I always loved rock star names like Sting, Slash, and The Edge. I thought, How cool? These people get to just make up a name, a character, and keep their secret identity. Gordon Sumner and Sting. Clark Kent and Superman…

The world of instrument effects can easily be overwhelming. This world is exciting, diverse, and endless...but where do you start? This is the question we often get from SoundLife students. Once someone starts to get comfortable on their instrument, it’s…

As a global pandemic has put the world on hold and darkened the stage lights, the future of music remains bright. On May 30, 2020, SoundLife students showed us that though we are separated by a physical distance, social distance…

Recently I endeavored to finally set up my own home recording studio. For nearly 12 years, I have worked in Los Angeles as a session guitarist, recording guitars on literally hundreds of songs for my own bands and for other…

“It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.” - REM 

Has anyone seen the movie Zombieland? It might be a bit too graphic for many of our readers, but I’m sure at least…

Blake Estrada has a serious stare and a fascination with low-end frequencies. His eyes are a window…

As the news of Neil Peart’s passing spread across the globe via social media, musicians quickly began professing their love and admiration. Members of Tool, Foo Fighters, and countless other bands took time to share how much this…

It was an hour before showtime, and all through the house, every creature was ready to bring down the house. The stage was set by the instructors with care, in hopes that the performers would soon be there. The performers…

Mark Catalano embodies the spirit of what SoundLife Music Academy is all about. He is a rare…

Why do students lose interest in music lessons? Often it’s because they never really had “interest” to begin with. In our lessons, the student is the pilot and the instructor is the co-pilot. The instructor holds the map and…

Musicians speak their own language...like lawyers, accountants, schoolteachers, and every other profession. Language doesn't just mean quarter notes and treble clefs. The language of music is rich with inside jokes, folklore, and elaborate tales of mythic proportions as well. 

Think…

"Welcome back," they say, on that very first day. They say it with a smile and twinkle in their eye. Those teachers...they know. They know something amazing is coming! There’s hope and possibility walking arm in arm. Optimism befriends realism,…