Offer Extended! Ends Monday, May 3

Through Monday night, use Coupon Code PLAY at checkout or when you call 800-217-0948 to instantly save up to 15% (maximum $500 discount) on your entire order of $100 or more! Thousands of products qualify, so act now and take advantage of these instant savings before they’re gone!

Take advantage of Hothouse rehearsal studios affiliation with Musicians Friend and save big with this weeks special discounts.  For the past six years Hothouse Rehearsal studios has offered discounts to the people in the bands that rehearse at our facility.  Come join our rehearsal community and Save, Save, Save… 

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios is always looking out for your welfare with discounts, promotions and just spreading positivity.  Find out how here.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

Alex has been part of the community of musicians and artist that rehearse here at Hothouse studios since we opened back in October of 2003 and it is an honor that year after year Alex uses studio 1 (the auditorium) to shoot his “drum lesson” for Modern Drummer Magazine.  Thank You Alex!!! 

Alex has been in rehearsing so look for a new video soon.

Hi you’re at HotHothouse Studio TV…I’m your host Richard Morales and welcome to New Music Monday.  We caught up with the emerging rock band As Is while they were being interviewed on the national syndicated internet radio show “Live with Billy Moses. 

This is an interview Billy will never forget and is definitely in the top ten. Billy has a national internet radio show that he let us in on.  Thanks to Billy, Robin and the band members of As Is: Daniel – vocals, Kirk – bass/vocals, Gravey – guitar/vocals and Richard – drums.

Rehearsal studios are happening places especially at Hothouse Studios. There is always something unsual going on here at the rehearsal studio. As Is rehearses at Hothouse Studios and we are honored to call them our friends. Learn more about As Is here.

Don Bell and Liquid Soul

Performance Rehearsal

Your band has lined up a gig, thankfully with plenty of notice and time to promote.  You realize you have plenty of songs to choose from; more songs than you are going to be allotted time for.  What do you do? 

You should plan on making most of the rehearsals before your show “performance rehearsals”.  Think of them like the rehearsals a cast of a play or musical put on.  As you close in on your gig date, you should be getting closer and closer to playing like it’s the real deal. 

For our example, let’s assume that band ABC has 4 weeks’ notice and typically practices twice a week. 

• 4 weeks before the show:

Believe it or not, this is going to be the toughest week of the four leading up to your gig.  Band ABC was writing music thinking they were going to have to play an hour for their show but landed a local music showcase gig that only requires a 30 minute set.  Unfortunately, that means they won’t be able to play all of their songs.  The tough part of this week is choosing which songs they are going to play. 

The first rehearsal should be devoted to getting song durations down.  A stopwatch is incredibly handy, as is a white board.  Band ABC has their song names already written down on the white board so it’s just a matter of playing them and having someone write down how long each song is.  They know that their normal set, start to finish, is almost an hour; now they know how long each song is so they can add up times to hit 30 minutes.

 Band ABC is not using any type of click track or metronome for their drummer so they make a point to take the time and write a second time beside it that is roughly 10 percent shorter to account for gig adrenalin and nerves causing everyone to want to push the tempo.  (They even lament the fact that they aren’t using a click track for this very reason.) 

All the band members then make their own list of songs that makes 30 minutes of music.  The fun part begins with the negotiation that it is going to take to pick the right songs that will knock the socks off the crowd as well as keep the musicians happy.  This process may extend through to the next rehearsal but by the end of week 4 a set list needs to be figured out. 

• 3 weeks before the show:

During the first rehearsal of week 3, the band runs the new 30 minute set then discusses where breaks need to be placed.  The lead guitarist expresses a need to switch guitars so that break is added (and noted on the white board).  The set also has a couple songs that seem to feed right into each other so that is also noted.  They rehearse the breaks and the transitions from one song to the next. 

The second rehearsal, before they start they make sure everyone remembers how they are doing the new transitions and make a point to rehearse them before running the set a couple times.  The band members begin walking away feeling confident. 

• 2 weeks before the show:

The second week should be devoted to working on stage presence.  The “front man” of the group, typically the singer, needs to pretend there is a crowd and practice getting the crowd pumped up between songs, getting the crowd jamming during songs and making it seem like this is not the band’s first show.  The guitarists and bass player need to make sure they are moving around and not standing in one spot playing their lines flawlessly but with little flair or facial expression. 

