I like to buy music. I buy it from emusic (where I pay $23/month for use it or lose it credits for music downloads), Amazon, and when in a pinch, iTunes. I also have two Rhapsody music subscriptions that cost an additional $20/month. My kids also regularly spend money on iTunes for music (often for tracks we already own somewhere else in the house). I suspect between all of this, our family spends well over $1000/year on mp3s, probably closer to $2000/year.

And yet, today I find myself pirating an album on the Internet. I thought I’d outline how this happened to showcase what a fucked up system we have for content sales on the web.

Source: AVC

What has Steve Jobs done for us?

Well, I think the iPad (horrible name) is the best thing to come out of Apple for musicians ever. Yes, even better than the iPod.

Here are a few areas where I see a huge amount of potential in this device for both amateur and professional musicians.

Sheet Music Publishing

The biggest and most obvious area the iPad could be used is publishing sheet music. With the advent of the e-reader (Kindle and Nook), digital books are becoming more and more accepted. The issue with sheet music is that the screen has to be large enough so that you can see it while you are playing your instrument. There are some instructional music books on the Kindle, but it just doesn’t work. The iPad’s screen is in full color and large enough to set on a music stand and play from.

There needs to be a Netflix type program for sheet music on the iPad.  What if for 20 bucks a month you had access to the top 5,000 guitar tabs available?  They would be updated and changed each month but only available on your device. The legit guitar tab market has yet to be effectively monetized due to the logisitical and legal issues. Now is the time for this market to expand.

Making Practice Time More Efficient

How many times have you been practicing and became inspired to work on a certain piece and you didn’t have it with you? This has happened to me countless times and it becomes hard to carry all the essential books with you every time you go to practice.

What if you had access to all your music and videos while in your practice room?

Lets say you were working on the latest Satriani tune. There was a part you were stuck on, so you fire up your iPad, buy the tab and even see a short video of Satch playing it himself. Of course this would never replace formal one-on-one instruction, but for intermediate to advanced players it could be invaluable.

Right about now all the musicians born before 1981 are saying “ Why do you need all this fancy tech stuff to learn how to play?”

At one time, records, cassettes and radio (all used to help musicians become better) were considered “high-tech.” If everything we had today was available to you then, I guarantee you would be using them.

Live Performance

I have seen a few more progressive musicians use a computer in addition to their traditional rig of amps and effects. Although to me this is the least revolutionary item on this list, it is an important one.

We have all seen the cool music-making apps on the iPhone. I would love to see a version of GarageBand on the iPad. It doesn’t have to have nearly the functionality of the standard version, but it could be the best musical notepad ever. This could easily relay into using samples and loops from you device in live performance. It would be much easier to carry an iPad to a gig and it would mean more access to different sounds. If you are a traditionalist when it comes to tone, I doubt you would be even considering this anyway.

Educational Benefits

Arguably, everything on this list serves to better educate you as a musician. As a guitar teacher, having video, sheet music and audio files at the touch of a screen would make my life SO much easier.

Here is a scenario:

A student comes in wanting to learn the latest tune by band X, that of course you have never heard of. You fire up your iPad, you student signs into Hal Leonard’s sheet music store, you buy the tab and then begin to work on the tune right there. No more late nights transcribing and no illegal photocopies from the tab book at the guitar store.

You can then fire up YouTube and see exactly where the guitarist plays a certain lick or see what type of gear they use to get that tone.

Combine an iPad with a Fender GDec3 with some kind of wi-fi magic and the possibilities grow exponentially.

One iPad Per Student

Giving iPads to every middle school student will make them better students. Allowing them to learn about technology and research from a young age will make them better informed and it will give them a more global perspective of society.

This item isn’t so much specifically for musicians, but everyone should listen to more music and at least try to play an instrument, right?

If we factor textbooks into the cost of the device, the publishers could subsidize the cost and get their materials into the hands of a much larger student body. Each device will come pre-loaded with textbooks, apps and even special media that can be customized for each class. No more excuses for not taking notes in class.

