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Make Music Your Life Wordbook
Acronym/Word
Definition
ACE
Shorthand for “Authentic Core Experience” - a universal experience/process that’s present and authentic to you when solving problems in your life
Activation
A series of music games delivered in Make Music With Mike sessions
AI Music Podcast
Conversations between Mike and an AI Researcher called Jon (who’s also a Music Machine user) about the possibilities and problems with using AI Music.
Arc
A rough draft of an arrangement which serves the Purpose
Bookmark
An identifier for “Splurges I’d like to work on”, often used in the Music Machine Trello template. These can be anything from a sound you like to a completed track that you’ll take through the Machine
Chuddle
Short for Channel Huddle where we post in The Daily Push about what we did, what we’ll do different, and what we’re going to do
Cycling
The process of working on multiple pieces in the Music Machine and playing games in order to move a track through the Machine
DAW
Digital Audio Workstation. An application you use with a computer to create sounds and tracks with
Direct Listening
A method (with many variations) you use to observe your music without judgement in order to decide what to work on to improve your music.
Discover
The second stage of the Music Machine where you find out what the piece wants to be. Also the column in Trello where the pieces in Discover are.
Done
The column in Trello where you put pieces for at least 7 days that are done enough to make a Release Decision. Also Level 4 in Make Music With Mike Machine where you do a rough mix, which is the final session you do before putting a piece into Done.
Draft
The third stage of the Music Machine focused on creating an Arc. Also the column in Trello where the pieces in Draft are.
Execution
The 2nd phase of the Make an Album With Mike program. Working on tracks that resonate using the Music Machine
Free Write
A method of Splurging by writing/typing. Zero focus on quality and write as fast as you can.
Function
The functional reason for the piece to exist outside the music itself. e.g. to get signed to a label, to make people dance, to make money, to have fun in the studio
Game
A musical exercise with specific rules, limitations and a goal you play to gain insights about your own music, unique style, the Music Machine, creative process, etc.
HIA
Pronounced like “Hi-ya” - shorthand for Highest Impact Action. A focusing process developed by Mike on helping you choose your highest impact action
Hooks
A musical motif or an earworm. Something that pulls someone in to the music
Idea Explosion Challenge
A coaching program with a focus on Splurging. Designed for generating new ideas in a short period of time. Often mentioned by Music Machine users when introducing themselves
Idea Generation
The 1st non-optional phase of the Make an Album With Mike program. Generating loads of possible ideas for your album
Ideas (Music Machine folder)
The Ideas folder in the Music Machine can be anything from an audio clip, a recorded audio, image, video clip, text, etc. that you want to save for later
In Progress
A folder in the Music Machine used to describe the Splurge, Discover, Draft, and Done levels of the Music Machine
Level
A stage of Make Music With Mike (corresponding to a Music Machine stage) where an Activation is delivered
Magic Music Machine (MMM)
Shortened as “MMM”. The past program where we used to teach the Music Machine system. Now replaced with “Make Music With Mike” sessions which are part of and tailored to Make an Album With Mike.
Make an Album With Mike (MAWM)
Shortened as “MAWM”. A program where you finish an album in 3 months
Mighty Network/Mighty App
The community software we’re using (also known as the Tribe) to coach, deliver programs, and communicate with members of the MMYL community
Mission
One specific targeted action per week to build your music business and/or improve your mindset.
MMYL
Shorthand for “Make Music Your Life”. This is the “brand” name which everything is built upon. The mission of the brand is about two areas our coaching programs focus on: Making Music and Your Life
Music Machine
The systematic method to finish music of any kind, often referred to as the “Machine”. Formerly called the “Automatic Music Machine”
PATHS
Shorthand for Purpose, Arc, Tension, Hooks, and Spaces. It’s a way of helping musicians provide self-feedback on what needs to improved in a song so that it can be finished, or new insights can be used for future songs
Payoff
The moment where the Purpose is achieved, where the biggest release in tension happens. E.g. in EDM, the “drop”. In Pop, the “final chorus”
Piece
A song, track or composition
Playbook
A PDF of a Magic Music Machine activation
PodWalk
Positive Focus
Every coaching and live session starts by thinking about what went well in order to get our brain primed for solving problems & being creative
Preparation
The 0th phase of the Make an Album With Mike (MAWM) program. An optional phase for early birds, where they grease the wheels of their process and get ahead of the curve.
Presentation
The 3rd and final phase of the Make an Album With Mike program. Finishing the tracks on your album through problem solving
Purpose
What is this piece specifically ABOUT? (e.g. subject, story, journey, experience, message, emotions)
Quality THROUGH Quantity
In order to get to “quality,” focus on making a huge quantity of ideas first. Not to be mistaken with “quality OVER quantity” or “quality vs. quantity” or “Mike doesn’t care about quality”. Quantity is the process through which you use in order to get the quality.
Release
The final Music Machine stage and also Level 5 in Make Music With Mike where you’re solving problems to prepare a piece to release.
Section
A section of a piece of music e.g. verse / chorus / groove
Sketchbook
Where you put all pieces you're not working on this week for any reason.
Space
The 3 dimensional arrangement of the audio (depth, width, height)
Splurge
Making a musical idea of any length or any number of parts. Zero focus on quality. Also the column in Trello where you put “Splurges” for at least 3 days before Direct Listening to them.
Studio Hours
A type of coaching session for solving problems in your album in the Make an Album With Mike program
Tension (previously also called the “Thing”)
The part or parts in a piece which happen when the Purpose or a piece is achieved. Usually they’re the parts which release the most tension when they return.
Note: Tension is NOT the same as Energy in a track. Think of an elastic band being pulled apart to be launched. At the highest point of tension is the most potential energy (static), but when it is released, it has the most kinetic energy (motion) but the least amount of tension.
The Album
A podcast hosted by Mike Monday where he takes you through insights from his own album writing process.
The Release Decision
Is there enough information about your track to decide if it’s ready for the Release stage? Does it have a Purpose? Does the Arc, Thing/Pay-off, Hook, and Space express the Purpose?
The Tribe or Mighty
The Make Music Your Life community and central hub where you get access to training/program sessions, recordings/replays, and coaching support.
Thoughtnado
A way cooler word for brainstorming. Also a coaching session in Make An Album With Mike where you think about and talk about your music and progress.
Turbo X Attack
A live workshop (or course) taking musicians through a turbo process for making music.
Examples are (go from zero to rough demo in under 3 hours) and (a simple, easy, and fun lyric writing process)
WPO
Wins, Problems, Opportunities review
YUI (Unique Instrument Set Up)
Pronounced like “You-ee” - shorthand for Your Unique Instrument. The combination of equipment, instruments, and effects through which you can uniquely express yourself and your experiences. It answers the “what’s your setup?” question musicians get asked all the time.
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