You’ve got your bandmates altogether. After writing a few great songs, you’ve decided you want to make it official with a band name. The eventual argument ensues about what to call yourselves—approaching a venue and saying “We’re just a squirrely bunch that knows some great tunes!” hasn’t gotten very many […]

Choosing a Band Name: The Good, the Bad, and the ...

how to find vocal lessons singer
You’ve decided to take the plunge. Taking vocal lessons is a surefire way to improve your vocal performance, understand the mechanics of vocalizing, and explore the possibilities of your particular voice. Many people will consider taking vocal lessons as a way to sharpen their skills or to start from scratch […]

5 Great Places for Vocal Lessons in NYC

Mobile technology has become a part of everyday life. For guitarists, the choices are almost endless when it comes to a wide array of apps, both for iOS and Android, from tablature directories to tuners. These apps make many issues facing guitarists both new and old more convenient challenges. Because […]

The Five Best Guitar Apps Out Now

If there’s one thing that New York City is known for, it’s the music. Venues large and small in the Big Apple have become legendary destinations in the music world, not least because of the sheer amount of professional gigging musicians in the area, and the famous careers made here. […]

Five of the Best New NYC Music Venues You Should ...

music stores in manhattan
As with anything in Manhattan, music stores are a dime a dozen. The possibilities are endless when you take in the sheer number of Manhattan-area instrument retailers, whether you’re looking for vintage gear, the latest amps and guitars, or a full set of accessories to compliment your playing. But some […]

The Lowdown: Top 5 Music Stores in Manhattan

christmas decorations to go with top holidays songs from movies
As the holidays approach, we run headlong into those serialized holiday movie classics. What A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street  are great, but we live in modern times, and any top five list should encompass a wide range of media. In our Top Five Holiday Film Songs list, […]

The 5 Best Holiday Film Songs….Ever

So you’ve bought yourself a microphone. Now what? Is this the only piece in the puzzle you’ll need to get that studio quality recording? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Home recording has become increasingly popular. The wave of budget-friendly microphones being shipped over from China has only added fuel to […]

Beginner Microphone Tips You Can Use to Get The Best ...

how to play jazz guitar
One of the first things every aspiring jazz guitarist quickly realizes is that jazz is hard. Really hard. And once they realize what they’ve gotten themselves into they inevitably start looking for ‘The Secret’. That one scale, arpeggio or II-V-I that will make them a seasoned jazz man or jazz […]

How to Play Jazz Guitar for Beginners

Music is the language of the heart, but it can be challenging to speak it if you’re new to writing lyrics. Though lyrics may look deceptively simple when viewed “on paper,” so to speak, one soon discovers that getting them to flow correctly is a fine art. After all, we’ve […]

Writing Song Lyrics for Beginners: 4 Tips for Learning to ...

how to find a singer for your band
Every member of the band brings an important element to the sound and overall performance. However, in almost every ensemble, it’s the singer that gets the most attention from the audience and serves as the face of the whole band. The singer’s vocal styles and stage presence will set the […]

How to Find Singers for Your Band

In the first of our new series we sit down with the members of Supervicious to get some insight into their world.   1- Who are you? How did your band/project get it’s name?   We are Supervicious. We chatted over drinks about a name and ran around with the […]

Rivington Music Band of The Month Interview: Supervicious

best free Metronome apps
The ability to stay on beat may be one of the less sexy elements of being a professional musician, but it’s certainly one of the most important. Rhythm comes more naturally to some people than others, but no one is perfect all the time — which is why the metronome […]

The Best Metronome Apps for Musicians & Bands

how to create the best setlist
The setlist determines not just what you’ll play at each gig, but how you’ll be remembered by your audience. A great live act with poor set planning risks losing the audience’s attention or failing to capture the right moments to let their songs shine. Some musicians like to wing it, […]

How to Create (and Remember) the Best Set List

5 Key Tips for Choosing a Perfect Guitar for Yourself
Whether you are shopping for your first guitar or one hundred and first, there are few simple “rules” or better say hacks you should follow. Remember, the instrument you choose will be by your side at least for a few months but more likely many years, so you should definitely […]

5 Key Tips for Choosing a Perfect Guitar for Yourself

First Time in a Pro Studio? Don’t Be Stupid!! Recording in a professional recording studio for the first time can be pretty intimidating. It’s the exact opposite experience of playing live and puts everything you do under a giant microscope. Add to this the fact that you and your band […]

Tips for Recording in a Pro Studio for The First ...

Musicians are all about their music. Unfortunately, you cannot live on artistic expression alone. In order to become a professional musician, you need to establish yourself as one first, and whether you consider it marketing or not, it is marketing. You need to market your music so that others will […]

8 Tips to creating an effective music marketing campaign

We all know what it’s like to go see a concert and feel totally blown away — not just by the artists’ ability or technical skills at playing their instruments and singing, but by the overall experience of the show. It’s the element that separates the experience of a live […]

How to Improve Your Stage Presence and Own the Stage

how to find a bass player
More cowbell is a matter of taste, but a band can’t go without a bass player. Providing the rhythmic backbone of your music, playing bass may not always be the most glamorous role, but there’s no question that it’s essential. If you’re having trouble finding a great bass player to […]

How to Find a Bass Player