I have to hand it to Periphery drummer Matt Halpern, he's actually doing it. I've known about his project, BandHappy.com for quite a while. It's basically a video chat site where you can sign up to get real one on one lessons from your favorite artist, ranging from members of Lamb of God to The Faceless to Thrice. He's got quite an impressive roster of artists queued up for this project. I can't imagine twenty years ago the feeling of being able to chat directly with my musical idols and actually learn a thing or two from them. Technology! Additionally, if you are a musician and want to offer lessons you will be able to do that as well. It's a marketplace for musicianship with a twist of fun. We'll keep you posted when more is revealed about the project, which is set to launch in early 2012. Here is the full press release:
BANDHAPPY will change the music world beginning in 2012. Scheduled to launch in early 2012, theBANDHAPPY online music community, founded by Periphery drummer Matt Halpern, will reshape how music teachers and students connect in a first-of-its-kind music community. BANDHAPPY will offer either in-person lessons or online lessons anywhere on the planet via a custom-built, in-house video chat system. To get a quick overview of the BANDHAPPY system, check out a brief teaser video here:http://youtu.be/XE7-AUbpEik.
“BANDHAPPY really spent the time gathering information from students, teachers and touring artists to create the most well-rounded and groundbreaking online music tool that I've seen,” states Lamb of Goddrummer Chris Adler. “I've given and taken lessons on here myself and even picked up something I used on the new Lamb of God recording. BANDHAPPY has it all.”
Musicians can use BANDHAPPY for instant access to a readily available pool of potential students, so they can teach whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want. BANDHAPPY makes it easy for musicians to manage their teaching schedules effortlessly, while still doing what they love to do and earn income even when they’re out on the road. The touring musicians who createdBANDHAPPY have made the entire process hassle-free for both students and teachers. Everything from scheduling to payment is handled seamlessly in one place, on their easy-to-navigate, user-friendly site.
Students have a unique opportunity to interact with and learn from their favorite performers, often without even leaving home. Teachers that have already signed on include Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders), Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean Band), AJ Minette (The Human Abstract), Evan Brewer (The Faceless), Paul Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me), Rody Walker (Protest the Hero), Peter Wichers (Soilwork), Willie Adler (Lamb of God), Louis Cato (Marcus Miller Band), Spencer Sotelo (Periphery), and more.
BANDHAPPY offers access to one-on-one lessons – in person or online — with the teacher of your choice, chosen from an impressive roster of professionals in every possible genre. Students will also have the opportunity to learn all things music related from studio production to songwriting. BANDHAPPY has amassed many well known music industry professionals as part of the service launch. Additional teacher applications will be accepted soon.
“Being in Periphery with Matt, I've been able to watch the building of BANDHAPPY from the beginning,” states Periphery guitarist and producer, Misha Mansoor. “It’s amazing actually, seeing how it started as an idea and now being able to use it! The layout of the site is simple and fun, super user-friendly, and can really connect a lot of people. It's a revolutionary system with customized video chat specifically geared toward music lessons. Any musician from any genre, or any part of the music world will be able to apply to teach and join an incredible starting roster of teachers. It enables musicians to teach or take lessons, even if they never have before in a way that is hassle-free and exciting.BANDHAPPY will help musicians make a stronger connection with their fans, give fans and students a real and live, personal learning experience, and allow musicians to run their own teaching businesses. There has never been anything like this before and it's truly going to change the musical landscape.”
