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It will never be the same, the ball is now in the court of the artist instead of the major record label. It used to be that huge record labels controlled the music industry but today, that is not so. As an artist, you have the power to decide and control your future in the music biz. You dont have to rely on large labels to sign you. You just need to record, release and explore all music promotional ideas on how to promote your CD.

Record labels no longer can control the image, airplay, profits, success and everything in between of every artist that wants to succeed. In the past, record companies would finance an artist’s project up front with an advance or basically a loan. The artist has to of course pay back this loan and ends up being charged more and in turn ends up with barely anything. Who wants to be controlled by a force such as this? I know I wouldn’t and you shouldn’t either.

In steps the age of Do-It-Yourself digital technology. Now the power is in the artist’s hands. Now you can start your own label, use your own musician resources, record an album from your personal computer or record an album in a prearranged studio. It is up to you and boy is that nice.

Ideas on how to promote your CD are not few and far between. You can not only record your own music but distribute without the control of any label. You can easily promote and sell MP3’s and CD’s online on hundreds, if not thousands of sites. No one is telling you how to do it and certainly no one will be controlling your profits. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Imagine this, if you sold 5,000 CDs online for $8 a pop, then you would have made $40,000. Normally you would have to account for many expenses but if you are doing it all on your own, then the expenses are minimal. The opportunities are truly amazing and the numbers keep going up and up. If you only sold that many for a label you would be in serious trouble and in serious debt.

You control your fate because you control everything you do and every music promotional idea you use. You record, distribute, sell, market and in turn you control what you make in profits. I can’t imagine an independent artist that would have it any other way!

Owner of Platinum Millennium publishing, former record label owner & national music industry seminar speaker/panelist. Author & creator of best-selling music biz books, courses, audio products & “How to” resources that helped 1000s. Go to http://www.musiccontracts101.com/docs/products/002/ for more.

As for beginning drummers, the whole concept of drumming is coordination. It’s learning to do more than one thing at a time. As a child, do you remember trying to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time? That was pretty difficult at first, but then we eventually got the hang of it.

Just like patting your head and rubbing your tummy, once you get the hang of doing multiple things at once on your drum set, it then only becomes a matter of practicing to develop your skills.

Once new drummers begin to get the hang of it they begin to favor one hand over the other. This is okay to an extent, but ideally, they should try to develop both hands to their max.

If you have been playing drums for any length of time you may have already developed one hand or foot way beyond the other, leaving you some weak spots that you can improve on. For example, if you’re right handed, which most of us are, our left hand and foot are obviously less inclined to do as much. Therefore, leaving them underdeveloped.

These underdeveloped hands and feet are a real menace to your skills as a great drummer more so than you may think. The fact is, once you feel free to use any hand or any foot the coordination to do something new becomes much less of a challenge.

One way for a drummer to develop his or her weak hand or foot is to make a special, concentrated effort to specifically practice and develop these.

What I do is put on a tape of my favorite songs and simply play with my left foot on my left bass drum. In the same way, I’ll use my left hand to play the hi-hat instead of my right. Also, many drummers only use their dominant hand to crash cymbals, but in practice, you should use both hands.

Practicing this way can be frustrating, a little boring, and not much fun, but well worth the investment of your time. When you develop the drumming skills with your weak hand and foot to the point where they are almost as loose as your dominant hand and foot you will really excel at being a great drummer.

The whole idea is to develop your drumming skills completely. This way, you’re ready for anything… and you will have more fun. So, where there’s a weak spot… fix it. Don’t run from frustration, embrace it! Frustration is your friend. It is showing you where you need work.

Just a quick note, it’s not realistic to expect your weaker hand and foot to ever be as developed as your dominat hand and foot for obvious reasons, but developing your weaker parts will make a huge impact on your overall drumming skills and abilities.

Dan Brown has been drumming since 1976. Get his FREE Report, “Mind Your Drumming: 10 Attitudes That Will Make You a Star” when you subscribe to his FREE Weekly Drum Smart Newsletter…

http://www.dbdrumtips.com/freenewsletter.html

It is really very easy to play melodies on your ukulele. If you know how! After reading this ukulele lesson you will be able to play a melodi without knowing sheet music. Let’s start!