The goal of week 2 is to make sure everyone can play their lines while truly “rocking out” like they intend to on stage.  Many a band has sounded horrible during their live show due to extra moving around, whether it’s playing or tripping over cables.  

Band ABC practices in a very nice rehearsal facility with great lighting that dims, (like hothouse studios), so during the 2^nd practice of the week they dim the lights, more like a night club would have, to make sure everything runs smoothly in a low light situation.  If your practice studio doesn’t have dimmers on their lighting, bring in a couple of lamps from your homes, turn off the studio lights and work the set in low light that way.

• The week of the show:

Band ABC has practiced religiously for the past three weeks.  They are confident and secure in their playing.  They decide to only practice once this week.  They run the set one last time with a couple of trusted friends there for a crowd and also to get feedback.  They work out the one little quibble that their friends mention…the guitarist took longer than everyone thought switching instruments, they adjust and run the set again, except with better filler to mask the guitar change.  They are happy and incredibly secure in their playing. 

They make a point to pack up their gear that night so all they have to do the day of the show is show up at the gig.  This lets them have one less thing to do the day of the show and keeps them fresh and ready to blow the crowd away with their set. 

Your live set is fined tuned.

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles on various subjects relating to succeeding in your music career.  Enter the Band Toolbox here.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

Kelle Rhoads (Randy Rhoads brother) and Kelly Garni (bassist for Quiet Riot) along with our good friend Ronny North have been rehearsing for their upcoming tour of Japan. They have been rehearsing the songs they’ll be performing for the tribute to the songs of Randy Rhoads.

In this video Kelle Rhoads and Kelly Garni are talking about their experiences here at hothouse rehearsal studios.

This day I shot the video segments of the guys that Japanese TV show Metal Gathering requested for the TV promos of the Tour.  There is a big TV show over in Japan called the Metal Gathering and they need video assets for the commercials they are running for the songs of Randy Rhoads tribute shows.  We shot openings and closings to the show and 12 segments of  interview type material.  Very educational.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

Studio Directory at Hothousestudios.com

Did you know that a part of the band toolbox is a national rehearsal and recording directory?  Why we’ve created this local and national listing of rehearsal studios grows from our desire here at Hothouse Studios to be of service to the music community.  It’s not about us…It’s about you and we understand that at statement. 

 There are lots of choices when considering music rehearsal studios, rooms or space.  What are your needs?   Do you want a monthly lockout or just an hourly rehearsal studio?  What is your budget?   Is there a studio in your city to rehearse in? We list thousands of rehearsal studios with detailed write ups so you can quickly find the best studio to fit your rehearsal needs. 

The directory is completely searchable by category, studio name, city, state, zip code and even area code.  Categories include:  Recording studios, rehearsal studios, stages, lockouts and much more.

Take a look through the studio directory here  

http://www.hothousestudios.com/studios/index.php

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles on various subjects relating to your music career.  Enter the Band Toolbox here.

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios is always looking out for your welfare with discounts, promotions and just spreading positivity.  Find out how here.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

It’s a story about some rogue ice cream bunnies scouring the streets and back alleys of the city searching for ice cream lovers to victimize, while Ronny’s new single “Tomorrow is Burning” is churning up the street. Enjoy.

Hothouse Studio Rehearsal TV can produce your next music video.
Give us a call we can help.
562.945.1300.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Quite often I find bands asking me similar questions.  In a nutshell they were all asking “What they can do to have more effective and efficient rehearsals”.   In this next series of articles in the Band Toolbox, I’ll be sharing information on rehearsal techniques, designed to impact your next showcase or recording.

Here’s an example of an article in the Band Toolbox.  This is an overview article.  In the band toolbox there are articles written specifically about each type of rehearsal mentioned in this overview article.

Types of Rehearsals

 Another point to cover when preparing for rehearsals is to determine the appropriate type of rehearsal to have.  The song is the main determinant. Depending on where a song is categorized on your list of readiness (song idea thru performance ready) will determine the appropriate type of rehearsal to use.  One rehearsal session may incorporate the methods used in the various types of rehearsal. Again the song dictates the type of rehearsal.  So what are these rehearsal types? 

