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Music Sector Code of Practice

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Code of Practice – Positive Positive Change within the Music Industry

 

On the 12th of July 2018, Deborah Annetts, CEO of The Incorporated Society of Musicians, and Naomi Pohl, the Assistant General Secretary of the Musicians Union, signed a joint code of practice that will help eradicate bullying, harassment and discrimination in the music sector. The list of principals will aid all employers within the industry to meet their legal requirements and set out a shared vision of promoting and maintaining a positive working culture.

Morningside School of Music has pledged its full support towards the code of practice.

 

Code of Practice,Music Industry,ISM,MU,

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, said:

‘The ISM’s Dignity at work report revealed a culture of discriminatory behaviour, including sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination relating to all protected characteristics across the entire music sector. The respondents, who were mainly self-employed, ‘depping’ musicians (and not covered under the Equality Act 2010), did not report their experiences due to fear of being victimised and ‘blacklisted’, indicates a toxic culture which needs to change.

Following in the footsteps of the British Film Institute and UK Theatre/SOLT, who have both launched vital principles for the film and theatre industries, the ISM and Musicians’ Union have joined forces to launch a set of principles for the music sector. We call on all organisations – whether they are a venue, orchestra, school, recording studio or otherwise, to sign up and support this Code and ensure its implementation within the workspace.’

Naomi Pohl, Assistant General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union, said:

‘When the #MeToo movement began in late 2017, the MU established a confidential email account for musicians and other individuals working in the music sector to report instances of sexism, sexual harassment and abuse. The many reports we have received have been deeply concerning and range from everyday sexism, which appears rife across the industry, to sexual assault. It is clear to us that the culture of the music and entertainment sectors, as well as drama and music education, need to change radically. To put it bluntly, many workplaces simply aren’t safe for female musicians in particular at the present time.

We know that many employers, venues and educational establishments are keen to work with us and we believe this new Code of Practice will be widely welcomed. While it isn’t the only available Code of Practice, it is unique in our sector because it has been drafted with freelance workers, performers and students in mind. Freelancers are particularly vulnerable to abuse as they may feel they have no rights and nowhere to turn for help. We want to ensure they feel supported at work and that we and their engagers have their safety and well-being as our top priority.’ 

A set of principals to tackle and prevent bullying, harassment and discrimination for all those working in the music sector

 

These principles aim to eradicate bullying, harassment, discrimination and other forms of inappropriate behaviour within the sector. They will also help employers to meet their legal requirements as well as setting out a shared vision for promoting and maintaining a positive working culture.

All employers, employees, officers, workers, agency workers, trainees, students, tutors, volunteers, trustees and freelancers should adhere to these principles. Everyone is responsible for promoting and maintaining an inclusive workplace which is positive and supportive.

We are committed to promoting and maintaining a diverse and equal working culture

 

  • We oppose bullying, harassment and discrimination and will not tolerate such behaviour within our own organisation and network.
  • We are committed to playing our part in improving the working culture of the music sector.
  • We are an equal opportunities employer and committed to improving diversity within our own workforce.
  • We value inclusivity, appreciate difference, and welcome learning from others and consider people equal without prejudice of favour. We build relationships based on mutual respect. We will work to give and receive feedback in a constructive way, which we know will improve creativity and productivity.
  • We will take a proactive approach to improve the working culture of our own organisation (e.g. ensuring equal opportunities in any recruitment and selection process, providing flexible working policies and family-friendly contracts).
  • We will encourage appropriate behaviour within our own organisation and in our network.
  • Where we work with individuals under the age of 18, we will ensure that appropriate safeguarding training and advice is provided to our staff and representatives.
  • We will implement and promote appropriate policies, procedures and complaints processes to protect everyone – including the freelances we engage and students we teach.
  • We will respect each other’s dignity, regardless of the seniority of our role in any setting.

