(Music Industry) Lasalle College of Arts *help*

[Ronteque]

Hi all,


I need some insight from anyone that have been through the music industry that would be kind enough to shed some light onto the direction which you have taken.


I have been through this ordeal countless time, telling myself not to do music, just be practical, realistic and down to earth. Because in music it is hard to make it to the good life. Now I am back to this junction once again after plodding for a few months on a traditional job. I can either continue for the rest of my life keeping music a hobby or take it to the next level.

My background in music is just a grade 3 in piano which I obtained 3 years ago before I enlisted into army. Today I am still playing the piano on my own without a private tutor on and off.

I have been looking for the right vehicle to put a drive in my life. My father said I should do something I like. Pick a trade to be master of, be it engineering, science, real estate, music etc. I told him I like music so he suggested taking a diploma/degree in music. In the future he could help me in the music business by setting up a music school. Which is why a diploma/degree, aside from the prestige, being officially recognized is important. Music in general is a vast word. I have always liked music of many different genres. Instrumental, contemporary, classical, jazz, bossa nova, metal, oldies, reggae, hip hop rap, electronic dance music, chill out lounge, house.. and many more.

Thankfully, I have a friend doing part time DJ and I also know people that are professionally qualified piano teachers. I have been getting opinions from different perspective and I understand that in music, just like in life, we must choose what to be master of. My DJ friend said that market rate as a DJ you can earn from $50 - $150 per hour in events/clubs depending on the size of crowd and your reputation/skill. Networking. Traditional piano will be a little late for me as I will be at disadvantage compared to those people that started when they were like age 5 - 10. I also have no background in any bands/orchestras/symphonies.

Now I have to decide, I did some research online and I have only a few options:

1) DJ live music academy, course in basic DJ, 6 sessions 90 minutes each, no certification
2) Lasalle college, Diploma in Audio production, 3 years, enrolment starts on November - April.
3) Continue piano until grade 8

I can't find any courses else where that will provide fundamental training in Audio production, I really don't know if I can even make it into the school. I understand that Lasalle college entry requirements will include interview and audition where I have to produce samples of my work? If I have zero experience which is why I am applying for this diploma course in the first place, how am I going to produce anything? In the past, out of curiosity, I did tried before using softwares like Fruity loops to add riffs, loops, beats and bass to form a track but those were no where near anything you hear in the market. Very amateur stuff with no experience, just trial and error.

Please share your experiences, opinions and open suggestions.

Ronald

 

[NooDles]

Hi Roland, this is Andy, one of Lasalle's SoCM Jazz student.
I can totally understand where you are coming from, & its really awesome that you have your full support from your Dad, even as far as setting up a music school with you! Believe me, there are many students who's parents objected the very idea of doing music as a professional career, and they had to fight their way through their very first steps into the Music Programme of Lasalle.

There are certain important thing things that I'd like to share.
First of all, understand that Music, to the majority of us, is a form of fulfilment. Some even see the fulfilment as spiritual, but lets not even go there for now. My point is, if 'Good Life' to you is financial freedom, then I say Music is not the easiest business to achieve that. However if 'Good Life' is being able to do what you love, then what is stopping you? The kids i mentioned earlier? They're having the time of their lives!

Second, don't let inexperiences put you down. LASALLE has facilities & curriculums for practise & opportunities. The recording studio is nothing short of a marvel, & you'll be doing a lot of Electronic & Noise Music if you're in Audio production. For contemporary music, its pure focused practice & application. & thats the secret of how some people can enter LASALLE not knowing their major scale, to graduating with record labels hiring them as sessionists. However, the reverse is also true. I've seen many people waste their time & graduate without much difference, & complain they do not get jobs. All in all, it boils down to how much you want to do Music, & practicing hard while you can. Once you get out there & work, 7 hours of practise a day is something you will miss dearly.

I hope this little food for thought helps you. If you have further queries you'd like to ask me, feel free to contact me. I'd be happy to help!
Cheers mate,
-nD

 

[XenoJin]

Hello, I'm pretty glad there's someone on the same boat as me, I chance upon this post by searching on Soft.
I myself is also interested in the music industry, I'm also thinking of studying in Lasalle audio production course.
I'm very much into pop/rock music as I play currently in a band as a rhythm guitarist, still amature-ish though.
I very much would like to compose music and let it be appreciated by people around the world, being a performer is probably out of the question as I don't have much talent in playing any instruments and I'm not very young already. But I do love to play various instruments and my love for them brought me to "build" my own mini home recording studio, I'm slowly picking up and learning Cubase though online tutorials.

Searching for Music/Audio schools in Singapore has given me quite a headache as there are much options to choose for now:
Private schools like Lasalle, Soma, etc
Poly offers courses too the courses in Republic Poly and Singapore Poly has been on my mind too.

Open house is around the corner, I'd probably head down and see what they have to offer before finally deciding on my "future".

 

[blueprintstudios]

Ronteque : i'm no lasalle student.but here's some 2cents about life experience.

my path is I had dreams/goals, but I dropped out of school early (PSLE) so I work as anything/everything from office to hard labour, multiple jobs, I have no cert but I have internet/library and self studied, i love to do audio,i love to have fun, but then I met an amazing lady, then I got married with her (no shotgun), then I learned responsibility / house bills / and even harder work I ever experienced in my earlier days. She taught me true reality check, true practicality. I'm an egoistic sexist male chauvinist pig I always try to pay for 2. don't let the woman pay for anything.