In the end, this device will change the way we create, develop and consume music. Much like the iPod, there will be use cases developed for the iPad that we haven’t even considered.  This is all bleeding edge stuff, but with the right vision we can use technology to not only make this a better place, but make us better people.

Here goes:

Alex Skolnick writes a great blog and recently has been posting about how some of his favorite songs have horrible lyrics.

I recently have been becoming an avid reader of AudioTuts+. Ear training was always difficult for me in school, so I was very happy to see them to a roundup of the best ear training websites around. My personal favorite is IWasDoingAlright.

Christopher Davis is not only a great classical guitarist, but he runs one the best guitar blogs around. To celebrate my recent move back to the Motherland (Iowa), here is an interview Christopher did with Iowa Luthier John H. Dick.

I have sung the praises of The Bad Plus here before. Ethan Iverson is usually to blame for their excellent blog, Do The Math. Recently, he posted a in-depth interview with Cedar Walton and a transcription of Walton playing “I’ll Remember April.”

Every musician has a particular way that they warm-up before a practice session or a gig. Guitarist Cameron Mizell outlines some of his favorite exercises in a recent post. I think this week I will write up some of my favorite exercises as well, since I just got a new copy of Sibelius.

Hopefully you take a minute and check out these posts. If you like them, leave a comment and let them know.

Could this idea work for indie music artists as well?

What if a company such as MySpace (who is in desperate need of some help) took 10 million dollars and invested it into 100 unsigned independent artists. Each band would get $100,000 dollars to record an album and schedule a tour. The albums would be exclusively heard on MySpace and available for free. The artists would own everything about the music (masters, publishing, etc…).

Each artist would be REQUIRED to blog the entire process and document how every cent was spent (A great idea would be to give each band a credit card with a $100K limit and set them up on Blippy). This would give a unique transparent view and make each band accountable for the money.

There is another aspect of this I was thinking of. What if you got the top 75 – 100 music clubs in the country and gave each of them $100K a year to book one or two of the 100 artists in this program for a free showcase each week.

Imagine the exposure for an artist. They could play a great club full of potential fans every night. Since the shows would be free, it would be easy for fans to take a chance on a new act and maybe buy a CD or download or even PAY for a ticket next time they come through town. The venues would also be responsible to report the usage of the money just like the bands were.

So overall you are looking at 17 – 20 million dollars to create 100 new albums, help produce up to 10,000 live music events a year and expose new music to countless fans. Say you did this for 5 years and spent 100 million dollars. This would change the music business and give a boost to indie artists that has never been seen before.

Of course MySpace isn’t the only company that could do this. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and many other companies have this kind of cash just laying around.

The idea here to give struggling artists the chance to be great.

Get people used to the idea of seeing live music.

Make the venues open their doors to artists who might not of had a chance to play there.

It would truly bring music to the masses.

I have spent the last few days playing with this theme and I found it to be not only easy to modify, but a great way to get a professional web presence going without breaking the bank. There are a few features that really stand out to me.

The first one is the integration with all the major social networks. All you need to do is enter the URL of your profile and click a button and it automatically places the proper links on your website. Another great feature is the ability to host a solid e-commerce area right on your website. If you have t-shirts, posters or pretty much anything else to sell, this website comes ready for that.

If I was just starting out and I wanted to get a website up and running in a hurry, this would be the first place I would go to get started.

Click the logo below to check it out.

Music Success in Nine Weeks is a book that tells you exactly what is found inside.  Author Ariel Hyatt is a music publicist who specializes in developing an online presence for independent artists.

First, let me tell you what this book isn’t.  This book isn’t a collection of case studies of artists who were in the right place at the right time. Nor is this book a way to make your music better.  This book gives you the tools and strategies to use the Internet to make you a more successful independent musician.

