Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Are musicians in danger of becoming extinct?

Details

  • Description

    Thomas Lang on how young artists can learn directly from some of the world's best

  • Duration 11:46
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

FoxNews.com LIVE

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Westerners are musicians in danger of becoming extinct.

Believe it or not -- -- some people are feeling and are concerned about the so there are.

Folks out there who want to help aspiring young artists so that they can learn directly from some of the best musicians in the world.

I and we are now joined by Thomas -- -- a drummer.

And he is with a group called the -- program called artists' works and he really believes it's really important make a difference in the lives of young people because.

So much.

Is to you can learn so much from these folks who have lived it.

Who have loved it who work hard at it on a regular basis and they.

Can share so much.

With young people in terms of how to improve.

Their craft and he's joining us now welcome great to have you here.

-- -- -- Thanks for having me -- -- remember about artist's works and how it came together and why you are.

Slowed dedicated to making sure that young people can be inspired by folks like yourself.

Artist works.

Was founded by David Butler who at the time was -- the CEO Ed AOL and also guitar player -- guitar player.

He traded this.

Technology basically for himself to to take lessons from some of his favorite guitar players.

Online while he was traveling while they were traveling.

And eventually.

He decided to make this accessible to not just himself but also other people other students.

And and it's a brand new sort of concept and technology where people from all over the world can study with some of the based musicians in the world and the amazing thing is that -- covers the whole range of musical styles.

And in each category and musical so we have some of the bass players in the world teaching.

Personalized and private lessons to students all over the world so amazing it's a really amazing yeah it's it's an it's an amazing new forum and and it's affordable it's actually very very cheap.

And -- online did not say is that the -- about you know engage -- key ally and those students can.

Work directly with these artists.

On the Internet and we're showing -- having -- now.

On our area and the -- -- invested serious artist here people who work with Madonna Eric Clapton Phil Collins.

The Dixie Chicks Shakira James Taylor at some of the best in the business.

Absolutely I mean you have people like.

Billy called and was a legend who worked you know with Miles Davis the Mojave national orchestra Luis Cong they -- -- with James Taylor and mud on -- and Eric Clapton and people like Brian -- you know in the bluegrass academy.

Or they know under -- work with like the big -- -- and you know there's some of the biggest names in country.

Or Andy hall you know.

Martin Taylor.

Legends in knowing each one of those people is so like -- the top of their game and you know these are some of the based musicians in the world.

We're teaching basically private listens to these students -- know and anybody can subscribe any get a anybody can take part.

And anybody will benefit from this very experience and and -- so much information and inspiration from these amazing musicians it's it's a wonderful thing -- -- experience been like me personally aware of some of these are any young people.

Well you know for me it.

We all know that you know the music industry has changed someone -- say it's the first time in history that.

I know a huge amount of music out there is made by known musicians try you know.

Which is which is ironic of course and you know the piracy illegal downloading that has -- -- -- the music industry.

And also.

Of course the disappearance of a lot of music education programs in schools.

So this is a wonderful alternative.

To all that and and my experience with the students from all over the world is that they know they're hugely inspired -- they are extremely proactive there and there are eager to communicate.

And they are enthusiastic about it it's just a really wonderful exchange.

And you know it's not just.

It's I don't know we know that the content is really just him because it when I'm teaching one person.

Everybody else.

Who's -- line -- subscribe to my school can watch so everybody is learning from everybody's in from other students question -- no one student asks you know a certain question.

All the other students here the -- to see my reply to the question learn from this.

So it's also really really interesting new way of teaching because you know.

In the past when you recorded -- dvd for example you make a part of you put it out there.

People learn from your dvd in that -- never changes it never progress as it develops into anything else -- -- -- dvd never talks back to either.

So -- -- the curriculum constantly evolves with each and every question from each and every student so it becomes a really interesting exchange.

And it's wonderful to see that.

You know people from all over the world -- so enthusiastic no matter where they're from which language they speak how old they are.

And what they do in life it's just great to see that so many people are still into learning into improving and growing as musicians.

And and so many people are still into handmade music.

Absolutely I think for your student my goodness.

To be.

As to having the teacher like yourself is quite impressive since.

You -- game rather -- magazine.

As the best drummer in the world I mean that's nothing to be.

-- to be shy about because I just a fantastic.

War -- he had and you have been in this business for quite some time.

And you know your stuff but it is -- you point out an industry now where.

Music is being produced by people who have no concept of what it's like to really understand -- play music.

