Session Keyboards, Production

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Not yet. I have not researched SoundBetter providers yet but will in near future.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to do what I love and have trained for and make a living doing it

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: How much do you charge for doing my album? Answer: you are paying for my time and musicianship. I charge $100 per hour to play on your track or to mix and master your finished tracks. The time element is the same. I do however give 100% effort to bring to the client a mix or keyboard performance that they’re raving about when finished.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: Berklee in 1981, then live performing for 25 years, then began recording and session work in early 1990’s and have been doing this ever since. 2020 I am back at Berklee for Music Production degree.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: My Beethoven CD. It took 2 years of practice but I recorded myself playing my 3 favorite Beethoven Piano sonatas and the album is selling better than other work. I am.also very proud of my 1st album Introducing The AC Thundertones. It is a fine blues rock album

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A Christmas Album, an interview with a radio station RadioradioX January 2021 feature article on me and writing and recording my 4th studio album together with studying at Berklee for Music Production degree. I have been recording for several years and have produced great work but I want to be a better producer and engineer. Berklee is the best place to accomplish this

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Some things like cymbals or guitars just sound better than digital versions of them. It depends on the genre and style of music the client is looking for Analog for warmth and natural sounding instruments and digital for an edgier and more polished more exact sound.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise I’ll give you 100% effort and attention to your project and musical vision while I am working on it and I will deliver on time to you a finished product that you're happy with. If not satisfied I'll work with you to get desired results.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: People think if they bring me a sheet of paper with lyrics on it they have a “song.” It is not. That is a poem. A SONG is chords, melody line, a rhythm or beat with lyrics.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your identity as an artist? Who are you? What are you trying to convey through your music? Do you have finished demos? Do you have an established artist that you may sound like? What is it you like about that sound? Finally, do you simply want me to play keyboards on your track or do you want me to play and then mix and master your track? Do you want help with songwriting?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Know what it is you want before contracting your project. Discuss and establish clear communication as to what you need done and what you expect out of a session. Know the current average fee’s for services to know what a fair price is from providers for specific services.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Yamaha Motif XS8 Nord Stage 3 iMac, interface, speakers, Pro Tools.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Elliot Scheiner because he recorded Steely Dan and won several Grammys for flawless production techniques. Also Don Was.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Never use multiple reverbs. i.e., A reverb on each track. Rather use just one and attenuate that on onto each vocal or instrument as needed and Never apply an effect to the signal track. You alter the incoming voice or instrument signal that way. Open up a separate track for effects.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Berklee College of Music Alumni (Piano & Music Synthesis) and current music Production student. Over 30 years of recording, performance, mixing and mastering experience

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Pro Tools full recording suite, SONAR Producer X3, Motu M4 interface Focusrite Scarlett interface, Waves Mercury Mastering Bundle, Output sounds, REV, SIGNAL, EXHALE, ACTION Strikes, East West Composer Cloud, Slate Digital All Access, Fresh Air. Nord Stage 3, Yamaha Motif, Roland JDXi, Lewitt mics, AKG mic, Shure Mic

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Keyboards session work, help with songwriting, arrangements, mixing.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Easy going but focused. Good time management, very honest and fair as to pricing and giving a client the best session performance, or mix and master I can give them

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Keyboard session musician. Mixing and Mastering in that order.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Receive WAV FILES/Stems of songs and mix and master them for client. OR, play keyboards on their tracks and help with songwriting and arrangement (if needed).and send back completed files.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: RnB, Blues, Rock, Classical and Jazz, Folk, Americana. Some hip hop

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Steven Webber, Prince Charles Alexander, John Broaddus, Don Was, Elliot Scheiner,