Remember all those stories you heard as a kid? Like how grandpa had to walk two miles to school in three feet of snow because they didn't have school buses? Well the same could be said of the computer age. After all, I didn't have a computer when I was a kid. Now before you start playing the violin, I am not saying this for sympathy. There is actually a point to this article. The point is: Make the most of it.
In the old days, if we wanted to learn song lyrics, we had to listen to a tape over and over and write them down manually. Quite often, the guys who were doing the singing didn't enunciate like we wished they had. Now, all you have to do is run a search on the Internet for the lyrics to a particular song and, sho' nuff, it's on somebody's Website somewhere.
In the old days, if you wanted to make quality recordings of your original music, you had to pay for expensive studio time. Now you can actually create quality recordings on your PC, using a variety of affordable software.
In the old days, if you wanted to reach large numbers of people with your original music, you basically had to get some sort of a record deal. Now you can create your own website and upload your songs in MP3 format and make them available for download. Also, on the Internet, you have the potential of reaching people all over the world.
In the old days, if you wanted to distribute large quantities of your album, you had to fork out a lot of cash to have your records and tapes produced. Now you can burn them on a record-able CD ROM drive. You can even create your own CD inserts and labels.
In the old days, if you wanted to learn guitar chords and scales, you actually had to buy a book from your local music store. Now you can learn guitar chords and scales online for free.
In the old days, if you wanted to hag up fliers or posters to promote your shows you either had to do some sort of unsightly hand-written one or pay to have a professional quality one printed up at your local print shop. You can now do a decent quality one in a word processor program on your PC. then you can go to Staples to run up a bunch of copies.
In the old days, we had to buy music magazines to keep up on the latest gear. Now you can read reviews and articles online about various equipment, CD's and everything imaginable that's related to music or pursuing a career in music. You can even order music equipment and supplies online.
So to sum it up: The computer age has done a lot to make things easier for musicians. Make the most of it. I know that a lot of people only know enough to surf the Web and do very little else. If you are not very computer literate, then do something about it. There are night courses available everywhere. Learn to do your own website, make your own fliers, record and distribute your own music and whatever else you need to learn in order to maximize your potential for success. You know you won't be able to tell your grandchildren that you didn't have computers when you tried to make it in the music biz. Even if you did have to walk two miles through three feet of snow to get to your nearest Staples.
Photo Credit: Image created by Bob Craypoe, also known as R. L.Crepeau. More music related information can be found on DrPsychotic.com.
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