Music Habits - The Mental Game of Electronic Music Production: Finish Songs Fast, Beat Procrastination and Find Your Creative Flow Paperback – July 18, 2020

This is one of the more useful music production guides I've read. Lots of practical tips and tricks for the electronic music producer, but plenty of information for traditional music producers as well. I really enjoyed the anti bullsh*t line throughout the entire book. If you've ever read the book The War of Art (which the author directly references several times) this is like the electronic music producer's natural extension of that book. I will undoubtedly be using a lot of the information in this book fairly immediately, as the author suggests!A few criticisms- I appreciate the dedication to getting into music quickly, without hanging out thinking you aren't ready ahead of time, but I would suggest some level of Music Theory training. The author does mention that he figured out a few block chords and was Off to the Races after that, but I think that little bit was critical for him and he doesn't emphasize that enough. There's a big gap between being a classically trained musician and a a producer who knows some music theory, the latter being pretty easy to obtain. Just a little bit of theory can go a long long way and it helps a lot collaborating with other artists. I recommend the book Music Theory for Computer Musicians as a supplementary text.Another thing I have to mention is there are a bunch of typos in the Kindle version of this book. Not a big deal at all but a bit distracting.Overall this is an amazing body of work and should be quickly read and digested by anyone looking to break some barriers and get yourself going. Loved it!

I initially bought this book as I happen to know the Author (back in the early music days), although we haven't spoken in some time. I saw this book and decided to give it a go and see what Jay has been up to.My initial impression is that I like the book and I think it is a straight to the point book on forming new, and hopefully better, habits and thus replacing bad habits. The emphasis in on music production, however, it is basically a self-help book that applies its knowledge to music production, but you can read it purely as a self-help book if you aren't into music production. The ideas presented in the book will apply across any discipline or area of life.As I mentioned before, I know the Author, or at least I did back in the day. I think he has done a service here for people who quickly want to figure out some self-help without wading through a massive text and he has kept the wording in plain layman's English making for a book that is an easy read.I have read about 65% of the book thus far and I will read the rest soon. But so far, I am happy to have read the book and I will try to incorporate some of the suggestions and ideas Jason presents in his book into my life and schedule.There is some good info in the book. I especially appreciate the section on keeping honest friends around you that will tell you the truth; in this case about your music. But I think that principle applies to everything.Anyway, I'm not here to hand out spoilers or do an exhaustive book report, except to say I think it is certainly worth a read, it is written in such a way as to be easy to read and I really like to the 'get to the point right away' presentation.Thanks Jay, much appreciated.- Opium Temple Assassins

A good book with solid advice. It definitely could have been edited better. Lots of grammatical errors. If you can get past all of that the advice is sound and I appreciate the perspective. I would also say that the flow is a little choppy and unorganized but the information and direction is useful.

I loved much of the great advice and no holds barred attitude of Jason. His advice has helped me break through some of the unproductive desires I've had, such as reading books non stop just to become smarter. What good is it if you don't put it to good use right away? And I've also stopped the endless watching of tutorials. Now, I primarily watch and read only when I known it's something I need to get something done or that I will need very soon.However, I think he could tone it down a bit regarding the lack of need for technical training or academic "book" learning like music theory. If you can add tools to your toolbox, why not? It will only make you a better composer, songwriter, mixer, producer or whatever it is you do in music.I don't think anyone could write a sonata in classical early 1800s style by just stumbling on it by experimenting. Yes, I know the book is mainly about EDM and other pop/rock type genres, but music theory is applicable to ALL genres.I doubt knowing what a V/III chord is will make me a lesser song writer or composer and I would strongly argue, it will make us better song writers or composers. Plus, instead of stumbling on how it works, you will learn much faster. And yes, I do "break the rules" regularly because I have a goal in mind and I'm not just doing it blindly. And I don't adhere so strongly to "rules" that it stifles my creativity.I do lean heavily towards composing orchestral music, so my desire to create different sounds is pretty low, but I have played around in the past and it can be very enjoyable and satisfying to come up with your own sounds, so I admire that about Jason.My background is mainly as a developer in I.T., but I also have taught music at the elementary school level. I hold bachelor's degrees in Information Systems and Music Education. I am a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and also a member of ASCAP.