Absolutely unfortunately.

Technology has allowed everybody to make a record and their bedroom.

Another that's a -- a bad thing I use technology but unfortunately.

It has a fake bids that the wave that they know young people perceive.

Music and and and you know a lot of people.

A more likely to enjoy a pre -- music music that comes out of you know a a sampler you know or or a drum beats or guitar leaks that are pre produced and and sampled.

And provided with that is certain composition software.

And a lot of people young people especially -- used to hearing the sounds on the radio.

On their computers.

And there you know.

-- it's it becomes very convenient and easy to make music using.

Building blocks that exist that are being provided by sample libraries its interest at a rather than -- of an instrument yourself and learn to play it properly when -- -- so what is very unfortunate.

Absolutely I want to -- our viewers.

Write it in our -- and you're watching saying that.

This from -- the politics and he say music is in danger because he leaves too many digital music Internet companies.

Are.

Sector in the marketplace.

What -- -- the Internet music is having on the industry itself.

I don't think that in income.

The Internet over the Internet as a form is necessarily a bad thing for music quite the contrary I think it's a great new way to distribute music.

However.

You know.

In the past a -- a company -- provided a certain.

Filter if you like there where this you know educated people.

And I'm not saying that all of them were very good a very educated a well educated but at least it was a person there that bad.

This is sort of received demos.

Or -- is it okay play a song for me you know sit down here my office and then when we want your songs you know.

Get your guitar out and play for me.

And if those people weren't very good you know and couldn't -- -- couldn't saying that you know in our person probably say you know what go home practice and come back you know with some -- know better songs are you know when you've practiced a little more.

So in in in a way -- -- past sort of scenario was quite a good thing now all anybody can make music in the bedroom.

Which is great you know and I support that I think everybody should make music.

But everybody can also put the music out there release the music.

And like I said earlier is the first time in history that you know a huge amount of music that's available online on the -- is made by non musicians you know.

Because it's so easy and it's so you know it's possible and it's cheap heating -- anybody who buys a computer.

It basically has software installed on the computer that allows -- to make music can and you know betrayed some drum beats and record your own boys soon and -- over -- -- whatever it is.

Which is all good.

But you don't have that filter and email all sorts of music you know gets out there and a lot of it isn't just not very good it's just very standard and using very kind of -- in the area can sound speeds and approaches to playing.

And it's not necessarily necessary -- necessarily very creative.

-- so.

You know yeah I would -- good comes the bad obviously.

However.

I think there is still.

He needs and a desire out there especially young people to actually learn to -- instrument because.

There's a social aspect of playing music and learning an instrument that he'd never have with a computer -- -- different interaction when -- sitting with another musician you're playing you're talking about music you listen to music together -- rehearsing together.

-- learning to use your body to play any instrument.

That it takes discipline is it's it's wonderful for education it's great for therapy.

Anything from you know behavioral issues to attention -- -- deficit disorders.

It's it's there it's important education you know and that is completely -- seeing in the digital -- I hear you when -- -- a couple site about how many people have been signing up now for artists works and are you encouraged by the numbers of people who are joining to.

Get this instruction one on one from people like you.

Absolutely it.

I know that.

And what about one point five million people around the world have experienced artist works -- the exact number of subscribers at at the moment I don't know.

My school opened and launched in December last year I have.

A few hundred students at the moment on my -- school.

And you know it's an ominous constantly growing because we just recently launch in December -- my school part of an artist's works drama academy.

Which also has artists.

Billy called them from Miles Davis mommy issue orchestras -- -- and -- -- -- who's one of the world's based in most amazing percussion percussionist.

So we launched in can be Samberg and it's -- -- constantly growing number.

It's a new concept so it's important to educate people about this.

Because of that the radically.

The new thing here is not only the amount of places you can take the fact that it goes from beginner to advanced level and covers all they have a complete range.

If you buy dvd you have divide -- a dvd in media you know and -- -- comedian dvd if it's at all available here you get the whole range.

Taught by -- we know world class musicians.

For as little as one dollar peso I mean -- -- it literally thirty bucks a month.

You couldn't get that kind of education -- inspiration from ball down the street that know if you're in Kansas or Idaho -- or in Singapore somewhere you know.

I'm fine thank you so much for sharing your insights today we wish you all the -- -- a fantastic program and good luck when that I know that a lot of folks in the benefit.

From your expertise and obviously is the labor of love for you we appreciate it very much thank it is.

Load More