Paul Green is a record producer, music teacher, and many other things in and outside of music. He founded School of Rock, a performance-based music program for children, teens, and adults. He currently runs the Paul Green Rock Academy (PGRA) which I am a part of.
Success in the music industry hinges on talent, dedication, and strategic planning. Aspiring musicians should prioritize their craft, dedicating time to practice and experimentation. Perseverance is crucial as setbacks are common. Embracing a growth mindset and seeking continual improvement is vital for long-term success. Recording music involves multiple stages such as songwriting, arrangement, production, and performance. Each step contributes to the final product's quality and impact. Artists must consider factors like instrumentation, vocal delivery, and production techniques to create recordings that connect with audiences and reflect their artistic vision.
It's essential to embrace experimentation and revel in the creative process without being overly concerned about external validation or criticism. believing in oneself and staying resilient are key in the pursuit of artistic dreams. Explore diverse sounds, techniques, and genres, and remember that music is a powerful means of self-expression. Embrace creativity without any limits holding you back. Consider the educational value of playing covers and learning from established artists. Drawing from personal experiences can offer invaluable insights into honing musical skills, understanding song structures, and gaining a deeper understanding of the creative process. When it comes to recording, prioritize achieving optimal sound quality and capturing authentic performances. Take the time to experiment with different recording setups, and don't hesitate to invest in quality equipment and techniques.
My favorite quotes/stories from my interview with Paul Green:
"You know, everyone loves Fleetwood Mac Rumors. That sh*t took, like, two years to make. You know? You know? And it sounds funny. It's quantity, not quality. you don't know what the hell you're doing. Exactly. So write 40 f*cking songs, and maybe one of them will be okay. Your problem is you sit down. I'm going to write something really great, you know? And then when it's not really great right away... You're like... You know, like, oh, this is so hard. I hate this, you know?"
"If I told you I was a professional gardener, and you said, oh, how much do you garden? How about an hour a week? And I'm not a gardener, you know? A musician is someone who makes music. That's what you do. Like... I told her, I'm like, I want to get emails from you at four in the morning, because you stayed up to get that one part right."
"And my favorite part of it was the two main Eagles guys, Don Henley and Glenn Frey, sort of accidentally. I think accidentally get an apartment in the same complex right underneath Jackson Brown. It was like a very noted songwriter. And I think he was ahead of them like on his success, but not huge. He's living in an apartment above the Eagles. ... And they were like they would hear the alarm go off upstairs. Whatever. 830 in the morning. Then they'd hear like footsteps. Then they'd hear the tea kettle. Then they'd hear like the making of tea. And then they'd hear him sit down at the piano and like play piano until noon. Then they would hear him get up, have another cup of tea. And he would do that till five or six in the evening. And they like they literally heard him write, you know, running on empty this way. And then writing bit at a bit."
"You know, sometimes I'll work with kids and they'll be like, I want to be Ariana Grande, you know? Yeah. And I'm like, OK, go back, get a time machine. You know, get home school when you're eight. You know, work in the Disney factory. You know, really? ... You know, and spend every day, like, an hour of dance, an hour of cardio, an hour of voice, an hour of, you know, you know, an hour of all these things that these, you know, like, ... You know, they're like factory made. Yeah. With Olivia Rodrigo. Because it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work to be Ariana Grande, you know? ... Or, or, you know, Taylor, you know, probably, you know, she was writing songs in Nashville when she was a kid. Probably, you know, she was writing songs in Nashville when she was, what, 12? Probably homeschooled, probably, you know, supportive. I don't know. But like, so I'm not saying it can't be done, but you've got to catch up with the work that these people have done."