I love how this book is organized. Each chapter covers a list of tasks that you are to accomplish over the course of a week.  Topics such as developing your pitch, understand Web 2.0 tools and getting into blogging are covered.  Along with those tasks, Ariel gives you worksheets, quick tips and assignments to make sure you keep on the ball as you are developing. This is an EXTREMELY practical guide (something I wish more books strived to be) and anyone who picks this book up will find something useful immediately.

The best part of the advice Ariel gives is that it applies to more than just musicians. If you are a freelancer of any kind, these exercises and methods will work just as well for you. I found a few ideas that I am going to put to use with this blog.

Essentially, this is one of the best books of it’s kind around.  Ariel is great at what she does and this is a handy DIY version of her more expansive CyberPR Campaigns.

Make sure to check out Ariel and everything she does at www.arielpublicity.com.

Disclosure: Ariel is a good friend and she sent me a free copy of this book for review purposes. She is great at what she does and you should take a serious look at this book if you want to spread your gospel.

Anyways, the idea behind the Billboard list is what would be the best way for an artist to gain the maximum amount of exposure.  Featured on Oprah? Song used on Dancing With The Stars?  As you can see, these are very realistic goals.

Ariel came up with her own list of what would be most helpful to indie musicians and she did a great job.  Many people helped her with this (you can read that list here), and it is a great example of how you don’t have to be super famous to make an impact.

If you are a musician, or know a musician, or have heard the word music, please download this article and send it to your friends.  They will thank you for it.

The Indie Maximum 100 by Ariel Hyatt and Friends

In no particular order:

GuitarNoize.com is one of the first guitar centric blogs I started to read on a regular basis.  It has a great look and feel and is a great place to find the latest guitar news that sometimes is overlooked by the mainstream.

Ariel Hyatt is a publicity wizard.  She was the first one to tell me how to make Twitter work for me and for that I am grateful.  If you are an independent musician, please do yourself a favor and check her out.

GuitarVibe.com is a really great site for concert reviews, gear reviews and some really nice interviews.  Since Zach is in the the tech industry, I really like the reviews on some of the guitar technology that is out there.

What is it with Australia and amazing guitar blogs? iHeartGuitar is a guitar news blog that features both some incredible interviews (Dave Mustaine, Ace Frehley, etc.) but lessons, album reviews and more.  I am really looking forward to finally meeting Peter at NAMM next January.

The Rock House Method Blog is not only a place to keep up on the latest Rock House news but a great resource for tons of lessons, articles and more from other websites and blogs.

John is one of our instructors at NGW and is always willing to help students (and fellow bloggers).  He has some great coverage from the summer and is one of the best examples of how to leverage the internet to create a great teaching studio.

Easily one of the most read music business blogs around, Hypebot is a great way to learn more about what is changing daily about the music business.  Bruce Houghton and his staff really do a great job of explaing complicated concepts in an easy to understand way.

Bob Lefsetz is a longtime commentator on the music industry.  Starting out as an actual letter and then progressing to an emai list, his blog is read by a large amount of the music industry.  He posts A LOT, so I would recommend checking it out from time to time and catch up.

Derek Sivers is the guy who started CDBaby and in turn empowered a generation of DIY musicians.  Much like his hero, Seth Godin, Derek’s blog is full of short useful posts that really make you think.  If I had to choose one of this list, this would be it.  HIGHLY recommended.

I decided to make this really easy for Pat and come up with a few things that he (or his people) can do to help make sure this project attracts not only his core fan base, but new fans as well.

Make it Accessible

I know how difficult it is with the economy and all to make a living on tour.  However, I think it is important to realize that you can’t make new fans when tickets are $60 or more.  Period. In order to get a buzz going about a certain project, you need to identify the influencers and evangelists and make the project not only appeal to them but make it accessible. The youth market is doing all the talking today and you need to convert them.  Student discounts on tickets is a great idea that has been around a long time, but I think you should take it a step further.

Anyone in college or high school comes to the show for free.