When reports are made

 

  • We understand that it is difficult for individuals who have suffered bullying, harassment or discrimination to speak out. We will respect confidentiality where possible and aim to make the process of reporting clear, straightforward and accessible.
  • Reports of bullying, harassment or discrimination made to us will be taken seriously, handled sensitively, and within the complainant’s safety and wellbeing as our first priority. This will mean providing adequate protection for complainants and, where bullying or discrimination is found to have occurred, taking appropriate action against the perpetrators. We will do all in our power to ensure that individuals who have made complaints or participate in good faith in any investigation do not suffer any form of reprisal or victimisation as a result.
  • Where individuals belong to a trade union or professional association, we will encourage them to seek its advice and support.
  • We will maintain a list of support services for use by those who have suffered harassment bullying or discrimination.
  • Where issues are raised with us that may be of a criminal nature, we will refer the individual concerned to an appropriate support service.

 

We will ensure that these principals are embedded at the early stages of careers in the music sector and the performing arts, to ensure that a safer, more inclusive working culture becomes the norm.

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Carly Beth Interview

Carly Beth,Carly,Beth,Ukulele,Guitar,Piano,Songwriter,

Carly Beth

Over the past number of years, the internet has taken over as the number one way to promote your music to the masses, and that is exactly what Carly Beth did! A young singer/songwriter from New York State, Carly started streaming her music live to audiences in China, raking in over 5 million views in the process. We have absolutely no doubt in our mind that Carly Beth will continue to take the music world by storm. In her interview with us, Carly speaks about her musical experiences growing up and how music lessons helped her get started on the right path as a musician.

 

What is your very first memory of music, do you remember the first thing that jumped out at you?

 

I remember when I was a little kid, songs kept getting stuck in my head to the point where I’d be singing it non-stop. It was actually really frustrating. One time, I suddenly started crying, and my mom ran to me and asked me what happened, and I replied, “I can’t get this song out of my head!”


When did you realise that you wanted to be a musician?

 

What’s interesting is that I’ve never realized it – I’ve just always known it! When I was three years old, I told my mom I wanted to become a singer, but I wasn’t allowed to get voice lessons until I learned the piano. So I started taking piano lessons and then I became so consumed with the piano I never ended up taking voice lessons. I started writing on the piano when I was 8, and it just took off from there.


Do you come from a musical family, do you have people close to you who also perform?

 

I do come from a musical family, but none of my relatives have chosen music as their career. My mom played the piano growing up and also writes songs, although a different style than mine.

Carly Beth,Carly,Beth,Ukulele,Guitar,Piano,Songwriter,
What artists inspired you when you were younger and had a positive impact on your desire to be a musician?

 

When I was a baby, my Aunt would sing me Karen Carpenter songs – so since then, I’ve always had an ear for melodies. Growing up, I listened to a lot of oldies, such as Motown, Carpenters, etc. because my mom played them a lot. By the time I was in elementary school I had listened to a lot of Taylor Swift, and I really liked her songwriting. In middle and high school I started writing piano solos, which seemed to be self-inspired because I never really listened to solo piano music like that. However, when people heard my piano solos, they told me my style sounded similar to Jim Brickman, a famous American pianist. After I listened to his music, I really got into the rich harmonies and melodic structure, so he then became one of my influences. I slowly evolved to writing popular music with lyrics which seemed to be inspired by a combination of all of the above.


Did you have music lessons growing up? If so, tell us a bit about your experiences.

 

I started piano lessons when I was five years old. When I started, I wasn’t that good, and I rarely practised because I preferred sounding out songs instead of reading sheet music. To this day I still prefer figuring out music without the help of sheet music, because it is easier for me. Regardless, as I progressed, I started taking music seriously, and I rigorously practised and became classically trained, played complicated Mozart, Bach, Chopin, and Jazz piano solos and competed in local competitions. I worked hard to read music better and even worked on my own original songs with my piano teacher.