• Jamming rehearsal – new song is introduced, learn chord changes, very loose approach, figuring out what the song should sound and feel like.
• Song writing rehearsal – the band as a whole writes a song.  Similar approach as a jamming rehearsal except you’ll be creating the chord changes on the fly.
• Song Arrangement rehearsals – assign parts and focus on specific sections in the music.  Work in small groups (bass and drums only, drums and vocals only).
• Performance rehearsal – Your live set is fined tuned.
• Pre-production (for recording) rehearsal – here you’re thinking about instrumentation, breaking the song down instrument by instrument, assigning instruments to your track map.
• Technical rehearsal – work on moving smoothly thru your effects processors, instrument changes, and amp settings.
• On camera rehearsal – video a dress rehearsal, practice movements.
• Live radio show rehearsal – work on song introductions, edit song length if necessary, come up with “sound bites”.
• Rehearsals for interviews – have a friend interview the band; get comfortable with answering questions on the fly.

 You are a band, a group of musicians.  The laws of nature say; “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.  Don’t fight Mother Nature. 

Substitute the word “song” for “whole” and you get “the song is greater than the sums of its parts”. When the song sounds great each member of the group will shine within it.

Believe, Decide, Take Action, Get Results

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox is closing in on 100 articles on various subjects relating to succeeding in your music career.  Enter the Band Toolbox here.

While other studios are writing so called rehearsal tip articles, there is a major difference between theirs and the Hothouse Band Toolbox articles. The ones I’ve read from other studios are about telling you reasons not to cancel rehearsal on them.  It’s all about them not you.  The Band Toolbox is all about YOU and enhancing your chances of making a career in music.

LA Music Academy (www.lamusicacademy.edu/) announced details for its upcoming annual Summer Program, kicking off June 22nd. The school’s popular summer experience is open to interested drummers, guitarists, bassists and singers ages 10 and up who have received at least one year of private instruction. Besides meeting new friends and expanding their professional networks, students can expect to learn from and play with some of Southern California’s best professional musicians; write and record original music; and will have full access to music clinics and ensemble workshops. Session One, from June 22-26, focuses on Rock, Funk and Blues. Session Two, from June 29-July 3, focuses on Jazz, Fusion and Latin. Each session concludes with a student concert.

“The summer program gives students a great opportunity to see and be involved in a microcosm of what an entire school year would be like,” says LA Music Academy President Tom Aylesbury. He adds, “Our year-round program is outstanding because it challenges and prepares students with an overview of the skills necessary to perform with professional musicians while helping them to see what it takes to develop a successful career in the music business.” Aylesbury added that this is as close as a student can be to the real thing when it comes to a music career.

The Summer Program provides a snapshot of daily life at LA Music Academy, including band workshops with fellow students; ensemble workshops with professional musicians and instructors; playing technique courses; a private half hour lesson with one of the faculty members; clinics and concerts with faculty and special guests; and a visit to a recording studio to record an original tune. Either session is $850 or students can enroll in both for $1450.

For more information visit the web site (www.lamusicacademy.edu/), contact Iris Alba in admissions at 626-568-8850 or email iris@lamusicacademy.edu.

About LA Music Academy
LA Music Academy in Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA, offers an intimate and friendly, yet serious and rigorous contemporary music education to male and female students 18 and over through its vocal, drum, bass and guitar programs. Founded in 1996, the Academy is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and has provided a solid musical foundation for more than 1,000 international and domestic students. LA Music Academy’s 35 instructors immerse students in practical courses. The Academy offers a significant number of real world playing situations with professional musicians, not just peers, setting the school apart from other prestigious music institutions. LA Music Academy gives its students the skills necessary to apply their learning in a wide variety of professional situations in the music industry.

Contact information:
Los Angeles Music Academy

370 S. Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105

Contact-Person:
Iris Alba
Admissions
Phone: 626-568-8850
E-mail: e-mail

Web: http://www.lamusicacademy.edu

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios
www.hothousestudios.com