What is a studio musician? Does he ever go on tour for an artist necassarily, or just be on their recordings?

Question

If so, then that would be a pretty cool thing to do for a living.

I'm about to do a 2-year music course at college in a band (i play lead guitar) but do I need to get what I'll get from it? (degree or whatever). And do I need to be a able to read music to be a studio musician too? From what me and my parents think, yes you do?

So yeah anyway, overall I just wondered (I can't get all my answers on wikipedia) so I wondered if i'm right in thinking it's part-time but you still get paid alot when hired, so should make a good living out of it? And you just get hired to go in the studio and record...or do you do any gigs necassarily e.g. get assigned to go on tour with the artist? Cheers people =)

Answer 1

A studio musician works for the studio. They are the back up band on recordings for the many solo vocalists and artists that have no permanent band. Some bands require recording tracks with instruments not in their band, a studio musician would be called in to lay the track. The recording artists may hire a studio musician (or musicians) to tour with them. That's up to the artist and the musician or musicians being asked.

It's a sit down job at the studio where you get to work with various artists and don't have to travel if you don't want to. It's not incredibly steady work, it's more like "on call' work.

Studio musicians get nearly no recognition for their part in recording. No fame, no glory.

There's a movie called "standing in the shadow of Motown", it's about the unknown studio musicians (the Funk brothers) of Motown that made the music for countless Motown artists. It's worth seeing, check it out.

Answer 2

Toto was compromised of studio muscians.

Studio muscians are usually better muscians than ones that tour but they are not chained to the studio. Reading music helps but a good ear and talent is what really counts.

Answer 3

I would ask some musicians that are playing in a local club. How long have you been playing guitar?

Answer 4

I think it depends on circumstances/breaks etc.  If memory serves Scotty Moore was a studio artist before he met Elvis Presley.  I hope all goes well for you.

Answer 5

Studio musicians need to be well-rounded. They definitely need to read music, and should be adept at many styles of music on their chosen instrument. Remember, a studio musician is someone who gets called for many reasons. Maybe a band needs a metal riff done, maybe a band need something calypso. Maybe a band needs a little country. A degree isn't going to get you work so much as your ability to come to a studio with a varied background in music and lots of skill on your instrument. Good luck!