shana

i am going to recored shana playing guitar and singing. once inserted into logic i will eq and put reverd on both guitar and vocalshttp://soundcloud.com/dashboard/incoming

jobs

Jobs in the music industry and how they relate to each other

The role of a sound engineer in this case is to ensure that the quality of music is up of a high standard at live shows. This is extremely important because they are the last person with the ability to affect the sound before it reaches the audience. This profession could be linked to the lead singer because if the sound engineers levels are out then the singers voice is going to sound awful. A bad sound engineer can cause huge problems for a band for example if they cause the gig to sound bad then people wont support the band by purchasing merchandise and returning to future gigs. In summary a poor sound engineer can be a massive publicity problem.

application

Application for DJ job.

My name is James Sampson and I would like to apply for the DJ position recently advertised by your company. I believe I would be a perfect candidate for this position as I am very determined, dynamic and original. I have played many other venues and played genres to fit with the set list you want played. I am very familiar with hardhouse, hardstyle, and hardcore so I would be able to settle quickly and create a great atmosphere in the club. My sets are very unique and mixed extremely well. I can also include improvise very well, I’m very familiar with a wide range of effects and can incorporate them into my music to create a very smooth and tight feeling. I come very recommended from other employers who can confirm my ability. I am also very passionate about music and completely driven to obtain the highest standard of quality with every set I play, making me extremely reliable. I can also produce my own tracks meaning some of the tracks I play will be exclusive to your club.

During my career I have had a lot of experience with all aspects of music production and mixing. During a three-year course at Penwith College I learned how to programme drumbeats, record instruments and insert to logic, create very well constructed songs and how to set up near enough any piece of equipment needed to perform live. I also have the ability to play drums and guitar which I can sample in my songs making them even more original and exciting.  I have done a lot of live mixing, logged hundreds of hours of practice time and spent lots of time on programmes such as tractor, learning how to mix with great precision.

I look forward to hearing from you and look forward to working with such a prestigious company. If given the chance I will not disappoint and will work to the highest of my ability to deliver top quality mixing as I always strive to do. 

With regards James Sampson.

different djs

Different dj’s

There are many different types of dj’s in the industry and all have their own way of performing. For example if your a club dj you can more or less play what they like, although they usually have a bpm to stick to more commonly around 120bpm-150bpm but other than that you’ll have a blank canvas to create your set. Djing this way really gives you freedom to express yourself and create a enjoyable atmosphere within the club. The club dj is probably the most glamorous of positions, the resident dj will usually have there name plastered all over the place and have the club owners bending over backwards to keep them happy. That is providing the dj in question is of top quality.

Another path to take is the radio dj. This can either be heaven or hell, for example if your working for a good radio station then you will have more freedom to play what you like, make a name for yourself and if your really good have people tuning in and switching over just to listen to your show. This will also make you more relaxed and give you the opportunity to perform to the highest of your ability. On the other side of that if your working for a radio station your not particularly fond of say for me a classical station, then the job isn’t going to be as enjoyable, you won’t be able to play music you want and you’ll more than likely be sat in your both all day bored, however every job in the music can be considered as a stepping stone and even something like that could lead to better career prospects.

headhunterz

Headhunterz

Headhunterz is a hardstyle dj from the Netherlands who has played many prestigious events. He has a lot of experience playing very big events all over the world. Headhunterz was discovered by another hardstyle dj called the prophet whilst playing a set at qlimax. he then signed with scantraxx a very popular hardstyle label and created his own sub label scantraxx reloaded. He had to work extremely hard to get to that position. For example he spent a lot of time using dj equipment and getting himself to a professional level. He also did a variety of courses on how to mix tracks and produce tracks. After passing these courses and fine tuning his ability he was ready to play a main event like qlimax and get noticed by the professional dj’s of the hardstyle world. Even though courses in the music industry can help they are not necessarily the only way to be successful. Gigging around and playing many small events can also be very beneficial for example a scout for a company could come to see a show your playing in or a club your dj’ing and they may recommend you to there boss then you might get a job through them, that in turn will give you more connections in the industry and get your name more recognized. All of this could eventually lead to a main stage performance at places such as qlimax. for example hardcore producer/dj gammer did not partake in any music based courses but still played many prestigious hardcore events around England and has had a lot of success in the industry.

developement plan

Development plan

Currently I am enrolled in Penwith College doing a level 2 BTEC course in music. This is a 1-year course and includes how to set up a recording of instruments, insert the recording into logic and add various effects to them to create a very good sounding recording. We also do a lot of sequencing work i.e. creating drumbeats, synth loops and all in all creating a full and dynamic track. A lot of time is spent using inserts such as reverb. Reverb is an effect on the selected channel strip to make it sound although it’s either being played in a hall a small room or out in a field. There are many other effects we work with and they can all add up to make a good track. Along with this I also take drum, guitar, and singing lessons. I am relatively new to guitar and singing so still need more practice to get to a good level but I have been drumming for a couple of years and can play to a relatively high standard.

Upon completing this course I will more than likely be joining Camborne College to do a 2-year course in dj’ing and sequencing electronic music. This course will go into more detail on producing, mixing and I’ll also be taught how to master tracks and get them ready to a professional standard for release to the public. I believe that this course is the best route to take at this time and hopefully will lead to a university level course. Whilst at Camborne college I am going to work a lot more on my guitar, drum and singing skills. I am aiming to get them all to a high level before I join university. Once I have completed my course at Camborne I might join university and further my education into producing and mixing or given the opportunity I might join a record label and start making music and making a name for myself.

Although I’ve only been at Penwith college for a short time, I feel I’ve learnt a lot. For example I can now set up recordings, create software loops and my skills on my chosen instruments has improved greatly. All of my music skills have improved a lot since being on this course and I’ll only get better as time goes on and I go into more in depth courses.