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Parkinson's Law and Composers
Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. In this episode, Dave discusses how this concept applies to the world of production music, and how it impacts efficiency, decision-making, and creativity in music production.
Competence and Confidence: The Power of Knowledge
Explore the essence of creativity and music education inspired by “12 Notes on Life and Creativity” by Quincy Jones. Dive into the art and science of music, the importance of internalizing knowledge, and the impact of digital-age learning on creativity. Perfect for musicians, educators, and anyone seeking inspiration.
I Suck at Guitar (and That’s OK)!
Have you ever wondered why picking up a new instrument feels like unlocking a superpower? In this episode, I explore how immersing myself in the world of guitar has reinvigorated music’s magic, sparking a sense of exploration and creativity that has been profoundly transformative!
Coming Up Through the Ranks with Guest Jonas Friedman
Name-brand composers often employ teams of ghost writers and composers assistants to help get their projects over the finish line. While an accomplished film/TV composer himself, Jonas Friedman joins me today to talk about his experiences in the industry and how often times paying your dues can really pay off.
How to Find the Art in Artisan (with Hans York)
We welcome production music veteran and 52 Cues member, Hans York, to the podcast this week to talk about his journey into production music, his role and experiences with Sync Academy and Sync My Music, and what he's been doing lately to stave off creative stagnation.
Passing on Notes: The Tale of Freddie Keppard
When it comes to jazz, there are names that resonate through the annals of history. Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden, and King Oliver are just a few. But today, I want to introduce you to a name that might not be as familiar: Freddie Keppard.
If you're already acquainted with Keppard, you'll know the significance of his story. For those who aren’t, Freddie Keppard might have been the best cornetist to ever live. But the world will never truly know, and here's why.
All Our Seasons Change
Your seasonal shifting will probably not look the same as mine. Some of us are going through significant life transitions, while some are seizing new opportunities like launching new albums or making career moves. Change, like the seasons, is a common experience for all of us.
Signposts: Curves Ahead!
Stay alert. Listen to your intuition. While it may not be right every time (thanks, lizard brain!), when you open your heart and mind, you realize these aren’t just random events. There's something – a science, a magic, an intelligence – we've yet to fully grasp.
Turning Pro
What separates hobbyists from professionals in music composition is not talent, but mindset, accountability, dedication, and an ability to embrace failure! In this episode, we talk patience, persistence, self-actualization, and the acceptance of failure as part of the road to success.
5 Ways the 80/20 Rule Can Boost Your Career in Production Music
The 80/20 rule, or “Pareto Principle,” is a concept that states that 80% of the outcomes in life can be attributed to 20% of causes, and as it turns out, this principle can also be applied to our development as composers.
On this week’s episode, we unpack 5 ways to use this 80/20 rule to boost our careers in production music, as well as talk about some pitfalls to watch out for if this all goes sideways.
From Sample Making to Filmmaking with Jon Meyer
We production music folks tend to have a lot of irons in the fire and I can’t think of a leader in our industry who best embodies this than Jon Meyer (@JonMeyer)!
Jon has just released his brand new Kontakt instrument, Soft Drums, and I wanted to have him on the show to not only talk about that, but also, to share how he balances so many creative outlets - from music making to sample making to filmmaking.
Is One Cue Per Week Really Enough?
I’ve said before that you need 100’s of cues to make a living in the production music industry, but is one cue per week really enough? Today I’m going to unpack and illustrate how productivity and output might not be the linear journey we think it is.
We’ll take a listen to “Waltz of Shame,” the latest submission in my “Year of Taxi” and check in on any forwards or returns.
5 Ways to Stay in the Creative Flow State
When we’re composing, we strive to maintain this creative flow state, but some days that feels harder than others! So on today’s episode, I unpack 5 things you can do to help keep you in that flow state, feeling more creative, and more productive.
4 Ways to Jumpstart Your Creativity!
We’ve talked about how important sustainable creativity is for the production music composer, but what happens when you got nothing or a deadline hangs over you like the sword of Damocles? On this week's episode, I’m going to give you 4 ways that I jumpstart my own creative process when time is short or energy is low.