Testimonials
What people are saying about Stephen...
Marty Dolciamore
Stephen has the ears of a vampire and the soul of a saint.
Bryan Dyer
I've had the pleasure of working with Stephen on some of his original compositions. He has a keen ear for tone, pitch and blend. He also works quickly which is great! We managed to double-track 4 part harmonies on several songs in just a few hours. Very easy going and knows how to get the best performance out of any musician. I hope to work with him again in the future!
Allegra Wakest
When I found Stephen L. Bigger of Rock Arbor Music, all I brought with me were files containing a guitar track & some pretty rough vocals, but Stephen somehow saw/heard my vision. He "got it" right away. We made a full album of original songs, and he is a master when it comes to mixing! Did I mention how patient and attentive he is? This cannot be underestimated. Many people will phone it in. They will smile and push the fader up and down, but they will not be fully engaged. I don't think Stephen is capable of this. He really cared about the project. He also has a complex grasp of the voice, what it's capable of, what the vocalist needs to work on to "get it there"... He helped me with stuff I had been doing for years, bad habits I wasn't even aware of. Having a "built-in" vocal coach is a plus! In addition, he was so present in every moment, wanting to "make it right" and he delivered in every way. He lined up spectacular studio musicians as well, who really fit perfectly with my sound. I really can't say enough about Stephen's input and dedication to my album, Born of Ashes. He went way above and beyond what I expected. He is top notch, a true pro and a gentleman with a great sense of humor. If it were up to me, I'd give him an award. Thank you so much!!!
Cissy Crutcher
Stephen is an incredible songwriter, producer, and musician. I've worked with him as a vocalist both live and in the studio. The outcome is always awesome. For studio performance, Stephen has an exceptional ear for vocals and the expertise to bring out the best sound from any singer.
Terrel Eaton
Having worked with Stephen Bigger on numerous concert and recording projects in a wide variety of musical styles, I know him to be a profoundly knowledgable and inspired/inspiring musician/teacher. His command of music and recording technology is second to none. Stephen is very perceptive and empathetic, and able to direct and coach musicians of every age and level to maximize their performance. He creates a safe, confident atmosphere, bringing out the best in each musician.
Kurt Ribak
I've worked with Stephen in live performances and studio settings over ten years and have watched him get fine performances out of a wide range of singers and instrumentalists. He's very good at creating an environment that brings out the best in singers and coaching them in their technique and performance. Would I hire him? Yes!
Heather Christie
Though I have been singing since age 9 in lessons and onstage, working with Stephen in the past year has really launched me to the next level, and helped immensely in the pursuit of my music career. His lessons, fine ear, and extensive experience help me to see beyond my limits as a singer. He is accessible and enthusiastic as a teacher, and encourages the same qualities and focus in his students. I have become more technically apt, confident, and excited about my music career thanks to Stephen Bigger.
Vanessa Yearsley
As a music student working towards my degree in voice, I can confidently say that Stephen is the most enthusiastic and visionary teacher I have worked with. He has an intensive musical background and is very knowledgeable in the study of the voice. From human anatomy to microphone technique he can create a studio experience for you that's nothing like anything you can get from anyone else.
Dan Wilkins
Stephen invited me and my son Jack to record some vocals for one of his compositions. Stephen knows what he wants, and he knew how to describe it to us, and he didn't move on until we had given our best performance. If that sounds a little demanding, well it was, but in the best possible way. Strong musicians have a good ear, right? But unless you have spent years in a studio, you probably don't have a "studio" ear. What impressed me about Stephen was how he could hear every nuance in the moment. Not a lot of time wasted on playbacks and debate. I think we achieved a higher quality over a shorter period of time because Stephen knew what he wanted and he was able to hear what was happening and describe back to us how to improve it. He was very positive and encouraging throughout the process. He has great studio tools and he managed all the technology effortlessly. Another thing I liked was how he kept us focused on what we were attempting to communicate. It was a demanding session, but I left feeling like it was work that I will always be proud of.
James Jurado
Two years ago I decided to professionally record 6 of my songs. I got a recommendation from a friend of mine named Dave Burns about a producer he had recently worked with to record an album by the name of Stephen Bigger He is the owner of a studio called RockArbor Music. I have never worked with a professional producer before, so this was a huge learning curve for me, and I have learned a lot. He helped me format my tunes, and assisted me in hiring a couple of studio musicians to lay down the tracks. I hired Zack Kirk Olsen on drums and Dan Robbins on bass- both amazing players and worth every penny. We did all six tunes in a day, with me playing a guide track along with them. I would later re-record my rhythm tracks, do vocals (as did Angela and Larry Albright from our former band), and then do lead guitar work, Stephen is very talented musician and in addition to being a great producer, and played keys on several tunes. I averaged completing one song every four months. It's the best I could do with the rest of my commitments, and working with other people's schedules.
As previously mentioned, I learned a lot. Here are some of my takeaways:
It's worth it working with a professional. Stephen has a great ears and could hear things I couldn't and offered great, informed feedback on arrangements, instrumentation, singing tips and preparedness for the studio. He also had a vested interest in making my songs sound good as they represented his work.
Studio work is difficult, but do-able. Rehearsing parts and thinking through sounds helps with making the most of recording time. Practice makes progress.
Working with people who are very skilled at what they do creates a great opportunity to grow, in contrast to the DIY approach. For some, doing it yourself works. I have found the mentorship to be very valuable.
I have a new appreciation for people who record music for a living. There is a lot of detailed work that goes into it.
Greg MacDonald
It was great working with Stephen. His studio is impressive, and set in a relaxed atmosphere. He is a good listener, and easy to work with. He is a musician, so he has a good ear for music. This helps when listening back on your recording. He had some great advice.
My project was mainly piano, with some very fast string parts. He edited each and every note to make sure they matched up in perfect timing. I thanked him, and said it looked like a lot of work. He commented that he actually enjoys it!
He seems genuinely interested on getting your project right, just they way you want it.
