dedication, practice, writing, production, promotion, and often a side job due to the streaming economy's limited financial rewards.
• 🚀 Musicians must adapt to new trends and platforms like TikTok and YouTube to stay relevant in the industry.
• 💡 Becoming a professional musician involves a significant personal growth and learning process, including developing effective habits and learning from failures.
• 🔄 Finding inspiration in music is a delicate balance between consuming and creating; too much of one can stifle the other.
• ⏳ Limiting writing time can lead to more intentional and inspired creation, as it builds anticipation and focus for when you do sit down to work.
• 🌐 Recognizing that most creative ideas have been done before is essential; the uniqueness comes from your personal combination of existing elements.
• 🛠️ The overemphasis on methodology and process in music production can detract from the actual music creation and the importance of the musical output.
• 🎷 Practice is vital, but there comes a point of diminishing returns where more practice doesn't necessarily lead to better music-making.
• 🔧 Overproduction and endless tweaking can prevent a musician from finishing their work; deciding when to finalize a piece is crucial.
• 📈 Production quality cannot save a poor song, and great music will always outshine mediocre production.
• 🎹 Using fewer tools and techniques in production can improve songwriting by forcing reliance on the authenticity of the recorded performance.
• 👤 Embracing the imperfections of live performance adds a human element to music that is often more appealing than overly polished tracks.
• 🔄 The difference between being lazy and being efficient in music creation is nuanced, and sometimes 'lazy' methods can lead to efficient and effective results.

Q & A

What are the challenges mentioned in the script for someone trying to make a living as a musician?

The script mentions that musicians face challenges such as the need to practice, write, produce, and promote their music, often while working another job due to the low income from streaming. They also have to keep up with social media trends and possibly start a YouTube channel.

What does the script suggest about the balance between consuming and creating in music?

The script suggests that there's a delicate balance between consuming and creating in music. Too much of one can cause the other to suffer, and it's important for musicians to maintain this balance to stay inspired and productive.

How does the script describe the process of finding inspiration for music?

The script describes finding inspiration for music as not coming from staring at a computer or using the latest plugins, but rather from limiting writing time to be more intentional and inspired when creating.

What is the 'universal truth' mentioned in the script about modern music creation?

The 'universal truth' mentioned is that it's easy to spend a lot of time making music, but hard to make good music. Good ideas are inspired, and inspiration doesn't come from doing the same thing over and over.

Why does the script argue that every good idea in music has probably been done before?

The script argues that every good idea in music has probably been done before because it's a way to normalize the fact that originality is rare and that it's okay to create by combining existing elements in a new way.

What does the script say about the importance of self-confidence in an artist's choices?

The script emphasizes the importance of self-confidence in an artist's choices, stating that it's crucial for an artist to develop a sense of self-assurance in their creative decisions.

How does the script view the focus on methodology and process in music production?

The script views the focus on methodology and process in music production as overemphasized, suggesting that it can lead to a neglect of the actual music creation and result in a diminishing return on practice and learning.

What does the script suggest about the role of production in music?

The script suggests that production can't save a bad song and that great music will always outshine production quality. It argues for focusing on the foundational quality of the music rather than relentless polish.

How does the script recommend approaching the mixing process to improve songwriting?

The script recommends using old school techniques like channel strips and limiting the number of sends in a session to improve songwriting, as it forces the artist to rely on the authenticity of what was recorded rather than fixing things in post-production.

What is the script's stance on the use of human performance in music?

The script values the use of human performance in music, highlighting the distinct interest and beauty in the artifacts of human performance, such as playing an instrument live or performing beats on drum pads, over sampled or programmed versions.

What advice does the script give about the editing process in music production?

The script advises against overediting and relying too much on augmenting the process of playing something live, suggesting that sometimes the most effective way is to play it in one go and to focus on the quality of the initial performance.

What final piece of advice does the script offer to musicians?

The script advises musicians to get off YouTube and go work on their music, suggesting that even if they finish it in a 'lazy' way, at least they will have something to show for it.