So what you need to consider is humans are capable of multitasking, is your willpower gonna pull through if you take on this path? think about this, people who never tried living their dreams, are currently old and looking back and wished they did. people who tried and failed, and ended up as some "normal job" , will look back and say "dammit i failed, but nvm I tried." those who said "don't waste your time you will fail" are afraid your success in future will ridicule them to the grave.

Your dad is right, I did a lot of things I liked.I had fun. I sweated a lot. I'm not a millionaire yet (i emphasize yet), but my life experience and wisdom is richer than most men who only worked for the money.

I read your options, don't only consider market rate, consider "market competition". there're many degree holders, many others who will be taking the same path as you, many opening yet another bubble tea shop. if I were you, I'd learn all 3 at the same time.find out what's more that you can see yourself doing 20 years from now, don't follow what others are doing.according to my personal survey when I do my reservist and I chit chat with the young NSFs, the trend now is to do accounting and psychology. seems like the biz IT/biz ad/masscomm/visual comm days are over.

but first the core formula of all of these before you start : learn to manage your time right. drop activities or even friends who waste your time. once your discipline is there, you are on an upward hill from here.

gd luck.

 

[kongwee]

I go through pop music school and commercial studio to learn. I am able to drop my daily job, and take many odd task. I could only say be proactive when you are going for music or audio course. It is the people who are going to make you into this line.

 

[blueprintstudios]

ronteque : if you depend on "people" to make you who you are , you will be ditched aside once they find you of zero utility value. this is called "business" and real world. you will always be at their mercy of your reliance on pathetic sales pitches or hoping someone will spoonfeed you the opportunity. Focus on the best of your end product be it yourself as teacher or starting a music school, or being a huge DJ like DJ Tiesto or something, have a good track record (now doesn't that sound politically familiar) for getting shit done right then create your own networking value via a marketing strategy that gets your positive testimonials out there which clients can trust and demand for your services.

"anything that's worth doing, is worth overdoing." -steven tyler.

 

[kongwee]

I wouldn't say stick to one to work best.
It just don't work this way something.
Along the way you have to develop skill is that out of your main one.
Meet more people, you will not be struck if you got no job.

 

[blueprintstudios]

work your craft, let people meet you.don't be like someone waste time giving handjobs rephrasing it as "networking" heh

 

[OldSchoolNeverDies]

One question from me, can u be a music teacher that teach in music school after graduating from La Salle?

 

[flymbtothemoon]

One question from me, can u be a music teacher that teach in music school after graduating from La Salle?

You probably can..but limited to students who r beginners...and u command only low fees.

Your students will ask for your credentials....and compare your fee structure to teachers who have higher education
Eg....grad from Royal School....Berklee...or was a Yamaha champion....etc.

 

[kongwee]

While you begin your studies, you should looking opportunity to perform.
Don't stay at your campus and do nothing.
As I said earlier meet more people, then you are able to determine what to do.

 

[mudskipper]

Hi Roland, this is Andy, one of Lasalle's SoCM Jazz student.
I can totally understand where you are coming from, & its really awesome that you have your full support from your Dad, even as far as setting up a music school with you! Believe me, there are many students who's parents objected the very idea of doing music as a professional career, and they had to fight their way through their very first steps into the Music Programme of Lasalle.

There are certain important thing things that I'd like to share.
First of all, understand that Music, to the majority of us, is a form of fulfilment. Some even see the fulfilment as spiritual, but lets not even go there for now. My point is, if 'Good Life' to you is financial freedom, then I say Music is not the easiest business to achieve that. However if 'Good Life' is being able to do what you love, then what is stopping you? The kids i mentioned earlier? They're having the time of their lives!

Second, don't let inexperiences put you down. LASALLE has facilities & curriculums for practise & opportunities. The recording studio is nothing short of a marvel, & you'll be doing a lot of Electronic & Noise Music if you're in Audio production. For contemporary music, its pure focused practice & application. & thats the secret of how some people can enter LASALLE not knowing their major scale, to graduating with record labels hiring them as sessionists. However, the reverse is also true. I've seen many people waste their time & graduate without much difference, & complain they do not get jobs. All in all, it boils down to how much you want to do Music, & practicing hard while you can. Once you get out there & work, 7 hours of practise a day is something you will miss dearly.

I hope this little food for thought helps you. If you have further queries you'd like to ask me, feel free to contact me. I'd be happy to help!
Cheers mate,
-nD

sorry bout digging up old threads. but i got a qn. im interested in the same degree course ure taking, Ba Music in Jazz performance. but i've got no prior jazz knowledge though i love jazz alot. im a drummer btw. so my qn is, or rather qns Are,

1) do i need to get graded for drums before i can enter this course?
2) if u noe, what do i need to do for the auditions for drums?
3) does the course involve writing of essays? (cos i cant write essays for nuts)

i aim in the future to perform and teach drums. i've been learning and playing at church since i was 13 (im 23 this year). but my skill level is pretty much like only 1 year of drumming standard (i think). currently have applied for drum lessons, but there's no formal grading for this course.

any tips and pointers or words of advice/wisdom??

thanks!
Jun Kai