Music is People

Tis The Season to Record Christmas Music

On Saturday we had the joy of recording Christmas music with some local high school students from Geneva. Two days after Thanksgiving we jumped right into recording 14 of their favorite Christmas tunes for a cd to give to friends and family and enjoy for the years to come. We recorded different arrangements of songs with piano (Molly Brown), cello (Nicole Weber, Molly Brown), violin (Allison Donahue) and viola (Matt Smith). Thanks guys for keeping us in the Christmas spirit. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

In The Christmas Spirit at the Studio

Today we finished tracking a Christmas CD for our good friends Randy and Audra Miles. A 20 songs compilation of their favorite Christmas songs recorded as a gift for their family and friends! We started recording this project back in June, so we've been in the Christmas spirit for months already. Great job Randy and Audra on a gift from the heart. It's been a lot of fun!

Are you starting to wonder what you are going to give your family for Christmas this year? Don't be lame and buy socks or a piece of jewelry that Zales says you must have... Give your special someone the gift of music! Click here to see our holiday recording specials and book a session today to record a unique gift for your family. 

Tis The Season!

Music attorney Susan Basko at the Guild

From interpersonal contracts to intergalactic space travel (don't ask), there was a LOT to discuss last night at the Guild. Entertainment attorney Sue Basko, who splits her time between Chicago and Hollywood and works primarily by Internet, brought us a mountain of information to chew over and apply in our various musical pursuits.

Sue gave us a heads-up about a new expense reporting law that looks like it will make a mountain of paperwork for small businesses, including working musicians. We talked about the increase of musical acts who produce their own shows or play in "alternative" venues like churches, skate parks or retail outlets instead of more traditional clubs. We discussed trademarks and service marks, various scams that prey on aspiring (but not necessarily talented) musicians, and some interesting new opportunities - including iheartradio and the emerging market for recorded music in the Middle East.

With the holidays encroaching, The Guild won't meet again this year. Can't bear to stay away? Join us at Backthird's Christmas celebration, Tiny Candle, in December.

Producer and Drummer Jaben Penell at the Guild

Monday's meeting of the Guild was a fine time talking music and production with Rockford producer and session drummer Jaben Pennell. 

"A producer in a nutshell is someone who makes sure that the project goes where it's supposed to go," Jaben told us. Sometimes this means helping a band or solo artists with arrangements, making chord substitutions and lyric suggestions to music as needed and lining up session musicians to deliver the right performances for a recording. Other times, it's simply about keeping a group from getting lost in the details. 

We talked a lot about the importance of "capturing a moment" in the studio and creating the environment - musical or otherwise - that allows performers to best represent their own abilities.

"You try to find that unique element in an artist and polish that," Jaben said. "You try to bring out their best."

Of course, a lot of us who are technically inclined were eager to discuss plug-ins, mics and mix technique - so we got a healthy dose of everything. But for me, the lesson was that great music transcends mere technicality - it's about the people who make it.

Find Jaben's contact info right here. Reach your favorite Aurora recording studio right here.

Piano Piano Piano - Bach Sonata to Send in the Clowns

Today the Piano got a workout from teenage pianist Molly Brown a local high school student. Preparing audition tapes and performance of many pieces for posterity Molly spent the afternoon in the studio recording classical piano pieces on our grand piano ranging from Bach's Sonata 17 to Stephen Sondheim's Send in the Clowns. Thanks Molly for doing such a great job playing like a pro!