When I was 12 years old, I started teaching piano lessons to young children. In middle school, I took guitar lessons for summer, and the guitar teacher told me I picked up a year’s worth of lessons in just two months. It made me realise that once you master one instrument, it’s much easier to learn another. All throughout elementary school I took band lessons and played the clarinet. It was hard for me to be enthused with the clarinet, so the teacher asked me to switch to the oboe in middle school because she knew I could learn it quickly. I soon mastered the oboe and began competing at state competitions. I also took music theory in high school, which I highly recommend because it gives you a rich understanding of harmonies and music. Then I realised that I was really good at it, so the teacher asked me to student teach it to other students with her for two years.


Who are your favourite musicians now and why?

Taylor Swift is definitely one of my favourites. Her songwriting and lyrics tell such incredible stories, especially her older songs, and would recommend aspiring songwriters to listen to them. Another musician I admire is Charlie Puth (he wrote “See You Again”) because he is classically trained and has such an incredible understanding of chords and melodies. He is incorporating more complicated chords and less common progressions into his pop music which I think is fantastic.

 

 

 

 

What is your songwriting process? Do you come up with your lyrics first then chords?

 

It depends on what song it is! For most of the songs, I create the music first. For me, this usually happens on the piano. My fingers just play something, and then brain tells my fingers how to finish it. Alternatively, I’m playing a song and then play a wrong note, and say, “Hey, I like that!” Then the music tells me what the song is about, and some lyrics will start forming with the melodies. Then the rest of the process includes filling in the blanks, figuring out the order of the parts, and refining. I am a perfectionist, so I usually take much time refining my song until it is perfect. However, I’ve had a few songs that I’ve written in under an hour. However, for the most part, the initial ideas come quickly, and I spend much time refining it.


You have started to produce some of your material, what software do you use?

 

Yes I have, I use Logic Pro X. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a producer, because I wear so many hats (songwriter, instrumentalist, singer, etc.) and don’t have the time to become proficient really. However, what I’ve found, is that if you write a song, and then you hand it off to someone else to finish, you usually won’t like the result because it’s not what you imagined. I’ve found the only way to avoid this is to produce it myself. I had to teach myself how to produce, and it took a while, but it was well worth it. I always try to execute my idea as best as I possibly can.


You have over 1.5m Facebook streams. How did this come about? Are there any tips you could offer up and coming musicians looking to promote themselves online?

 

This is kind of a crazy story! I went to university in London, and a classmate heard me play the piano and sing and said I should start live-streaming myself to China. I was like, China? Why? Moreover, she said because Chinese audiences like Western musicians and if you live stream to China on an app, they give you gifts which can be turned into actual money. I didn’t really believe her at first, but I tried it anyway. I live-streamed every day playing the piano and singing for about 1-2 hours. This helped my performance skills immensely, and it was only by doing this every day, that I gained confidence. Within a few months, I had over 110K people in China watching at one time. I even made over £20K in gifts from people in China. Once I had that, I tried live-streaming on Facebook. One thing I would like to point out though is that you can’t grow unless you or your content is reaching new people. Live-streaming on Facebook is great because the stream will appear at the top of everyone’s feed. Additionally, it’s a great way to interact with your audience which is a great way to build relationships with your fans. After a few live streams, my performances were getting about 2K shares per stream. At the same time, I had a video of mine on Facebook kind of go viral. So this directed a great deal of traffic to my stream.

 

Tips!

 

I have a lot of tips for musicians looking to promote themselves. When I first started, I was terrified to put myself out there, until I came across this quote, “It’s not that nobody cares, it’s that nobody knows” and this became my motto while I was growing. Secondly, make great video content. How do you know if it’s great? Ask yourself if you saw that video coming across your feed, would you click on it and watch it, or scroll past it? Videos that are dark and unclear aren’t super eye-catching. So take your video outside, get great lighting. Show yourself playing your instrument and singing. Ask your parents or someone that will give you an honest opinion if it’s good or not. If it’s not, try again. Try something different. Another tip is not to make your videos look super professional. You don’t want them to look like an advertisement. I film all of my videos on an iPhone. Lastly, put out lots of content. Nothing looks worse than only having one video on your page. Have lots of good content that people will be impressed by!


