Life as a Studio Musician

Does life as a studio musician interest you? Successful studio musicians must be extremely proficient at the instruments they play. While many who play in bands and as solo artists have one recognizable sound that they are known for, studio musicians must have enough technique to play any style requested of them.

Studio musicians deliver performances that are made to order and they must be able to do so on demand. This is not to say that there is no room for style, originality or invention as a studio musician. In fact many good studio musicians are successful because of a certain sense of style they bring to their performances.

Nonetheless, studio musicians must be proficient in many different musical genres and able to perform fluidly in all of them.

Recording artists often hire studio musicians for recording on their songs. Studio musicians may also work on TV, movies and commercials.

Generally studio musicians are paid a session fee, which buys them out of any part of the finished product. Most studio musicians belong to the musicians union, which sets rates of pay for recording sessions and live appearances.

Studio musicians are among the fortunate few who can earn a living playing an instrument. Many have lucrative careers. Some may even become extremely successful. However life as a studio musician is not entirely about making money. It’s about being able to make a living playing the instrument you love.

Being a studio musician demands excellent technique, perfect time, a good ear and an ability to be professional and easy to work with. In the competitive world of studio musicians, one can be replaced all too easily. No matter how good you are prima donna attitudes are best left at home.

Studio musicians often get hired to do live gigs as well. For anyone who wants to make a good living as a working musician, studio work is a great opportunity. Not everyone gets to be a rock star. There are however a great many working studio musicians who earn good livings. Many more currently in fact than there are rock stars.

However, the two are by no means mutually exclusive.

Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin both got their start as studio musicians. In fact many musicians use studio work as a means of supporting themselves while pursuing their dreams.

Life as a studio musician can be an excellent avenue for anyone seeking to make a career in the music business.