Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Done the SoM audition

The audition was today of the school of music and it went well.

It consisted of simple ear hearing test such as if I can identify short notes or long notes, which is louder and the such questions and a short interview.
I shall be hearing from the school of music again sometime before October I believe.

I've been practicing once an hour every day and made good progress with Fabers adult piano adventures.

Hi
Good to hear you are doing well with both Faber’s and the music program audition🙂

Congratulations! Wishing you all the best in your musical goals and endeavors!

Rick

Thanks Dogperson and Rickster, yeah I'm doing well, I am doing effort to play at least once an hour more often, in other words I am more motivated hen I was in the past on the piano

Alright, this is something I needed to say about my future with the piano and the music industry.

First of all I am enjoying the piano so I don't have problems with it but what is bothering me is if I ever get the attention of some tv studio to make a professional music video in a recording studio, ONE TV is normally a tv studio but they have a professional music studio and do have a grand piano as I asked them (I've seen music productions being made there via music videos) if one needs any other instruments then that musician must bring them with him.

Later on they advice to bring their music to a recording studio to master the track or whatever such studios do and then later on the tv studio broadcast it on local TV on their channel.

I asked them as I've seen a music video filmed in one of their studios and told me that no, you need an agent/manager or whatever to be allowed to use their studio/piano so even if there is an artist/musician/band who is highly talented/skilled if they somehow they didn't get any agents/managers (let be honest getting an agent here is not easy, I don't know how it is worldwide but in Malta few artists find agents that are willing to cooperate with them) then that means they won't get to put their production on air, tv studios such as ONE and whatever else music tv studio is around accept few artists, many artists here had their dreams broken, it's not that they are bad, they're great musicians/singers but they still hadn't gotten any attention from a tv studio or media.

Thus they relegate to just use youtube as their medium and possibly never make it to a studio or make a music video that captures the interest of a tv station.

Thankfully you don't need an agent to make a music video, I chatted with a studio that does music video for artists and they told me yes they do that and be free to talk to them if I need to hire their services but they don't cooperate with tv stations and help you or anyone broadcast the production on tv, they give you the production they filmed to you once finished then the rest is yours, which I would put it on my youtube account when I make one (this is not for the time being, right now I am merely practicing piano)

In Malta here there are reputable recording studios such as

-Somnio Recording Studios (Has a parlour grand piano available)

-Lito's Place (Baby grand available)

-Analise and Mirko Recording Studio (An old and dated grand piano available)

-Wicked and Loud (Doesn't have acoustic pianos at all, they have digitals ones, synthesizers and keyboards)

*It's been a while since I've checked the instruments of said studios, some may not have a piano anymore, SRS and Lito's Place may have sold or gotten a different piano since then, perhaps they may have shut down as well as it's been a while since they updated on their facebook and SRS doesn't have a website, just a fb page that it hasn't updated since 2019

I don't know about A&M but W&L is currently the newest recording studio here so it has the most up-to-date information

With all that said artists who have the luck to make it big get interviews and the such, once again many artists/bands here don't make it anywhere and they've been playing for ages but remain obscure, they never had their music videos broadcasted or get called for interviews.

My niece only recently she got the attention of a tv studio and had her production broadcasted on Malta's local music channel
This is her music video here

A friend of mine who also made his music video got attention from a tv station and had his production be broadcasted on local tv.

Here's his video his other videos also got broadcasted as well and he recently made another one in Mexico by which it would be released on our local tv station when it's done.

They both got called for interviews so kudos to them, I am really happy for my niece and my friend of course, however he has an agent, where as my niece without any agent, I guess it's about knowing the right people in this case.

Now this doesn't deter me to practice piano, first and foremost I play the piano is because I enjoy it, money and fame are secondary things to me, I will however when I get proficient on the piano (4-5 years of constant practice for 1-2 hours a day would do?) make a few gigs and I'd expect to get paid for gigs, I wouldn't do gigs for free personally, I agree with Alex Coleman answer on this question, although I don't see myself doing gigs very much, just a few times and of course I am not making a living on them, I will never quit my normal job.

