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How to… Become a music producer

By Alex O’Keefe

This guide is free to ISM members, login to read or become a member for as little as £17 a year.

Music producer and songwriter, Alex O’Keefe, presents “How to become a music producer” a guide to navigating the recording side of the music industry and maintaining a career as a producer and songwriter – from understanding what different types of work are available and how to secure work, to professionalism, DAWs, equipment, and some important tips to ensure a fruitful career.

From Wexford, Ireland – Alex O’Keeffe is a record producer & songwriter based in Dublin and London. He has been featured by Hot Press as one of 2024’s producers and writers to watch and has been nominated for RTE’s Choice Prize – Song of the Year with Bobbi Arlo for their track ‘Feel It’.

Alex has produced for artists such as SISTRA, Bobbi Arlo, LYRA, Fia Moon, Brad Heidi & Isaac Butler to name a few.

Alex has written and produced music used in TV shows such as Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends, Made in Chelsea and Love Island. Alex also recently produced the song for An Post’s Christmas advertising campaign with LYRA’s “The Magic Of Christmas”. ​​

This 11-page guide is available as a pdf optimised for use with iBooks, PC and all popular eReaders. Price: £5 for non-ISM members.

ISM Members login to read
How to… Become a session musician

By Nick Fitch

This guide is free to ISM members, login to read or become a member for as little as £17 a year.

Guitarist and musical director, Nick Fitch, presents “How to become a session musician” a guide to navigating the performative side of the music industry and maintaining a career as a session musician – from understanding what different types of work are available and how to secure work, to professionalism, self-promotion and some important tips to ensure a fruitful career.

Nick Fitch is a session guitarist, musical director and arranger based in Tufnell Park, North London. He earned a first-class BMus (Hons) degree in Jazz, Classical & Contemporary Guitar from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

His wide skillset and experience in a variety of genres has led to working with a range of artists such as Alex James (Blur), Will Young, Marisha Wallace, Michael Ball, Gregory Porter, Alfie Boe, Charlotte Church, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Robert Fripp, Bradley Walsh, Toyah Willcox, Marc Almond and Lee Mead.

Nick has extensive experience as a recording/session guitarist, working in studios, remote and live with esteemed producers including Trevor Horn (Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Seal etc) and Steve Anderson (Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Westlife), TV shows such as America’s Got Talent, and The Michael Ball Show.

In addition to his work as a sideman, Nick is often found on various commercial West End and touring shows. He is currently deputising on West End shows including MJ, Hadestown, Hamilton, Hercules, The Book of Mormon and Tina.

This 11-page guide is available as a pdf optimised for use with iBooks, PC and all popular eReaders. Price: £5 for non-ISM members.

ISM Members login to read
Gift membership: Friend of the ISM Trust

Become a Friend of the ISM Trust for just £25 per year. Your support will help current and future generations of musicians to thrive.

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Gift membership: Standard membership

ISM standard membership offers unparalleled support and protection for £190 per year, from public liability and professional indemnity insurance, to legal support, discounts, and more.

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Gift membership: Early Career

At the ISM we’re committed to supporting musicians at all stages of their career. Early career membership enjoys all the services, protections, and benefits of Standard membership for just £57. To be eligible for Early Career Membership, individuals must be in their first 10 years in the profession. To learn more, head to www.ism.org/early-career.

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Gift membership: Student

At the ISM we’re committed to supporting the next generation of musicians, which is why our Student membership enjoys all the services, protections, and benefits of Standard membership for just £17. For more information see www.ism.org/student.

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Play e-book – non members

By Gregory Daubney, CPsychol, MSc and Dr Alison Daubney, PhD

Play: A psychological toolkit for optimal music performance is an essential hands-on guide to help you manage performance anxiety and reach your full potential as a musician. It is packed with approachable practical strategies to help you overcome common psychological obstacles and optimise your musical performances.

The toolkit draws on significant psychological and philosophical research across music and sport. It has been written by two experts in the field of performance psychology – Gregory Daubney (CPsychol, MSc), a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who has worked extensively across performance domains, and Dr Alison Daubney(PhD), a Music Teacher Trainer, Researcher and Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Sussex.

This 52-page toolkit is available as printed book or an eBook optimised for use with iBooks, PC and all popular eReaders.

Format: printed book, eBook (ePub + free PDF)
Pages: 52
Publisher: ISM Trust
Date Published: January 2018
Prices: printed book £10/£8 for ISM members, eBook £5/£4 for ISM members

Buy the printed book

If you would like to order a printed copy, please contact us on 020 7221 3499 between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Printed copies are £10 each or £8 for ISM members.

Play e-book – members

By Gregory Daubney, CPsychol, MSc and Dr Alison Daubney, PhD

Play: A psychological toolkit for optimal music performance is an essential hands-on guide to help you manage performance anxiety and reach your full potential as a musician. It is packed with approachable practical strategies to help you overcome common psychological obstacles and optimise your musical performances.

The toolkit draws on significant psychological and philosophical research across music and sport. It has been written by two experts in the field of performance psychology – Gregory Daubney (CPsychol, MSc), a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who has worked extensively across performance domains, and Dr Alison Daubney(PhD), a Music Teacher Trainer, Researcher and Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Sussex.

This 52-page toolkit is available as printed book or an eBook optimised for use with iBooks, PC and all popular eReaders.

Format: printed book, eBook (ePub + free PDF)
Pages: 52
Publisher: ISM Trust
Date Published: January 2018
Prices: printed book £10/£8 for ISM members, eBook £5/£4 for ISM members

Buy the printed book

If you would like to order a printed copy, please contact us on 020 7221 3499 between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Printed copies are £10 each or £8 for ISM members.

Performance anxiety e-book non-members

Do your students struggle with nerves ahead of exams or performances? This essential hands-on guide is packed with practical strategies and techniques which you can use to help pupils gain self-confidence and prepare effectively to perform.

Available as a printed book for £10 (£8 for ISM members) or a download for £5 (£4 for ISM members)

If you would like to order a printed copy, please contact us on 020 7221 3499 between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Printed copies are £10 each or £8 for ISM members.

Performance anxiety e-book members

Do your students struggle with nerves ahead of exams or performances? This essential hands-on guide is packed with practical strategies and techniques which you can use to help pupils gain self-confidence and prepare effectively to perform.

Available as a printed book for £10 (£8 for ISM members) or a download for £5 (£4 for ISM members)

If you would like to order a printed copy, please contact us on 020 7221 3499 between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Printed copies are £10 each or £8 for ISM members.
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