In this ukulele lesson we will learn the melody to the song Home On The Range. I have written the lyrics of the first verse here:

Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day

Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day

Let’s start with the first line of lyrics and corresponding ukulele melody:

Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam

0/3 0/3 1/2 3/2 0/1 1/2 0/2 2/3 1/1 1/1 1/1

What does this notation mean?

In this ukulele lesson we will use an ukulele tab notation that shows you by numbers on which fret and on which string to press down your fingers.

For example, 3/2 means press down the third fret on the second string.

let’s continue with the next line:

Where the deer and the antelope play

0/1 1/1 3/1 1/2 1/2 1/2 0/2 1/2 3/2

Which left hand fingers should you use?

Many beginners only use their left hand index finger to play all notes. They are fully concentrated on finding the right notes and don’t want to think about the fingering bit too.

If you want to take your ukulele playing up to a more professional level I suggest that you play all notes on the first fret with your index finger, the notes on the second fret with your middle finger and the notes on the third fret with your, that’s right!, ring finger.

We will continue this ukulele lesson by playing the next line:

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

0/3 0/3 1/2 3/2 0/1 1/2 0/2 2/3 1/1 1/1 1/1

As you already have observed this melody is the same as the first line.

Now you might ask:

My left hand ring finger is too weak to play notes!

Well, that’s a problem for a beginning ukulele player. What to do?

Actually, the strength is often not a problem. The problem is that many players avoid using this finger as they don’t think it is of any use. Therefore this finger will not receive proper training.

If you take a step in faith and try to use it believing that it will work better with some training you will soon find that it will be of great use in your playing.

Here is the last line of the verse:

And the skies are not cloudy all day

1/1 1/1 0/1 3/2 1/2 0/2 1/2 3/2 1/2

I guess you have learned tu use the tab notation in this ukulele lesson by now so I will give you the rest of the song right away:

Home, home on the range

3/1 1/1 0/1 3/2 0/1

Where the deer and the antelope play

0/3 0/3 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0/2 1/2 3/2

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

0/3 0/3 1/2 3/2 0/1 1/2 0/2 2/3 1/1 1/1 1/1

And the skies are not cloudy all day

1/1 1/1 0/1 3/2 1/2 0/2 1/2 3/2 1/2

I will end this ukulele lesson by suggesting that you learn this melody by heart one line at a time. Then you can pick up an ukulele and have a fun time with this melody wherever you are!

Peter Edvinsson at Capotasto Music invites you to download your free sheet music, ukulele tabs, ebooks, music lessons and read his music blog at http://www.capotastomusic.com

Artists often wonder how their royalties are going to be computed when they sign music contracts. This is truly an important question because basically determines how much money is going to end up in their pockets. Recording contracts are meticulous and somewhat confusing so I will try to explain royalties to you as simple as possible.

A band or artist’s royalties are totaled as a percentage of the suggested retail list price for the total number of records sold. A general percentage that most artists will find in their music business contracts is anywhere from 7% to 16%. This will obviously depend on who you are and what the expectations are for your record sales.

Remember, royalties are the only place you are going to make your money but it is an important part of your contract. Royalty is expressed either as a percentage, a point or in escalations. Escalations suggest that you get a flat rate for up to a certain amount sold. Then your rate would go up if you sell over and above the first amount.

Depending on the company you have the music contract with, you may find that your royalties could include a packaging deduction or not include one. If it does not include one then you may find that the royalty price is reduced and then your royalties will be calculated. This is why it is vital that you read and re-read your music business contract before you sign so you completely understand.

Keep in mind that there may be a producer’s royalty that you are entitled to take care of from your own royalties. So, let’s say you had a royalty of 13% and the producer’s royalty was 2%, you would only receive 11%.

Other than these industry standard deductions, you may see deductions for free goods that might go to wholesalers meaning your wouldn’t receive royalities for these records. Also, promotional records such as those sent to radio stations are not included as well.

Keep in mind your royalty account can be charged for any item that is included in signed recording contracts. This is why it can’t be stressed enough that you need to understand every detail of what you sign because it may not be a dream come true after all. So, be careful, don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to seek the help of a professional.

Owner of Platinum Millennium publishing, former record label owner & national music industry seminar speaker/panelist. Author & creator of best-selling music biz books, courses, audio products & “How to” resources that helped 1000s. Go to http://www.order-yours-now.com/ for more.