8 Good Tips on How to Become a Jazz Musician

Jazz is a type of lively music that has a strong and complex rhythm. Sadly, not many people like Jazz music. And because of this, Jazz became very tough to sell. Jazz musicians usually don’t fill arenas and are not able to sell millions of CDs unlike rock bands. But it doesn’t mean you can’t make money out of Jazz music - You just have to love the music itself more than the money. In case you still want to know how to become a jazz musician, we listed down 8 tips just for you.

Here are some of the tips on how to become a jazz musician:

1.    Try to learn about jazz music deeply. You can study about the history of this kind of music. It is actually more like classical music than rock or country. You have to understand its history because the rhythms, techniques, and sub-genres are all explained in there. Once you learn about it, you can be an effective jazz musician.
2.    Look for other people to go with you on gigs. It is great if you could start in a band so you will have the support and inspiration you’ll need in your journey.
3.    You need to practice at least four times a week. You also must keep at least one day to play with other people because the challenge of learning new instruments with others will definitely help you grow as a musician. But, you will still need some more time alone so you could experiment as well as perfect your technique.
4.    Play at any gigs that you can find in your local area. A great place to start playing is on a wedding or parties because the venues are small and the guests are not that critical. Once you have references, start checking out some clubs.
5.    Building your own website will give you a professional image. You have to include information about your experiences, interest, and musical philosophy. You may also offer free MP3 downloads and a page that shows your gig dates.
6.     You can network with other musicians so you will be able to know some opportunities and also to exchange ideas. You can go to Yahoo! and search for the group Jazz players in there. Those musicians have been around since 2001.
7.    You may create your own CD and market it. There are so many music softwares out there that can help you produce something that you may sell at local gigs and even on your own site.
8.    Once you have some needed experience on being a jazz musician, try to market your work to agents, record labels, and larger venues. Keeping a record of your record sales is a must and you have to make sure that your site looks very professional.

Being a jazz musician is really tough because of the fact that not many people can appreciate that kind of music. But if you really like to become one, then you should consider these tips on how to become a jazz musician and hopefully, they will somehow help you.