Clinic resources
Reference Materials & Handouts
Guides, templates, and reference sheets to take home from the clinic — or study before you arrive.
How to use this page
These resources are provided free of charge to all clinic attendees and the wider community. Full handout packs will be distributed at the event. Digital versions will be posted here after each session.
Rehearsal & Performance
How to Format a Lead Sheet
Standard chord chart and lead sheet conventions used by working musicians and session players.
Sharing Lyrics & Charts for Rehearsal
Best practices for distributing lyrics, chord charts, and arrangements to your band — digitally and in print.
Rehearsal Checklist
A pre-rehearsal checklist covering gear, charts, communication, and room setup.
Band Management
Hiring a New Band Member
What to look for in an audition, how to structure a tryout, and what to agree on before someone joins.
Band Agreement Template
A plain-language template covering splits, ownership, decision-making, and exit clauses.
What Should I Get Paid?
A breakdown of fair market value for musicians — AFM scale rates, session fees, live performance rates, and how to negotiate.
Musician Pay Scale Reference
AFM Local #99 scale rates and regional benchmarks for live, session, and broadcast work.
Gigging & Booking
Gig Contract Template
A simple, enforceable gig contract covering payment, cancellation, load-in, and technical rider basics.
Venue Vetting Checklist
How to verify a venue has a real stage, proper sound system, and a track record of paying bands.
OSINT for Musicians
Open-source intelligence techniques for researching promoters, venues, and other musicians in your area before you commit.
Booking for Band Profit
How to calculate break-even, negotiate guarantees vs door deals, and actually make money on a gig.
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Safety on Stage and on the Road
Understanding the risks of open networks and wireless devices in live and touring environments — and how to stay protected.
Indoor vs Outdoor Gigs — What Changes and Why
How PA requirements, monitor setup, power, weather, load-in logistics, and sound behaviour differ between indoor venues and outdoor stages.
Recording & Technical
Microphone Placement Quick Reference
Common mic positions for guitar cab, drums, vocals, and acoustic instruments with diagrams.
Gain Staging Cheat Sheet
Target levels at each stage of the signal chain — from preamp to DAW to master bus.
EQ & Compression Starting Points
Frequency ranges and compression settings to start from for common instruments and vocals.
The 5 Principles of Electronics
A plain-language summary of voltage, current, resistance, power, and signal flow for non-engineers.
Recording in a Garage or Small Room
Practical techniques for getting usable recordings in untreated, reflective, or noisy spaces.
STEMS & Selective Muting
How to export and work with stems — and how to use vocal removal and track separation tools effectively.
Industry & Rights
ASCAP Registration Walkthrough
Step-by-step guide to registering your works with ASCAP and understanding how royalties are collected.
Streaming & Podcasting Pitfalls
Common mistakes musicians make on streaming platforms and in podcast licensing — and how to avoid them.
Digital Security for Musicians
Protecting your accounts, masters, and identity online — passwords, two-factor auth, and what not to share.
AFM Local #99 Overview
What the American Federation of Musicians offers working musicians in the Pacific Northwest.
Instrument Care
Basic Guitar Setup Guide
How to check and adjust neck relief, action, intonation, and nut slots on an electric guitar.
Don't Get Duped on Repairs
Red flags to watch for when taking your instrument to a repair shop — and questions to ask before you hand it over.
Identifying Counterfeit Parts
How to spot fake tuners, pickups, and hardware before you buy or install them.
Live Performance Technology
MIDI Interfacing Quick Reference
MIDI channel routing, clock sync, and controller setup for live and studio use.
Drum Triggers & Hybrid Kit Setup
How to mount, calibrate, and route drum triggers for hybrid acoustic/electronic kits.
Backing Tracks & Drum Tracks Now!
Setting up and running backing tracks and click-synced drum tracks live — reliably.
In-Ear Monitor Systems
IEM system types, mix setup, and best practices for personal monitoring on stage.
Feedback Control & dbx DriveRack
Using the DriveRack for speaker management, crossover setup, and feedback suppression in live systems.
Soundless Stages & Silent Monitoring
Building a stage plot with zero stage volume — IEMs, modelling amps, and direct-in workflows.
Worship Team Audio Guide
Practical audio setup for house of worship environments — IEMs, click tracks, and front-of-house considerations.
Productivity & Personal Knowledge
Getting Started with Obsidian
How to set up Obsidian as a musician's second brain — capturing ideas, lyrics, setlists, and session notes in a linked vault.
PKM for Musicians
Personal Knowledge Management principles applied to music — how to capture, connect, and act on ideas before they disappear.
Time Management with Franklin Planners
Applying the Franklin Planner method to a musician's schedule — practice blocks, project milestones, and gig prep.
Building a Practice & Project Routine
Structuring daily practice, recording projects, and creative work so things actually get finished.
Organising Setlists, Charts & Session Notes
Systems for keeping your charts, setlists, and session notes findable and up to date — digital and analogue options.
Music, Community & Culture
Kids and Music — Starting Them Right
Age-appropriate instruments, learning approaches, and how to nurture a child's musical interest without burning them out.
Senior Citizens and Music — It's Never Too Late
The cognitive and social benefits of music for older adults, and practical ways to get started or return to playing.
Is Music Art or Skill?
A discussion guide exploring the relationship between technical mastery and creative expression — and why the answer matters for how you practise.
Musician Health & Injury Prevention
Music & Your Health — An Overview
How repetitive motion, posture, and performance stress affect musicians — and what you can do about it before problems start.
Tendonitis & Tenosynovitis in Musicians
What these conditions are, how they develop from playing, early warning signs, and how to manage and recover from them.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome — Causes, Prevention & Recovery
Understanding median nerve compression in guitarists, pianists, and drummers — prevention strategies, bracing, and when to seek treatment.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome for Drummers & Keyboardists
Foot and ankle nerve compression from pedal technique — how to identify it, modify your setup, and protect your playing longevity.
Warm-Up & Cool-Down Routines for Players
Instrument-specific warm-up and cool-down exercises to reduce injury risk before and after playing or recording sessions.
Ergonomics at the Kit, Keys & Guitar
Seat height, strap length, wrist angle, and monitor placement — practical ergonomic adjustments for common instruments.
Hearing Protection & Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
SPL levels, exposure limits, musician's earplugs vs foam plugs, and how to protect the most important tool you have.
Want to go deeper?
All resources are covered in detail during clinic sessions. Register for free and learn directly from working instructors.