Entertainment

How to make money from music: Ryan Cayabyab shares tips

August 21, 2019 | 12:44pm

MANILA, Philippines — National Artist Ryan Cayabyab shared an advice to all aspiring musicians who want to pursue a career in the industry.

In a recent interview with Philstar.com, Cayabyab said musicians need to study their craft because talent is important; but talent alone is not enough to become a successful musician.

“Being a musician, I always tell people to study, to learn the trade. If it's a tool that they need to study, they need to learn how to operate it. In music, I keep on telling everyone that first you need that talent. No matter what you do, you'll be able to know if you have the talent, if you have the intuition for identifying or being able to know what kind of chords that is or what kind of melody that is,” Cayabyab said.

“It's intuitive that you must have an idea why music works that way. And then logically, you have to learn how to do it, you need to educate yourself with certain standards that are very necessary. Hindi siya pwedeng ‘yong sinasabi na uwido nalang. Uwido is the intuition I'm talking about,” he added.

According to him, what makes musicians "extraordinary" is education. For him, whether it is formal or informal education, the important thing is to become music literate.

“But if you couple it with education, informal or formal whatever it is, basta you'll be able to become music literate, that's when you proceed from just being an ordinary musician to being extraordinary,” he said.

“Meaning, you can move higher, you can aspire heights and you can create ideas because you have the tools and you have the intuition also. Hindi siya pwedeng intuition lang or hindi siya pwedeng tools lang. Hindi ka pwedeng magaling ka lang pero wala 'yung puso, which is part of the intuition. That intuition feeds the fire that makes you want to create or communicate in a different manner. You have to have both,” he added.

Cayabyab also talked about his style in creating music. He thinks that what also makes him successful as a musician is having a style that is not like anyone else.

“The way I work kasi, I worked with a goal in mind. Meaning, I don't write like anybody else siguro, 'yung merong flash of inspiration then they write. I have to know what I'm writing for, why I'm writing, what is the reason why I'm doing the song,” Cayabyab said.

Apart from Original Philippine Music (OPM) hits such as “Limang Dipang Tao,” “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka,” and many more, Cayabyab was also the man behind the TV show theme songs like “Hiraya Manawari” and “Sineskwela.”

“I only write when I'm asked to write. Meaning, if an artist asked me 'I'm doing a CD, can you write a song for me?' So I know I'm writing for that particular person -- if that's a movie theme, or if it's a song for television, or if it's a commercial song, or theme for the SEA games which I wrote, or the 50th anniversary of CCP which I wrote at 'yung for the 100th year of Philippine cinema,” he said.

“When people asked me to write for these, merong reason, may goal, so ang inspiration ko is 'yon, 'yung goal na 'yon. That's why I'm inspired,” he added.

“MaestroRy: A Tribute to Ryan Cayabyab” will be held at the Theatre at Solaire on August 31. This one-night-only concert will interweave through storytelling and song, the life, the music and the legacy of arguably the most celebrated Filipino composer-artist, living legend, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

Fusing together stellar performances by the best of Philippine music to honor Mr. C’s 50 years in the industry - from OPM Icons such as Kuh Ledesma, Basil Valdes, Cocoy Laurel and Celeste Legaspi with contemporary hit makers Morisette, Nicole Asensio, Thyro, Bleu Rascals, Auto Telic, Urban Dub and IV of Spades, to treat listeners to special renditions of various Mr. C classic compositions such as “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika," “Paraiso,” and “Tuwing Umuulan.”

There will also be a premium showcase by original members of Smokey Mountain and by the children of Mr. C, Krina Cayabyab with her singing group BaiHana and Toma Cayabyab with his band Debonair District.

"MaestroRy" will be hosted by multi-talented performer Jon Santos and directed by Paolo Valenciano, with musical direction by Mel Villena and with the special participation of Mr. C himself.

The concert is a major fundraiser for the high school Silver Jubilarians of St. Scholastica’s College (SSC) Manila. Proceeds will support SSC Manila HS 95, Inc.'s Homecoming and charitable efforts including various programs being run for and by the Benedictine sisters.

"We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with the industry's finest to honor a National Artist for Music and newly-minted Ramon Magsaysay awardee," said Garlic Garcia, speaking on behalf of SSC Manila HS ’95.

Out of kinship and friendship with Mr. C, Audie Gemora and Gina Godinez of Solaire, Twinky Lagdameo, Jay Block of Outbound Asia, Nicole Asensio and SSC High School Manila 95’s very own, Garlic Garcia, came together with the Scholastican batch to celebrate the music of the Maestro with a truly unique cast. Never before has such a diverse group of performers collaborated to celebrate the music of one. It will truly be a night to remember as generations of music lovers come together to honor the music of the one and only, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab.

Tickets for “MaestroRy” are now available at Ticketworld outlets and are priced from P1,680 (Silver) to P11,200 (VVIP inclusive of cocktails).

MaestroRy: A Tribute to Ryan Cayabyab” is presented by Solaire and St. Scholastica’s College Manila High School 1995; and brought to you by Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corporation.

For media or sponsorship inquiries, please contact Jill Elicano-Tan, [email protected] or 0917-8565455. — Video by Erwin Cagadas Jr.