As well as compose a song in one of the recording studios mentioned above but I doubt I'l get the attention of a tv station/studio or get interviewed, I'm afraid I will not gather their attention sadly but as I said before it does not deter me for practicing and enjoying the piano but I must admit that sometimes it does depress me that no matter how long one practice one may never make it anywhere.

Sometimes I think it's about who you know and put's you up on the pedestal as you or your band can be highly talented/skilled but never make it.

If this isn't the right place to post this then accept my sincere apologies, I tried looking online where to post this but neither fb or reddit are good places to post this and I admit that am not familiar with how the music industry work in my country nor do I know how it works worldwide or at least in Europe either but my interest currently is in Malta of course.

What style of music do you play? Something that has a wide appeal in Malta?

I think that nowadays you need to have an online presence. Youtube and instagram. Release lots of videos of you playing and singing your style of music. You don't need a professional studio to do this - you have to be your own recording engineer and video editor. Plenty of people do it with modest cameras and audio recording equipment. There are lots of recording tutorials on youtube for making music videos.

Once you have a following and lots of interest online, then you can get an agent and a recording studio that is interested in you, because you are a "sure thing" with a guaranteed fan base.

This is not easy to do. There are no guarantees. Being the best musician is not the only thing. There is a lot of competition.

Sam

If your ultimate aim is to become a pop star in Malta (as in the two videos you linked), I have to say you're going about it in a very curious way.

What's the point of learning piano for that? If you love piano playing and piano music, learn piano for its own sake - not as a means of achieving stardom. Post your music on social media, and enjoy the adulation, if that's what you're hoping for.

BTW, if you think there are unreasonable obstacles in your path towards musical recognition in Malta - like established studios there insisting you have an agent etc - the obstacles in Europe are at least hundred thousand times greater. Almost every teenager here has dreams of stardom, and some even have the looks and (some) musical talent............

Now I know that I am not becoming the next best thing as there are plenty of artists here that have been playing for ages and that I would not reach their skill level, I am aware of the competition but no I have no plans to get an agent, I don't know about the future but I seek methods where an agent is not necessary.

@Bennevis I picked up the piano as a hobby and as any person with a dream I too would love to share my compositions with the world when I become quite proficient with the piano, with YouTube, Spotify or any means really like every artist who loves his work.

Let me clarify some things.

My primary intentions with the piano is to play to enjoy it for fun, gigs and fame come secondary to me so no I am not a person who just picked it up for the purpose of getting famous with it.
I have no intentions of getting an agent in fact many artists don't have agents and it is possible to get a production of a music video broadcasted by a tv station on the local music channel without an agent but it's more complicated of course.

Even if I won't be able to make a production broadcasted on tv I can still hire a film crew and find a recording studio to master my song/music video (I have a video camera but for professional music videos such as those a specialist would be preferable) to make a music video (though I would likely do it once or twice and stick to filming with my own camera independently later on) and be satisfied with that.

I am more of an indie pianist, I might make a few gigs but generally my interests is to play for fun and film myself playing the piano and put it up on youtube and spotify, I will not make it a habit to hire crews as I usually prefer to do things by myself but I'd like to release something professional a few times with a studio but all in all the piano to me is merely a hobby that I like.

