Music in Schools Today: Mentor Don Miggs

MiGGs Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist
E-mail Don your question!

Don Miggs is the frontman for the rock band MiGGs. Based in San Francisco, the band has performed for thousands of fans across the country, from coffee shops to a stadium packed with 46,000 people. He launched his music career at the age of ten in Long Island, New York, when he taught two of his friends how to play the guitar and bass (another friend already knew how to play drums). Several bands later, MiGGs was formed. Their latest CD, Insomnia, has sold thousands of copies, and has gotten great reviews from critics and fans alike. Here is one young fan's 5-star review of Insomnia on Amazon.com:

Insomnia is hawt!!!!
A Kid's Review
my mom bought this cd, and i borrowed to put on the ipod i got for my birthday---the guitars are sick, i think my favorite is the first song--buy this cd or get your mom to buy it!!!!!

Mary Destri of Music in Schools Today recently e-interviewed Don:

Music in Schools Today (MuST):
When did you first start playing music, and what inspired it?

Don Miggs:
i've been playing music in my head as long as i can remember and i first played the guitar at 8 years old. before that i hit the drums a bit, too! i always wanted to play music. when i was an infant i used to rock back and forth in my cribs and break them. then i moved on to the couch and broke the arm of that by rocking on it. music has always been such a big part of who i am.

my dad and four uncles all play and sing and i wanted to be a part of it. it looked fun, sounded good and made me feel like i could contribute something to the adult "conversation" by playing along.

i also loved the sound of a guitar and hearing what was in my head come out. i wrote my first songs at eight and everyone was so impressed it inspired me to keep growing as a writer.

MuST:
Who were some of your earliest teachers, mentors or influences?

Don:
my dad was and is a big influence and teacher. i was also my own teacher. when i first picked up the guitar i show myself a few things and then i went to my dad and uncles to learn more. i wanted to first show them i was serious about it and that meant a lot to them, that i was inspired enough to do it for myself.

and then i was influenced by all sorts of people who showed me that discipline, hard work and focus were things to try and emulate and standards to live up to - ballplayers, artists, writers - i could see early on the connection we all had to dedicate ourselves to a particular thing to try and make something that others would respond to and be inspired by.

MuST:
How did you go about forming your first band?

Don:
i was in the 4th grade and there was a talent show and i wanted to play it so we tried to learn instruments in 4 weeks. it was too much but it gave us the bug and we practiced 4 days a week for YEARS!!! LOL while other kids were out playing whatever, we were doing our homework so we could practice with the band. with us it was never one OR the other. we had to do both!

but i just found people who would agree to put up with me wanting to practice so much and was fortunate that i played with the same people for the first 10 years of music so we got really good by the time we were in high school. the bass player couldn't really play so i taught him, the guitarist - same thing. it was fun.

MuST:
Can you tell us the story of how you reluctantly became a lead singer?

Don:
well, i had a vision in my head and it included a family friend who was a few years older and sang with one of my uncles. i just thought i was a guitar player and songwriter and he was the showman so that's what my role was for years. i sang some but he was the lead singer. one day we had a big show and he had car trouble or something and i had to sing the show. well, he was never invited back after that!!! LOL i made the decision that my words should be sung by me and that's what we did.

i wasn't so good at first but i sang with all my heart. when we finally signed with RCA Records in about 2001, i was just beginning to figure it out but they still fired me and tried to bring a new singer in! so i took vocal lessons for almost 3 months, every day, twice a day. spent a lot of money and time with no promise that i would ever become the singer again. after the 3 months, the label still hadn't found a replacement singer who could do the highs and lows like i wrote them and i auditioned for the job back and got it.

it was a terrible thing to be fired but the best thing that ever happened to me, because i was forced to WORK and i needed to work to become any sort of singer.

MuST:
What is your writing process like?

Don:
it depends. sometimes it's like pulling teeth. other times it's like picking daisies! some songs just fall into your lap and you are thankful and other songs haunt me at night, asking to be finished, begging to find the right ending or bridge and it's just not there.

i like both. i like to force myself to write and i love to just have it happen. thankfully, i hear melodies all the time and lines come to me and i write them down or sing the melody into my phone machine or something and then piece things together. i have a ton of scraps and recordings all over the place.

sometimes you're in a place where you've not been inspired as much and then you just discipline yourself to take the time to write. usually something comes of it.

MuST:
What was it like hearing one of your songs on the radio for the first time?

Don:
surreal. it was what we all dreamed about and there it was. a big smile crossed my face but i also felt a calmness, like i BELONGED on the radio. it wasn't luck. i worked hard, honed my craft and wrote something people thought should be heard. i was proud and hoped my dad was listening.

MuST:
What has been your most memorable show so far?

there have been so many, big and small. can i say a few?

we played cafe du nord in san francisco on st patty's day and it was sold out and the audience sang louder than me. that was neat. we've opened for some big people so that's always cool, but singing the national anthem for 46,000 was amazing and an honor that i didn't recognize until we were standing there and the announcer says "please stand for YOUR national anthem" and people just were so supportive. it was like being swept up in a wave of friendly faces!

