What is the Music Modernization Act?

May 9, 2018 In: Sound Bits

All musicians should have at least a basic understanding of copyright and related procedures, and this seems to be getting more complicated with the advent of music streaming and the implications on royalties. You may have heard about a new bill called the Music Modernization Act (MMA for short) that has been approved by the […]

Celebrating Women Composers at Women’s Rights National Historical Park

May 7, 2018 In: Ahead of the Beat

This post was written by Daniel Ketter, Co-Director of Music in the American Wild, an ensemble that began as a way to celebrate the 2016 U.S. National Park Service centennial.  On March 3, 2018, Music in the American Wild continued its collaboration with National Park Service sites by hosting a concert celebrating Women’s Voices at […]

3 (Hard) Questions to Ask Yourself this Month

May 2, 2018 In: Sound Bits

May is a great time to plan ahead for the rest of the year and make sure you accomplish everything you hope to do in 2018.  As the academic year comes to a close, now is the time to get organized for the future. What is the most important task or project that you want/need […]

What Music Careers Have in Common With Spring

April 25, 2018 In: Sound Bits

Planting seeds (and proper care) is critical.  That may sound somewhat cheesy, but it is true!  The music business is a people business, which means that musicians must develop relationships over time with a variety of individuals and organizations that will yield a harvest of opportunities. Every grant application we submit is a seed. They […]

Spotlight on Innovation: Brooklyn Duo

April 18, 2018 In: Sound Bits

The husband and wife team of Marnie and Patrick Laird make up Brooklyn Duo – a cello and piano ensemble they started together in 2014.  In just 4 years, they have built an incredible following of over 600,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel! They regularly release high quality videos of pop song covers that they […]

Podcasts for 21st Century Musicians (Part 2 of 2)

April 11, 2018 In: Sound Bits

We hope you enjoyed exploring the podcasts that we mentioned in part 1 of this series! Here are five more podcasts on a variety of musical topics to explore: NPR’s Jazz Profiles Music Publishing Podcast DIY Musician Podcast The Portfolio Composer Podcast Bonus for fun! Performance Today’s Piano Puzzler 

Podcasts for 21st Century Musicians (Part 1 of 2)

April 4, 2018 In: Sound Bits

Need a distraction from practicing? Or perhaps a break from email? It might be the perfect time to listen to a podcast! We are putting together a two-week series for you – a curated list of podcasts that often delve into the topics associated with being a musician in the 21st century. Here is the […]

Now Available: Issue 2 of INNOVATE. MUSIC. LEAD. Magazine

March 21, 2018 In: PRJC News, Sound Bits

Issue #2 of INNOVATE. MUSIC. LEAD. Magazine is now available and is packed full of interesting research, conversations, and practical information. The newest issue features the following: The Importance of Artistry in Arts Leadership | James C. Doser A Conversation with Donna Milanovich, Executive Director of the Chicago Philharmonic Society The How and Why of […]

Innovate. Music. Lead. Magazine Issue 2

In: 2018, Innovate. Music. Lead.

Issue 2 features a research paper by James Doser on artistry in arts leadership, a research paper by William Robin on alternative ensembles, a research study on community gamelan undertaken by the ensemble Gamelan Dharma Swara, and a conversation with Donna Milanovich, Executive Director of the Chicago Philharmonic Society.

It’s Tax Time! 3 Helpful Resources for Freelancers

March 14, 2018 In: Sound Bits

Many musicians have a portfolio career made up of multiple jobs, contracts, clients, or opportunities. Even if you have one main employer, you might also have some freelance income (gigs, teaching?). This makes tax filing more complicated, but fear not! We have compiled three good resources below that contain helpful tips and information for freelancers. […]