09 Track 9

Review unit 3

fluency practice

reading review 5: The People Behind the Music

Page 121

The People Behind the Music

Think for a moment about the last music album you bought. Most likely, you’ll think of the singer or band that made you want to buy the album. You might even know the name of the guitar player or the drummer.

Those talented performers, however, are only some of the people involved in making the music you enjoy. The majority of people in the music industry work behind the scenes, but the roles they play in the musical process are very important.

Songwriters

Songs begin with the songwriter, of course. Some songwriters work alone, but many work in teams that combine the talents of a lyricist, who writes the words to songs, and instrumentalist, often a piano player or guitarist, who writes the music.

Many of today’s pop stars work with songwriters. For example, some of Lady Gaga’s biggest hits were written by Nadir Khayat, also known as “RedOne”.

Some songwriting teams have become very famous, such as Mike stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, who were responsible for many big 80s pop hits.

Arrangers

After a song has been written, music arrangers make it more appealing by deciding which instruments will be used, what tempo, or speed, the song will have, and whether the song should have a lower or higher pitch. A good arrangement can bring a song to life and make it a classic.

Studio Musicians

Not every singer instrumentalist can be a star, and many work in the background as studio musicians. These artists are not a part of any one musical group. Instead, they are hired for recording sessions that eventually become the albums you buy, as well as soundtracks for television shows, movies, and radio ads.

Recording Engineers

Recording engineers also play a major role in creating the final sound that you hear. First, these engineers set up the recording studio, the room where the performers play, placing musicians and microphones in exactly the right places to get the best sound.

Next, they use electronic equipment, such as multitrack recorders to capture the music. Finally, long after the musicians have gone home, recording engineers use a mixing board to balance the melodies and rhythms of each musician, and sometimes to incorporate special sound effects or additional tracks.

Many people make a living with music. You may not recognize all of their names, but all of them work together to create the songs you love to listen to.