MuST:
With over 100 shows this year, what tips do you have for staying healthy and happy on the road?

Don:
drink lots of water. remember that it is a gift to be able to make this your living so honor it, respect it and take care of yourself. exercise, try to sleep (i have insomnia but still don't' stay out every night late), have fun, avoid fast food at all costs, be nice - that means people are nice back and that reduces stress!

MuST:
You are committed to non-profits, such as Musicians on Call and Music in Schools Today. What inspires you to give back?

Don:
i get to make music for a living!!!!! how amazing is that!?!?!??!?!?! and at some point i realized that the world is much bigger than me and my life alone and if i have time on the road, why not use it for good and what better way than to give back?

MuST:
What advice would you have for aspiring young musicians out there?

Don:
do the time! decide that you will not settle for being just OK. strengthen your weaknesses by practicing and hone your strengths! know what you do best. be your authentic self. follow YOUR muse, not someone else's. practice slow and learn fast. practice at 130% so when it's showtime or recording time and your nerves kick in, you are able to give it 90% or even 100% because you took practice so seriously.

do not look for lucky breaks. make them. be the only person who could be in that position because you deserve it, you've worked for it and it's who you are.
decide if you are a musician or someone who plays music. there is a big difference.

Martina wrote:

Hi, my name is Martina and i am making a band with my 3 friends. Could you send me back some advice? we are trying to keep it a secret. Is that a good thing or should we tell people. I am ten by the way.
~ Martina

Don replied:

hey martina! thanks for reaching out. well sooner or later people need to know you are in a great band so they can see you play, right? maybe save the secret until you are ready for your first show and then give out flyers to people to come see a new, hot band that everyone already knows but they didn't know they did! or something funny like that. and then when people get there, you guys all wait in the audience and have someone introduce the band and you 4 pop out of the crowd! that would be cool!!! and people will laugh or say "you can't play!!!!" but you guys will have rehearsed and committed yourselves to kicking butt and impress everyone. then after the show you can walk around picking up people's jaws because you made them drop!!

how's that for a show?

now, about getting ready. when i was ten i was in a band with 3 friends and we practiced 3 to 4 times a week together and we all practiced EVERY day on our own. anything you truly want to be good at takes work and you have to want to be the best. the way i felt was that i didn't want to be embarrassed and i couldn't wait for people to be like, "wow!!! you guys are great!" i never wanted them to add "...for ten year olds!" so we always made sure we were good enough to play with older bands. our first show was st. patty's day at a bar. it was packed and we came on and people were looking at us like little kids. well, we broke into some songs and everyone just stopped thinking of us as kids.

promise me backstage passes? or let MIGGS open for you!!!

Salman wrote:

hey i am starting a new band called 13 kids, but i dont know what to do. i am a lead singer and i am shy because if i go on the stage, people will make fun of me.

Don replied:

pretty much you play music, and someone is going to make fun of you or put you down. if you don't like that, you're not going to want to do this for a living!!! LOL! music is a contact sport, like life! the magic happens when it connects from your "vision" into someone else's head. and as long as they respond, you're cool. who cares what they think? if you have passion and conviction, have the COURAGE to go along with it! if you're good, the jeers become cheers.....

ask the BIGGEST names in music, and one driving force many have in common is that fear of rejection or loneliness or feeling like an outsider. we are all a little bit on the outside, because we work so hard at what we do. while other people are playing video games, we're writing or practicing. on the weekends when everyone is having fun, we're the ones MAKING that fun!

now, what you do as the lead singer is you be YOU. as much YOU as you can be. if you like purple hair and singing about your cat then do it! LOL watch the great lead singers of the past 30 years and see what makes them compelling. why do you have to watch them? then create your own thing. be fearless, too.

Leila wrote:

hi. my name is leila and i really need help on starting a band, because i don't have any instruments and i need money, but i'm only 14 so it's hard getting lots of money cause instruments are expensive!! i love to sing and i'm pretty good!!!!!! and my friend plays guitar!!! but how to i start performing???? how do i like get out there??? how do i start???? like if i'm at home with my friend and we're just playing music and singing that's all we can do for now!!! please help usss!! thanks alot!!!

