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If you've managed to read this far I hope you'll be excited by the potential for your group's next recording. Although there's a lot to think about and choosing to make a CD involves a serious commitment on your part, you should find that it's a stimulating experience for you and the musicians.
It will really help your project's success if you can involve your members from the earliest stages. Think about how their input can help you achieve your goals at each stage; their involvement should certainly add to their sense of achievement and pride when the album is completed.
It may be possible to involve them at the very early planning stages when you're still considering the best concept and repertoire for the album. Get their suggestions for themes and titles or find out which would be the most popular pieces to include on the CD. If you can include items they've requested, they'll be happier about giving their best at the sessions and more interested in the finished album.
It may be that the players can also contribute to the visual aspects. Several ensembles have run competitions amongst members, friends and families to find a cover design for their album and by choosing the best one and working it up with the help of professional designers they've been able to produce a cover which reinforces the link with the ensemble as well as creating a distinctive and exciting image.
These are just a few basic ideas but you may discover many more ways to involve your
group's members. By keeping them closely involved and giving them a real sense of
ownership of the project you'll have a highly motivated group of performers - who
may also become your best advocates and salesmen for the album!
In these pages I've tried to answer the questions raised in the introduction and give you an idea of what's involved in making a successful album. If you've not been involved in a recording before, I believe you'll find the experience exciting - in fact many musicians find that producing a top quality album is one of the most satisfying musical experiences they've had.
It's likely you'll have further questions and you may want to contact one of the recording companies listed on the links page of this site to discuss your ideas. If you have any general questions about the information in these pages, feel free to contact me direct and I'll do my best to answer your questions.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and good luck as you embark on your recording career!