What do you think of the UK so far? Is the live music scene different from New York?

 

I really enjoyed the UK, and it was a lot different than the music scene in New York. First of all, I was surprised at how many musicians never received any lessons or training in the UK. There’s nothing wrong with this, but I personally think it’s best to get as much training as possible. When I was in London, I found the music market incredibly hard to break into, especially live, that’s why I turned to live-streaming. Also, most venues didn’t even have a keyboard, so for me, it was very difficult to get gigs. When I came home to my hometown, Buffalo, New York, I was able to drive with my keyboard and get lots of gigs and performance opportunities. However, I believe that if I tried this in NYC, it might be more similar to London.  I haven’t really experienced the music industry outside of London in the UK, so I’m not sure how to compare it. However, overall sometimes it’s easier to break into a less saturated market first.


Are you enjoying your course? What is your favourite and least favourite modules? 

I did enjoy my course immensely, I actually just graduated this month. I enjoyed all of my modules because I took all music! This sounds nerdy, but my favourite class is music theory. I really love to analyse music and think about how I can be inspired and learn from it. My least favourite module, in general, is history. I am really bad at it!


Could you tell us a bit about what you are working on just now, what can we expect next from Carly Beth? 

 

Right now, I’m trying to build my live presence in my hometown and expand from there into more states! I’m working on writing, recording, and performing more new songs as well.


If you come to Edinburgh, will you come and visit us? 🙂

 

Of course! Hopefully, I will be there soon!

 

Check out Carly Beth on the links below and subscribe to her channels to keep up to date with what Carly is working on.

Links:

Instagram @carlybeth

Facebook

YouTube

Website

Spotify

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Nikki Lamont Interview

Nikki Lamont,Nikki,Lamont,Nicola,Songwriter,Singer,Edinburgh,Australia,

Nikki Lamont

Before her journey to the other side of the planet, we managed to catch up with the 2013 recipient of the ‘Dan Beattie Award for Dedication to Musical Excellence’, Nikki Lamont. Starting lessons at an early age at Morningside School of Music in singing, guitar and piano. Nikki went on to study music, graduating with a BMus (Hons) in Edinburgh. Nikki is now working on new material and relocating to Australia to concentrate on her music career.

 

What is your first memory of music?

My earliest musical memory is hearing my dad playing the guitar at home when I was very young. From then on I knew that music would be necessary for me, after hearing him play I wanted to learn and be a musician too.

 

So, you have your dad to thank for your talent?

When I was listening to music, and I felt like I wanted to sing/play along to the material. I felt tied to music, and I knew I had to learn to be able to play along with the music I loved. I also really wanted to write my material similar to the musicians I looked up to. I have fond memories of my first guitar lessons and just wanting to be able to play everything already and make music straight away.

I learnt to play the guitar when I was 12, although I was hesitant, to begin with. I am so grateful I persevered with it as it is a real passion of mine now. I started getting singing lessons a few years after this began. I realised I wanted to go further with my technique and learn how to sing professionally with my guitar.

 

Nikki Lamont,live,singing,guitar,Who inspires you musically? Are there certain musicians that make you want to go into the studio?

Artists that inspire me and make me want to progress as a musician are artists like; Gabrielle Aplin, Bon Iver, Maggie Rogers, Troye Sivan, Shallou and many many others.

 

If you could only take one instrument to a desert island with you, what would it be?

Out of all the instruments my real passion is vocals. I love being able to experiment with different sounds and putting emotion into what I play. I love progressing further with my voice and always being able to learn more is a fantastic trait that comes with an instrument like vocals (and everything else too!).

 

“There is no feeling like getting up on stage and playing your songs…”

 

Did you find that music lessons played an essential role in your musical development?

Getting music lessons impacted the way I grew as a musician positively. Meeting many fellow musicians and becoming close friends with these people was a huge part of what shaped me into the musician I am today. Learning from extremely talented individuals and growing my confidence and technique with them over the years has been an absolute pleasure. Lessons are such a great way to develop and meet other musicians. It’s not just the educational aspect, there is a huge social and cultural aspect to tuition too.