Yes, free.  If you really want to reach new audiences and influence the next generation, you need to take away any reason why they SHOULDN”T go to the show.  Let’s face it, this is probably some pretty experimental stuff and you want to make sure everyone in attendance WANTS to be there.  There are a million things to do that don’t cost anything, but if they choose to come to your concert, you know they want to be there.  If they end up really liking it, they are more likely to buy some merch as well.

Spread it Out

For me, the biggest thing I take away from a truly great concert experience is the ability to re-connect with the music when I get back home.  Ever wonder why all the “jambands” are so popular?  They allow their fans to take a piece of their music home.  It not only gives your core fans an amazing memento, it makes it easier for them to turn their friends onto the music as well.

Allow everyone to videotape and record EVERYTHING

From the looks of it, I think that each night on this tour will be completely different both in sound and material. Why not document it all?  Your fans are willing to do this FOR FREE.  Let them.

Tell A Story

I was really surprised about how little Pat really described this music when I spoke with him about it. It not only made me more curious, but it raised a little doubt in my mind.  Is there something he is hiding?  How different will this be from his other material? In today’s “real time” culture, it is important to be up front an honest with your fans.

Create a conversation with your fans about why and how you are doing this project

This could take the form of a blog, a short video(s) or even a column.  Both DownBeat and JazzTimes should be tripping over themselves to help you with this.  The point is to start a dialogue with your fans that is both meaningful and authentic.  Start now.

Be Transparent

This does tie into the point before, but I think you can take a different angle.  What if you made your soundchecks open to the public?  Do you think your ticket sales will suffer?  I don’t. Many fans would love to watch how your rig is setup and then see you make sure everything is working.  Not only would it give them a unique experience, it would make them feel like they are in a “Secret Society.”

Make your fans feel special.  Because they are.

I am no expert on this by far, however I am a huge fan of your music.  These are just a few things I think might help in someway.  In my opinion, too many artists aren’t taking advantage of the new way of thinking when it comes to consuming live music and the feeling of community. Also, any of these ideas I guess would work for any artist.  I didn’t mean to single you out, but this project is on my mind.

Don’t worry Pat, I will come see your new project no matter what.  I feel like I am a true fan.

Now off to listen to my favorite record.

Here is the description of the events from the website:

An (S²) event is an experiment in crowd-sourced improvisation. One hundred percent of the music performed at a (S²) event will be improvised, and you are the ones who will serve as directors. Using several communication mediums - which could range from text messaging to prewritten cue cards to chalk boards - you will kick out ideas, descriptive words, phrases, pop culture references . . . pretty much whatever comes to mind. These will be presented to the band who will compose jams on the fly based around those ideas, and ideas will be added to, changed, and deleted as the event progresses. For instance, a fan might toss out the phrase “frightened rabbit,” causing the band the play a frantic, nimble jam and after a period of time, the word “rabbit” might get changed to “brontosaurus” which would take the jam in a heavy, slower direction (though the word “frightened” is still in play). Then perhaps the word “skydiving” morphs the “frightened brontosaurus” jam into a soaring, powerful piece of music that evokes the feeling of being airborne . . . until the phrase “without a parachute” gets tacked on which changes the jam into something else entirely. And so on. No one will have any idea where the music is headed, well, and that’s all part of the fun. The event will also include a Q&A session to provide an opportunity to ask about what you’re witnessing (or ask anything else for that matter). Fans will become a part of the music like never before.

To me this is a GREAT idea that I wish more bands and artists took part in.  Obviously, UM is an incredibly forward thinking band that really looks to push the envelope in order to give their fans the best and most unique experience possible.

Do you think this type of event could apply to different genres of music?

Can you imagine a jazz group using the audience as a source for raw material for their improvisations?  I think this would make the audiences feel more involved and make the live music experience more personable.  If bands want to get people to their performances in this day and age of so many distractions, they need to offer something new.

Well done Umphrey’s.  I look forward to seeing where you go from here.