Director of Industry Programs Lacey Harris writes on the five most essential skills Independent Artist and Artist/Producer/Entrepreneur program students will learn while enrolled at Musicians Institute.
Modern artists need to develop many diverse skills to navigate the ever-evolving music industry. MI’s 4-quarter Artist/Producer/Entrepreneur certificate program (APE) builds on the original 2-quarter IAP, and both of these programs were developed specifically for musicians who see themselves crafting their own careers from start to finish, without the help of a traditional music label.
After graduating, they should be well versed in everything from marketing themselves as an artist and brand, to the fundamentals of writing and producing their own full albums.
Thinking about studying music as an independent artist?
5 ways independent artist students at Musicians Institute develop their skills
1. An understanding of music theory and modern songwriting techniques, tailored for the modern producer and songwriter’s mind
There is a major difference between the effectiveness of a simple, repeating chord progression on loop with vocal or instruments, and a fully-realized song which has a unique and memorable melody, smooth transitions between sections, and clear expression of the intended emotion of a song. Although it’s certainly true that hardcore music theory training is not required to make a great-sounding song, it absolutely helps speed along the process if you know the fundamentals of how to achieve these key effects with your song. It also helps with getting an idea down quickly and working with other musicians.
2. Fluency in the technical side of recording techniques, DAW software, and production
Many songwriters would ideally like to work with a seasoned producer to record demos and complete full tracks, but not all are able to afford the financial or time expenditure to procure studio time or hire a producer to make their songs shine. Furthermore, bedroom studio setups have become more and more prevalent in indie artist recording, because the technology has become vastly more affordable than ever before. There is simply no need to spend a ton of money if an artist knows how to get a great demo cut right there in their home studio. In order to do this, the artist must understand the basics of achieving a clean, high-quality recording, navigating a DAW (like Logic Pro, Ableton Live, or Pro Tools, for example), and understanding the different methods of handling audio and MIDI. If an artist doesn’t have these skills at even a basic level, they will be at the mercy of other people’s schedules and creative process—not optimal for someone trying to launch their career with a minimal budget!
3. Essential comprehension of the modern music business and its main elements and players, and how to jumpstart your career
Sure, we could all make art for the sake of making art. If that’s your thing, then great–however, the majority of music artists want to get their music heard by the right audience, gain fans, work with other artists, perhaps even perform for huge audiences–and of course, fund the dream to keep it going, or even quit their day jobs and do music full time! None of that can happen without a clear picture of what revenue streams are available, how to create a business plan (I know—yuck! But necessary), and an understanding of the main components of the music industry and how they work and interact with one another to execute these plans. Learning how record labels function will help determine whether and how to pitch your music seeking consideration for release on a label, or stay independent and DIY. Understanding the different types of distribution will arm the artist with the knowledge of how to self-release, and where. Understanding managers and booking agents will allow the artist to make informed decisions regarding the timing or necessity of hiring them. In an industry that shifts and changes almost weekly, it seems, the more knowledge an artist has about the inner workings, the easier it will be to get their music to the right places and people.
4. Developing a clear artist identity and an effective, unique and memorable visual brand
The very first step in reaching the right audience is to first understand exactly who you are as an artist. This makes it much easier to learn what kinds of people your fans are, where they are, and how to reach them authentically. One of the most surprisingly challenging aspects of being an artist, is learning to speak about oneself clearly and concisely—once this skill is sharpened, and the artist is comfortable describing their sound, similar artists, ethos, release, and touring plans, then the previously-daunting processes of artist bios, press releases, interviews, and promotional videos become a breeze. The idea is to find the ride-or-die fans (meaning, the ones who stick it out with you through and through, rather than occasionally streaming your song and calling it a day). These fans will not only support you but they will get excited and talk about you and your music to other people. Great fans are a built-in promotional team!
But what are we using to promote? Great visuals and video content will come in clutch—not just photos of your beautiful face, but a clear and well-thought-out visual theme across all of your websites, socials, and content. Yet another skill set that is sorely needed by indie artists but often expensive to hire out, is basic visual design and website construction. The ability to quickly construct logos, banner images, and flyers is a life-saver when an artist is just starting out and may not have much budget to hire a designer. A website that serves as a hub for all social media accounts, tour info, and a place for fans to contact you is a must. By the end of our Artist programs, you will have all of these and then some.
5. Key marketing and social media practices for the independent artist
The fastest-changing/evolving format of interaction online is social media—the strategies of last week may not work for this week (this is not an exaggeration—it moves quickly!). New platforms, new features, and the exhausting process of consistent content creation can make the head spin—but a proper understanding of how to flow with these changes and still maintain an effective, consistent stream of content to connect with your fans can relieve the pressure significantly. Experimenting with what works for your fans (you know, the ones you found by developing your artist identity) as a meaningful way of connecting with them can be a fun process, and the best way to learn how is just to start doing it. However, learning what works and what doesn’t, as well as how to create high-quality content, is much easier and faster when guided by experts who have done the trial and error and accumulated significant quantities of followers who don’t just follow and then unfollow later—they stick around!
Musicians Institute is the leader in contemporary music education offering certificates to Masters degrees in programs spanning instrument performance, electronic production, music business, and everything in between.
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