Don replied:

hey there leila (nice name!)-

an instrument is important to playing!!! LOL! you need to save your money and get a guitar. i remember i saved about $100 and bought a TERRIBLE guitar but it was mine, and i played it non-stop. then when i was able to get a better one, i improved really fast, because i struggled on a bad instrument for a while.

what i would suggest while you're saving is to go online and find EVERYTHING you can on playing, read interviews, watch instructional videos, look at how chords are made and try to form your hands for the chord. why? because visualization is so important in practicing and improving quickly at something. i used to sit on the school bus and picture the A chord or my strumming pattern or the scale. so when i picked up the instrument it seemed familiar to me already. in japan i believe there is a methodology where students aren't allowed to actually touch the violin for a certain amount of YEARS until they learn all of the theory and nuances of music and when they finally can play, it's like someone breaking a dam!!!

now, performing is a whole other bag. there is no one style that works or that everyone likes, so be yourself or the self you want people to see when you're on stage, and work hard. videotape yourself and critique it. was it as good as your favorite performers? what can you improve? what are your strengths? have others tell you what they like and the things they like least. keep building and growing.

i wanted to play so bad that i would put concerts on at my house in the backyard! by 10 i was performing in clubs. it was just the only thing i cared about with my free time. have passion for it, work hard and make sure it's fun, too!

feel free to ask more and if you're in the Bay area, come see us november 24th at cafe du nord and say hi and we can talk about what i do to prepare for a show like this.

thanks!!! and dream out loud...

Calli wrote:

Hey, I am 12 years old and I LOVE to sing!! I try to write songs but I don't know how!! I sing to my radio every minute..even when doing homework!! I want to be famous, but I don't know if I sing well!!! Do you know any way that I can start to carry this out a little more?!? I can find other singers and maybe a guitarist out of my friends, but I would like to be the band leader and lead singer! I would also like to play guitar, and maybe drums you know how it is you sitch around!! Please help me music is my life!! If it helps, I live in Aiken SC if you know anyone that can listen to me and my friends sing and stuff, please let me know!! I am trying to be famous by 15. I am now 12 please help me!!
~Calli D'Andria~

Don replied:

Calli!

i love that you love to sing! we need more singers with soul! i say your focus should be to be GREAT and the fame will follow. fame is a tricky thing. some people have fame and no substance so that is fleeting. i want you to be GREAT at your art and then have the world see it! if it's singing, performing, writing- WHATEVER... just be GREAT. so shift your focus from fame to excellence and i think you'll be setting yourself up for success and you will build TRUE fans along the way.

how is your singing on a formal level? get that down. do you have your own style? can you hear "pitch" and "harmony"? pick songs you love and do them in YOUR version, not the original singer so it showcases your talent. SING WITH A MICROPHONE TO GET USED TO THAT.

then worry about guitar and writing and drums! if your timeline is by 15, you are not giving yourself a lot of time! all you can do is your best and be prepared when the opportunity arises. fame is a mix of talent and timing. be prepared! truly being great means to sacrifice other things. i used to practice 12 hours a day. that leaves little time for TV or fooling around after school but i knew that there was a kid somewhere who wanted it more than me and worked harder, so i always thought of that when i wanted to waste too much time playing video games or something!

as you're perfecting your craft, meet like-minded people to support you if you want to be the leader. if you're the leader, you still need smart, passionate people surrounding you. pick people who complement you. make sure they are good at the things you aren't good at! and as the leader, be the most prepared, and know what you want. people want to follow someone who knows what they want!

lots to think about. start with this and keep in touch with me with questions! i look forward to your success...

Elizabeth wrote:

Hi my name is Elizabeth, and I’m doing a big project in music. I was wondering is professional musician the same thing as singer, songwriter, and guitarists, does it include all of these or is it different?

Don replied:

hello elizabeth. professional musician encompasses all of the above: singer, guitarist, drummer. if we're being PAID for our art or contribution, we are considered "professional". i do know some people who say "professional singer" or whatever their instrument is but that is simply to be sure whoever is reading it KNOWS what they do clearly. "musician" doesn't give the whole story!

i hope that answers the question and you get an A with this project!

dream out loud,
don miggs

Kathryn and Morgan wrote:

Okay, so we are Kathryn and Morgan~ we are trying to start a band of our own called 'Secrit 17'! (secret is spelled wrong on purpose.) haha~ anyway, we were wondering if you had any tips to help us with anything at all...from song writing-to-performing in front of an audience...this would be really helpful! Thank you in advance, you are a life-saver!

kat

Don replied:

hey there girls!

first, thanks for emailing me! i appreciate it.

now, your first sentence says "we are TRYING to start a band". NO!!!! you ARE starting a band.

i read a quote once that yoda from star wars said (how funny is it that i'm quoting YODA?). he said "do or don't, there is no try"

so DO IT.

now, you've got your band. the thing that you do is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. play togehter, play alone, play with the drummer and bassist alone, then the guitarist and drummer. whatever. just know your parts inside and out so mistakes are limited. and band rehearsals are not meant for you to learn your parts but to learn to play them together well. if people don't know their parts at rehearsal, they are wasting time!

and when you are doing individual practice, play slow and learn fast. and be focused!

and then you go out and play a million shows. tape the shows- music and performance and watch it over and over again and beat yourselves up!!! make it a GREAT show and sound. give people a reason to talk about you in school. give them a show and ignore the record labels and managers and everyone until you are so good that they come find you!!!!

and have fun. it's work. hard work and the big artists sacrifice a lot to get to the top but it's also the best job ever so enjoy it....

i love your name, by the way!!!!

Top of Page