Author: selowe86

Ah, ears. Those trusty conductors of life’s soundtrack. As a musician, I’ve always marveled at these peculiar appendages. They’re the unsung heroes of symphonies, the VIP guests at concerts, the gatekeepers of every beautiful note I’ve ever played. But as time marches on, it turns out ears have their own... encore. Yes, my friends, ears age too, and they do it with flair. Let’s face it: aging is weird. One day you’re rockin’ out in tight leather pants, the next you’re wondering why your jeans have so many "comfort-fit" options. And then, one fateful morning, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and think, "wait a minute, were my ears always this... grandiose?" Ears: The Never-Ending Crescendo Here’s the deal: unlike the rest of our bodies, which seem…

What Every Musician Should Know About Their Most Precious Tool As a musician, your ears are arguably your most valuable asset. They guide you through the intricate nuances of melody, harmony, and rhythm, allowing you to perfect your art. But how much do you really know about the complex anatomy and fascinating quirks of your ears? Beyond providing a portal to the world of sound, your ears have some surprising qualities worth exploring, especially if you want to protect and preserve them for a lifetime of music. 1. The Human Ear Canal: Your Gateway to Sound The human ear is much more than the visible part we adorn with earrings or cover with headphones. One of the most critical parts for musicians is the ear canal. This narrow passageway is…

#11 Custom molded in-ear monitors (IEMs) are becoming increasingly popular amongprofessional musicians and sound engineers. These specialized devices are designedto fit the unique shape of an individual's ear, offering unparalleled comfort, soundquality, and hearing protection. As a musician or sound engineer, your hearing is one ofyour most valuable assets, and custom molded in-ear monitors provide a tailoredsolution that protects your hearing while enhancing your performance. Advantages and Downsides For professional musicians, the primary advantage of custom molded in-ear monitors isthe improved sound quality. Unlike generic earbuds, custom IEMs create a seal in theear canal, resulting in clear sound with enhanced bass response and noise isolation.This custom fit ensures that every nuance of the music is delivered with precision,allowing musicians to perform at their best. The comfort provided by a custom…

I hate these! I can't 'feel' my guitar! If you are a guitar player, and have never played in front of a wall of amps, you owe it to yourself to try that at least once. There's really nothing like it... Being engulfed by sound waves can transport you. This same/similar feeling is even achieved with one small amp in a small club. If the volume of the whole band is loud enough to fill up the room you can also create the 'engulfed by' feeling. This is a feeling we as musicians get used to, especially playing in a band. It makes the idea of playing as a unit, a well oiled machine that moves and breathes together, even more achievable and way more fun. This is what we…

for Soloists and Group use, Studio and Stage. A lot of musicians and audiophiles ask me “what systems do I recommend?”, so I thought it was about time to post some that I own or have used. An In-Ear Monitor (IEM) system is a type of personal monitoring system used by musicians and performers to hear themselves and the rest of the band or music mix during live performances, eliminating the need for floor monitors, or using the floor monitors to augment the in-ears. The system consists of three main components: In-Ear Monitors: These are earphones that fit snugly inside the ear canal and deliver the sound directly to the performer's ears. In-ear monitors come in different shapes and sizes and can be customized to fit the individual's ear canal…

It took me quite a while to acclimate to IEMs. For a long time I would only wear one (VERY VERY BAD --- DON'T DO THAT). I'm not just a singer, but a guitar player as well... and we won't even go into what THAT means in terms of 'feeling the air from my guitar amp', although some would say that's code for loud... but moving along let's just say I didn't become an in-ear monitor fanatic without kicking and screaming along the way. However, after using them for at least a year, the benefit to my voice completely outweighed any challenge I had with the "change of how my on-stage sonic experience" was. I really think that at the end of the day, that WAS the issue. I needed…

I started playing in bands at age 10. That was almost 58 years ago, so I think playing in bands must hold a high priority with me… or I’m too stupid to find something else to do. In any case, I’ve played in a lot of them, and in most cases, I’ve wound up at minimum as the musical director (or thereabouts). Probably because feel is everything to me, and one of the hallmarks of a “good band”. How it feels is really all the audience cares about… so it deserves more than a casual thought. Notice that I named this blog “Playing as a group” rather than “Playing in a band”. I see WAY TOO MANY “Bands” that don’t have a clue how to play as a “Group”.  Learning…

Vocal cord strain, also known as vocal fatigue, occurs when the vocal cords are overused and become inflamed, leading to hoarseness, soreness, and difficulty speaking. It can be caused by factors such as yelling, speaking for extended periods, or having poor vocal hygiene. To treat and prevent vocal cord strain, it's important to rest the voice, stay hydrated, and avoid habits that can irritate the vocal cords. In severe cases, medical treatment may be necessary. I have recently discovered "Straw Phonation" for un-stressing my voice… particularly "The Singing Straw" @ https://singingstraw.com/ Straw phonation refers to a speech therapy technique used to help individuals improve their voice control and quality. The technique involves blowing air through a straw while speaking, creating resistance that helps strengthen the voice muscles and improve breath…

Histrionics or Passion? THIS is a sensitive subject for some. You’re on stage, you know you need to entertain as well as play… so you start to ‘move-around’. You’ve notified your face of the performance-alert, and now you’re smiling (or making big guitar faces). Yes, sometimes there is stage direction given for show-flow, where to be /when and so forth. However, for me at least, here’s the rub: Is it done with soul-less histrionics, or movement out of passion? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it look like the former… and sometimes the movement looks learned or planned and doesn’t even fit the genre of music. Yes, people respond to energy and motion… but they respond MORE to authenticity (IMHO). I’ve discussed this idea with some who…

The Freedom in Letting Go and Just Playing That sounds like some repressed Yoda shit... but really it’s “give yourself a break for whatever choice you've made for the direction of your life... and just allow yourself to be you." The music is more authentic that way. I bring this up because for YEARS...and I DO MEAN YEARS, I beat myself up not ever being where I wanted to be chops-wise, career-wise, etc. I always would complain about not having time to practice as much as I would like because of needing to have a day job...or being in 6-7 bands, there is always a rehearsal, or a show to learn, and while that IS practicing...it's a different type of practicing, and not one that advances your chops or musical…