 

What do you prefer most, playing live or recording?

I love spending days in the studio. Getting a song down and just falling in love with the sound of what my band and I have created. My passion for performing overrules that. There is no feeling like getting up on stage and playing your songs. An audience of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Telling a story through my lyrics is something I love so much about live performance. People get to be in that moment with you and I think it’s a beautiful thing. Playing with other musicians is also an incredible feeling as you grow to have a bond with them through this. Live performance is something that I will always be passionate about doing.

 

 

Do you have any tips for us on who is hot right now?

My favourite artist at the moment is Maggie Rogers. I hadn’t heard of her until recently, but her music is incredible. Her lyrics take you on an emotional journey, and it’s music like this that inspires me to write and always be creative.

 

Do you ever listen to a song and wish that you had written it?

If I could have written a song, it would have to be Holocene by Bon Iver. It is a song that rings so much to me emotionally. It’s such a beautiful song, and it captivates me with every single listen no matter how many times I hear it. It is a dream of mine to be able to write lyrics even half as well as Justin Vernon.

Who, in your opinion, is the greatest musician in the world?

This is a complicated question as there are many musicians I respect technically. If I had to pick one, I would choose Gabrielle Aplin. Having seen her live many times now, the different takes she has on technology in and out of her recordings is excellent to see. She progresses more each time I see her live, and this is something I love seeing in musicians I look up to.

 

 

Tell us about the best live show you ever attended?

The best gig I have ever been at hands down was when I went to see Bon Iver at The Picture House in Edinburgh late last year. I have never been to see a band perform live where I have felt so emotional the entire time. The feeling they put into their songs playing live was exactly what comes through the music they record. It was such a fantastic experience to see it live and so raw.

Are you glad you did a degree in popular music at university?

Doing a degree in music was very challenging, and there were times where I was unsure of what direction to go in. I would recommend it to other musicians. My classmates opened my eyes to just how many people wanted to be musicians too. It’s been a fantastic experience growing with these people and getting into bands and just playing our hearts out together. Although it was hard work, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Nikki Lamont,Nicola,Lamont,Edinburgh,Singer,Songwriter,Do you think you will stay in Australia permanently?

The plan is to go to Australia long term and hopefully continue to gig and record music regularly. I hope to find bandmates over there whom I can keep playing with and writing material with as this is what I’ve been enjoying doing for years now.

 

Are you working on any new Nikki Lamont material currently?

I have just recently recorded a new song with Mark Morrow Audio.  There will be an update for some news about that pretty soon!

 

Do you have any live gigs coming up in Scotland?

Unfortunately, due to me moving to Australia, I don’t have any gigs lined up. I plan to gig a lot in Australia, so I am sure it will all work out for the best!

What does the future hold for Nikki Lamont?

At this stage, I’m unsure of what the future holds for me as a musician. Right now I am so happy releasing music for people to listen to. I’m just finding my own feet as my degree has come to an end. I’m so glad to be able to tell my story through my songs and connect with people through my music. You have to be confident about your future. Mine I hope, is filled with lots of music releases, gigs and good times with fellow musicians! I can’t wait to make more music and just to continue doing what I’m so passionate about.

Follow Nikki Lamont on Facebook

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Improve How You Practice

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If you have been following our blog posts, you will know that the number one thing that will make a difference in your music education, is practice.  We often get asked how someone can improve, or how to take your playing to the next level. Practice is always our answer.

The vast majority of our students have trouble practising – either because they find it boring or struggle to fit it into their busy days.  Here are some tips and tricks on how to fit practising into your (or your child’s) life.

Work it into your routine.

Are you a morning person? Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier each day and use that time to play. If you’re more of a night owl, make it part of your evening routine, like brushing your teeth. We have some students who practice during their lunch breaks, or as a reward for finishing their homework.

Make your practice fun. 

