Music Career Project

Period: ( example: 6A5)

Name:
Checklist to Complete Assignment
Read the article
Complete From the Source Section #1
Complete In Your Own Words Section #2
Complete Your Final Job Description Section #3
Complete Best Fact to Share Section #4
Complete Think About It Section #5
Complete the Career Jump Activity Section #6
Is my work neat, in complete sentences, and each
section is completed.

Music Career Jump Grading

_____Individual Participation During Project
3 on task, involved all the time
2 on task, involved most of the time
1 off task, wasting time, teacher reminders to
work needed/not on task, ignores teacher
reminders

_____Completed Project
3 all tasks complete, in detail, neat, and
thoughtful
2 all tasks complete, satisfactory answers, and
legible, most tasks complete, answers are brief
and not detailed, work is sloppy
1 few tasks complete, answers are incomplete,
and little effort is shown

his information based on the information on the M

usic Careers Website. Dont use other sources!

#1 From the Source

#2 In Your Own Words

Job Title:
Music Producer

Job Title:
Producer of Music

Career Overview:

A Music Producer
writes, arranges, produces
and records songs for other
artists or for their own
projects.

Career Overview: I produce music and create

tracks for artists

About
(Career
this
Description)
Music Career

About
(Career
this
Description)
Music Career

1.

With the growth of home recording

technology and boutique recording
studios, many Producers find
themselves pulling double or triple
duty as Studio Owners and S
ound
Engineers

1.

I Record musicians from home or from my

studio. I also can make mixes/tracks of songs

is a lot of work that goes into

being a Producer outside of the studio
such as attending rehearsals, meetings,
writing sessions, and going out to shows

2. My job is also about going to see my musicians

rehearse and perform outside of the studio.

3. Social

3. I also connect with many different artists through

2. There

media has given me the ability to

Music Career Project

connect with more artists than ever, but
in-person interaction will never be
replaced. Half of producing is the music,
the rest is salesand I am the product I
push.

social media and new technology so I can not only

produce music and do my sales.

4.Once

the client shows up, I want my

attention 100% on the artist and the
music creation process. Nothing else
comes first. I usually work for about
10-12 hours with lots of ear and mental
breaks worked in throughout the day

4. I mostly focus on the process of creating the music

once the client shows up.

5.I

5. I also need to check the functionality of my

equipment

am responsible for every aspect of my

business and its definitely not all rock n
roll glory. A typical day for me starts with
checking my Producer notes, prepping
the studio and checking gear
functionality.

Average Annual Earning

Salary

Salary

Average Annual Earnings:

$49,000
1.

General Earnings Range:

$25,000 to $1,000,000

1.

Average Annual Earnings:

$49,000

General Earnings Range:

$25,000 to $1,000,000

2.

2.

Employment

Employment

1.

2.

Its about taking advantage of

networking and learning
opportunities.

Luksa started gaining experience early

on. He says, I attended Berklees Music
Production and Engineering program,
interned with a bunch of Live Sound
Engineers and was offered a job mixing
monitors for a Live Nation venue in
Boston (Axis). I think [for] my 10th show, I

1.

I take advantage of my opportunities and

networking. Stuff like that

2. I gained experience and I took as many jobs I could

to get my career of the ground. I went to college and
stuff and was offered a job mixing for Bon Jovi and
Boston

Music Career Project

ended up mixing monitors for a Bon Jovi
acoustic show/live radio broadcast.
Advancement

1. Production is an extremely
competitive field, and advancement
comes as a Producer builds and
diversifies his or her skill set or
works with more prestigious artists.
Luksa puts it this way.

Advancement
1.

I work with prestigious artists to build my set

or works with more prestigious artists.

need to be realistic about the 2. I need to be realistic about my job. Lots of my

friends DJ, produce, engineer, write and stuff.
current and evolving state of the music
I need to ask myself often what kind of records do
industry. The game has changed and you I want to produce?
have to be more than just a Producer
nowadays. So many of my peers not only
produce, but play on records, write,
engineer, DJ, program tracks or function
as artists themselves to pay the bills. You
have to ask yourself the question, what
kind of records do I want to produce?
2. Producers

Education and Training

1. Yes, formal music education is a

must (know the rules before you
break em), Luksa says. This
industry runs at lightning speed as
far as technology goes, so learn the
basics from trade schools, or music
schools with recording arts/music
engineering and production
programs. As you learn to use new
gear or software, you can use that
formal education as a platform to
grow on.
2. Next,

apprentice with someone who is

respected in the part of the industry you
want to work in. You need to follow
production trends and methods. Which,
btw pretty much involves eating cereal

Education and Training

1.