Enjoy the journey! I agree with Sam that at the stage you are at now you should focus on your music and building a social media presence once you start having some compositions/songs to share. Gain as much musical knowledge and experience as you can soak in. You are very lucky to live in a time and place where home production is both affordable and powerful. Technology has come a long way in only the past few decades, prices have come down immensely. Very many musicians nowadays start out as bedroom producers with cheap equipment but a lot of enthusiasm and the will to devote the time it takes. A home computer, your midi compatible digital piano, some software (DAW, virtual instruments ...) microphones if you plan to do vocals / acoustic instruments, audio interface, good headphones/monitors, all coupled with the right know-how should serve you well and be much more cost-efficient than regularly renting a professional studio. I have no personal inside experience of the popular music business but I don't really understand how you imagine the workflow when you for instance say that you plan to go to a professional studio in order to compose? I can only go by what I've heard professional popular musicians say, and this seems very far from the typical workflow. Once in the studio, the musicians have already spent countless hours composing and polishing. I remember for instance hearing an interview with Benny Andersson, most famous as being part of ABBA, who said that he sits down on his piano bench every day from 9 am to 4 pm (or something similar) and approaches his music composing as a full-time job. He estimated that over his lifetime, working like this, he has averaged three minutes of produced music per month. Obviously the exact numbers will vary between composers and depend on the genre etc. My point is that I suggest you try to find a way to get your musical ideas down at least as concepts / demo recordings without all the cost associated with renting a professional studio.
Is the music school you are going to attend focused on piano playing alone or musicianship and music production in a broader sense? Piano playing alone will not give you all skills needed for song writing and production if the videos you linked to are some indication of what you yourself want to do (Vocals with some digital music accompaniment.) Do you already have some experience or know people with such knowledge that you plan to collaborate with? If not, don't despair, a lot of knowledge can be gained on the internet. Perhaps you could start with some mooc-s that present a structured approach for beginners? E.g. something like these courses that can be audited for free, or search out something else that better suits whatever goals you have.
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/music-production
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/songwriting

I don't know if the SoM will have cooperative plays, I imagine it will even though I am personally more interested in solo play.

Now about playing in a studio or make use of their services this will not be a common thing, I mostly will be independent and no I have no interest in singing/vocals, I will focus purely on the piano and solo play not with a band.

The reason I'd contact a studio is for when I am ready to make a professional music video later, a few times and then later on I would just stick with recording myself with my camera and Zoom H6 independent of studios.

If I remember correctly - and correct me if I am wrong - you just started piano this year with your first lessons just begun or about to begin. It seems to me that to be ready to make a "professional music video" of solo piano works, you have several years to apply yourself. So, inquiring about studio use now might be a little premature.

I suggest concentrating on developing your skills and it will be some time before you have some repertoire to perform "professionally."

Regards,

@BruceD no, when I said that I am going to contact a studio I meant when I am ready to do so.

Right now I am merely focusing on study, practice and in October the music school.

The professional studios comes long after, I am not planning to perform anytime in the near future as I am not ready to do so, I am talking more about 5-7 years ahead, perhaps even longer before I feel ready and hope for my luck that I can convince such a studio to accept me then.

Of course even if I am ready I would still need to test the waters beforehand, make a few gigs and see how I go before I contact a studio and perform in it.

I personally wish that you achieve your dreams but be honest with yourself, if you don't achieve what you hope to do are you going to give up piano and music altogether?

And if you do achieve what you want, what then?
Will you quit the instrument and move on?

You seem like you only care about fame and don't actually care about your instrument, believe me as I've met young artists like you who only play for fame and fortune (very few make a living on gigging alone or with a band, honestly speaking) some achieve it, others don't and having an agent is irrelevant at least from my experience (No I had not made music videos nor contacted TV stations/studios or had any interviews personally, I met artists who did such and talked to them, most of them don't have any agent)

As others have pointed out play because you enjoy it not for fame and fortune, if you really have passion that you "claim" to have then fame and fortune (Mostly fame, you could earn some small cash with gigging but you won't make a living so keep your normal job and do gigs as a side job) would be irrelevant to you.

Whether I achieve my dreams or not will not stop me from playing the piano, in the end once I successfully have made a music video and if a TV station accepts it or not I would still be playing the piano, I would stick to YouTube, Spotify and any other medium I get access to that I can use.

I do not play the piano to make music videos primarily, I could just upload on said websites and be happy with it.