Play games to work on your chords, or wait until the end of the practice session to play your favourite song. There are many websites and blog posts dedicated to making practising more enjoyable, so a quick google is always worthwhile. You could also ask your teacher next time you’re in how they make it fun for themselves.

Reward yourself. 

Find some way to keep track of how often you practice (make a chart, put pennies in a jar, etc.) When you reach different milestones reward yourself! You could get a new capo, buy some fun new sheet music, or get a new shirt for your next open mic night.

Variety is the spice of life.

Switch up what order you do your practising, which songs you play, and what rewards you give yourself. Changing little things during the practise sessions keeps it fresh and fun.

Book a gig.

The thought of a live audience often helps with motivation. Our live music nights are great opportunities to show off your skills, and improve your practising in the weeks before!  Alternatively, find an open mic night and commit to date you will be ready to play by.

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Piano Man: Billy Joel

Billy Joel Picture

I first came across the music of Billy Joel while on holiday in America. We were driving along the highway, and over the radio Piano Man, possibly Joel’s most successful hit is played. I was a teenager at the time, and I was listening to the usual pop played on UK radio stations. However, it was refreshing to hear smooth and relaxing music that helps you unwind. It was from this moment forward that my love Joel’s music began.

The Early Years

Joel’s father, a German classical pianist, did influence Joel’s music. However, it was, in fact, his mother who insisted he learned to play. He practised the piano alongside Morton Estrin albeit Joel admitted that he was a better organist than a pianist.

The Piano Man

Billy Joel Piano Man AlbumIronically, despite Joel’s adamance that his future lay with the organ, his first major hit was Piano Man. This song explains the lives of the Saturday night customers in a piano bar in Los Angeles. Although the lyrics are very impressive, it was the intro that caught my attention. I would argue that the intro to Piano Man is one of the most recognisable of all time due to its unique blend of instruments. The intro provides fifteen seconds of complete relaxation, which continues throughout the piece.

The easy listening feel of Piano Man has made it one of the old ‘classics’ played by radio stations. However, it’s not the only one of Joel’s songs to have the same effect. ‘She’s Always a Woman’ follows suit and has become a favourite on Smooth Radio, appearing regularly on air and, to be honest, you can understand why. A romantic story, where Joel spends the entirety of the piece picking out the faults of the lady, but instead of letting these annoy him, he responds with the fact that ‘She’s Always a Woman’ in his eyes.

A Man of Many Talents

Billy Joel isn’t only known for relaxing pieces and, in fact, my favourite Joel songs are more upbeat toe-tappers. ‘The Longest Time’, is enjoyable because of the almost barbershop quartet feel. This song is less well-known than some of Joel’s other singles however it did gain some popularity by featuring in American comedy How I Met Your Mother. I enjoy the different vocals on the track, and it is, again, another song which will get you singing.

Only the Good Die Young Album

“Only the Good Die Young,” tells the story of one of Joel’s high school crushes, a Catholic girl called Virginia. The song was highly controversial on its release, with many feeling the song was anti-catholic, however, I disagree. I feel Joel is merely lamenting the fact that he cannot be involved girl whom he is fascinated with, which is something many people can relate to.

The Future

Billy Joel is now, sadly, coming to the end of his long and illustrious musical career. At the age of 68, the New Yorker’s tour this year could well be his last. He won’t be visiting Edinburgh on this tour, unlike in 1979 when he played the Usher Hall, and his only UK gig will be at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, in June. His gig in Manchester will undoubtedly be a brilliant night as we listen to the greatest hits of a true music legend.

For more information: Billy Joel Website

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We care about the environment

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At Morningside School of Music, we have always taken great pride in the fact that we try our best to care for the planet and taking climate change very seriously. From our beginnings as a company, one of our first tenets was to consider the environment when operating in our day to day work. We didn’t mind if it was going to cost us more. We believed that if we were ethical from day one, then we could only do good for the planet.

Here are some ways we protect the environment.