You need a formal music education

2. I need sombody who respects me

Music Career Project

and watching a stupid amount of
YouTube videos on how to in pajamas.
Experience, Skills, and Personality

1. When it comes to necessary

experience and skills, Luksa says,
there is no right path or specific
skill set that will make you a great
Producer. Some folks will get into
producing by way of helping a
friend record while playing/writing
on said record, others will just be
crushing tracks out of their
bedroom and word gets around,
while others might come to produce
because they are engineering and
start helping bands get through the
tracking process. There is no one
single magic solution to launching
your career as a Producer.
2.Play

off your strengths and fake the

Experience, Skills, and Personality

1.

I need a good personality and skills

2. Do some guesswork and do your best

rest!
3.So

what kind of person would be

successful as a Producer? Luksa says
the ideal candidate is organized,
assertive, artistic and a great
communicator. Someone who can lead
the pack and rule with love, even when
getting evil with some Norwegian death
metal band. In the studio or rehearsals,
artists look to you for answers, so you
need to be thick-skinned and
even-keeled. Artists bring enough drama,
insecurity and emotion into the sessions;
[theres] no need to add your baggage,
so keep your BS and ego at home.

3. Nice, organized, creative

Unions and Associations

Unions and Associations

Music Career Project

1.

Producers arent unionized, but

networking and community are vital
for success. Luksa advises
fledgling Producers to register with
a PRO [Publishing Rights
Organization] so you are prepared
for writing and publishing royalty
collection. Go out to shows and
become part of your local scene,
make friends and create contacts
with Session Musicians,
otherEngineers, and Producers.
Keep that part grassroots.

1.

It is good to be associated with good producers

2.Online,

he says, there are so many

resources out there, it just depends on
the music and scene you want to be a
part of. Stick to where your clients might
hang their interactive selves or follow
other Record Producers or E
ngineers you
respect. Always follow trends within your
projects marketing demographic via
Billboard or other reporting. You dont
have to buy those records, but give them
a listen. I really dig Sound On Sound,
Tape Op,Mix Magazine, and Gear Slutz
forums (especially when I have software
or hardware questions).

2. STick to your clients and always follow trends that

are cool

Suggestions for Getting Started

Suggestions for Getting Started

1.Be

yourself and go with your gut. This

is art. It should be fun, inspiring and just
fly by the seat of your pants crazy. Go
make real music!!! If it catches on like
Amy Winehouse, Black Keys, Jack
White, Adele, Liam Bailey, etc., then you
actually served a purpose in producing
real art and we need more of that. Back
in the day, we had music industry gurus
that decided what was good music and
what people should listen to on the radio.

1.

Be yourself and do your best

Music Career Project

Unfortunately, those folks have all left this
earth or stopped making records. Even
worse, they have been replaced by
marketing and accounting personnel.

2.What

is the biggest personal reward in

producing? Seeing or hearing your name
mentioned in association with a record
you believed in and loved makes it all
worthwhile. Everyone who works a
normal job and receives a paycheck
every week also craves recognition for a
job well done. We are human and full of
emotional needs, regardless of the
situation.

2. Hearing your music and stuff is a great

accomplishment.

#3 Your Final Job Description: Convince someone this is the best job in the music

industry! Write in complete thoughts and sentences IYOW). When you read this out loud, it
should be about 30 seconds.
This is the best because it is fun to be creative and it is also a very well paying job

#4 Best Fact to Share: Write one sentence summarizing and highlighting the best part
about this job.
I love being creative and having fun with music.

#5 Think About It
-List 3 school subjects that would be useful to know to perform this job.
1. Music
2. Math
3. Language Arts
-Would this job be a good fit for you? Why or why not? Support your opinion in complete
sentences.
Yes. Like I said earlier I am very creative and I like being creative.

(THIS SECTION IS AN IN-CLASS ACTIVITY! DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THIS YET!)

Music Career Project

#6 Career Jump Activity: Quickly write down the job title and one interesting thing
about each job as you rotate through the career jump.
1. Daniel Simmons- Marketing Coordinator- Markets
2. Dax Fagman- Rockstar- Plays music
3. Adam Khan- Tour bus driver- Meet celebs
4. OWen Lacy- Light tech.- MAkes lights
5. Kyle Jensen- Songwriter- Makes Music
6. JOseph Marshall- DJ- Play music
7. Anna Golding- Booking agent- Makes up 2 one mil.
8. Jamie Zinman- Singer- Travel all over and makes $$$
9. Katie Denison- Music Photographer- Takes pics at concerts
10. Daniel Friedman- Business Manager- Meets Celebs
11. Carly-Choreographer - Dance w/ celebs
12. Andrew Breger- Nightclub Manager- Makes $$$ and has fun
13. Rachel Klinsky- Lyricist- Makes Demos
14. Skylar Londo- Dance/Cover Band- Album
15. Ben Saarva- Video game producer- Music for video games
16. Leah Ryan- Journalist- Pics/ Articles
17. Garvin Crews- SOund technician- Matches sounds w/ songs
18. Reese Berk- Record producer- Makes records
19. Skylar Londo- Producer- Makes Songs
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
Best Job: My job
Worst Job: Coordinater