  1. We decided not to renew our branded company cars. Instead, we opted for bicycles and public transport when needed.
  2. Our staff minimise their use of all materials as much as possible, especially plastic. Any plastic is recycled.
  3. We reuse everything that we can including cardboard boxes and paper.
  4. We only purchase recycled printer and copier paper.
  5. Our toilet rolls are purchased in bulk to avoid unnecessary deliveries.
  6. We recycle where possible through our appointed recycling contractor.
  7. All lighting inside and outside Morningside School of Music are LEDs.
  8. During daylight hours, we do not switch on any unnecessary lighting.
  9. We minimise power consumption of internal lighting by using the motion detectors installed in the music school.
  10. Our outside lighting has sensors that only switch lighting on when it is dark enough. This minimises power consumption.
  11. Unlike a lot of businesses and households, we switch off all electricity at night. (apart from our alarm and security lighting which is LED which helps climate change)
  12. Our computer monitors go into standby mode when not in use.
  13. Our printers go to sleep when not in use to save electricity and help climate change.
  14. We only use remanufactured ink cartridges.
  15. We send our used ink cartridges to a charity to be reused.
  16. Our digital pianos switch off automatically when not in use.
  17. Our toilets use water reduction devices.
  18. The music school has a very small hot water boiler which heats water only when needed.
  19. We do not purchase products which are tested on animals and very strongly disapprove of animal cruelty and abuse.
  20. We never switch our heating on until it’s cold enough. Usually, the heating stays off entirely from April until November.
  21. We open windows during summer and try to avoid using fans if we can.
  22. Our hand dryers are Dyson Airblades which produce up to 83% less CO2 than other hand dryers and avoid wasting paper towels.
  23. We monitor environmental advice from independent charities such as Greenpeace to learn of new ways to better the planet.

We do not claim to have everything perfect yet, but we are continually looking for new methods to protect the environment.

 

Greenpeace logo.svg

 

Morningside School of Music is also a very proud member of Greenpeace.

Morningside School of Music
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Have You Heard – Canadian Edition

Canadian Flag

Our new series ‘Have you Heard…’ will showcase new or lesser known artists.  If you have any suggestions for artists to feature, please feel free to comment or send us an email!  For the first edition of the series, our Creative Manager, Laura, will highlight some Canadian artists.  Being a Canadian herself, she is uniquely equipped for this job.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of lots of incredible Canadian artists- Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Tragically Hip, The Band, Leonard Cohen but you might not have known these people are Canadian.  I thought I would dig a little deeper into the Canadian music scene to highlight some artists you may or may not have heard of, but ones that I think deserve more attention on this side of the pond.

The Sheepdogs

Fun fact: after winning Rolling Stone’s ‘Choose The Cover’ competition in 2011, they also became the first unsigned band to appear on the cover of the magazine.  This folk-rock band from Saskatchewan is worth a listen.

 

Great Lake Swimmers

They just released a fantastic new album, A Forest of Arms.  This song is off their 2007 album, Ongiara.

 

Hannah Georgas

A Vancouver-based artist who has been getting a lot of buzz recently.

 

Arcade Fire

A band with an impressive array of instruments that they take on tour (viola, accordion, glockenspiel, hurdy-gurdy, to name but a few).  I am confident that many of you know already listen to Arcade Fire- but if you don’t, you should!

 

City and Colour

This is the alias for Dallas Green, the guitarist of Alexisonfire (another great Canadian band).  Each of his albums goes in a different musical direction, and, he recently did a collaborative album with Pink called You + Me.  City and Colour is my favourite, so here are two songs.

 

 

The Strombo Show

This is not a band, but if you are interested in music, especially Canadian music, it is a show you should be listening to.  It is available online here.

Morningside School of Music
In Blog

Recording Music At Home

home recording device

Music technology has changed dramatically in the past 15 years. The days of having to go into the studio to record your demo are over, with a plethora of DAW’s (digital audio workstation) now available to use for home recording. Home computers now have the strength to carry out significant musical tasks, such as recording multiple audio tracks at the same time. This has led to DAW’s being a key part of any budding musician’s tool kit. Below are the top three DAW’s currently on the market:

Cubase Pro 8 (£400)

  • From it’s humble beginnings on the Atari ST back in 1989, Cubase has come a long way in what it can offer
  • The layout is user-friendly as well as it being easier to find your way about
  • Cubase is very useful if working with MIDI (recording MIDI piano for example) interests you
  • The wide range of new plug-ins are useful for composition and making each track sound clean and professional
  • Suitable for Mac and PC
  • Perfect for the musician looking to start home recording

Pro Tools 12 (£600)

  • Pro Tools also started out back in 1989 as a software editor for a synth
  • The audio capabilities of Pro Tools are simply jaw dropping
  • Pro Tools is used in most of the major recording studios around the world
  • Fairly complicated to get to grips with but online courses are available for official qualifications
  • Not really suitable for beginners because of its complicated layout
  • Requires hardware such as the Fast Track Due audio interface which you can purchase with the software
  • Pro Tools is aimed more are producers rather than musicians

Reason 8 (£269)

  • Reason started out in 2000
  • There is a massive range of plugins & samples to individualise the software
  • Very easy to use
  • Suitable for musicians rather that producers
  • Lots of free online tutorials on their website
  • This is our favourite as it covers just about everything you could ever need, plus it is the most cost-effective!

For more information on any of the above, please click the links on the name of each piece of software.

Morningside School of Music
In Uncategorized

Summer Music School

summer school advert

MUSIC SUMMER SCHOOLS FOR 2015 – FOUR WEEKLY COURSES RUNNING

We would like to announce we will be offering music camps at the School this summer!  Practice your instrument, form a band, write some hit songs, rehearse, record a demo, and perform a gig!

For more information, or to book a place, please call us on 0131 447 1117.

Dates:

1: Monday the 29th June to Friday the 3rd July 2015

2: Monday the 6th July to the Friday the 10th July 2015

3: Monday the 13th July to Friday the 17th July 2015

4: Monday the 3rd August to Friday the 7th August 2015

Age: 7- 16
Time: 10:00- 15:00
Price: £175, including a packed lunch
Location: Morningside School of Music, 138 Comiston Road, Edinburgh

 

SummerSchool2013A.compressed-page-002These fun, fantastic courses are suitable for any young adult who has an interest in learning guitar, playing piano, working on drums, having singing tuition, mastering the bass or being a composer. The courses are run by music professionals who have a PVG, NSPCC Child Protection training and British Red Cross First Aid training. The tutors include Professor Paul Boyd, who has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry. Paul has also lectured in universities across the country and worked in primary and high school music education for over 17 years.

Morningside School of Music
In Blog

Fighting Stage Fright

Stage Fright Picture

The biggest thing that stands in the way of the vast majority of musicians is stage fright.  The day of your show the butterflies start dancing in your stomach…then your appetite disappears, and you begin to feel nauseous…and by the time you get onstage you are sweating profusely.

The first thing to realise is that everyone gets stage fright at some point.  I guarantee that every single one of your musical heroes has felt terrified before getting on stage.  The following are some proven tips and tricks to help you tame the butterflies.

Take deep breaths/warm up 

Warming up is a great way to get rid of some of that nervous energy.  Do some shoulder and neck rolls, stretch your arms, run around the building a few times- whatever you need to do.

Avoid caffeine 

Unless you need a cup of coffee to function in the morning, try to avoid caffeine the day of a performance.  It will just make you more jittery and anxious!

Practise, practise, practise 

If you can play the song in your sleep, you’ll feel less afraid that you might mess up.  Here are some tips to improve your practising.

Pretend to be excited

Give yourself a pep talk and try to act confident and excited- studies have shown it does make a difference.

Remember that it is okay to make mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, but if you act like it didn’t happen, the audience won’t even notice!

Realise why you are nervous 

You are nervous because you want people to enjoy your performance and you want to do a good job.  It is good news that you’re nervous because you should care about how your performance goes!

Keep performing

It really does get easier every time.