Sound Bits: Page 13

You may already know this, or perhaps you are just starting to suspect it: Musicians do A LOT of writing in their careers.  Think resumes, cover letters, grant applications, project proposals, news releases, bios, program notes, website content, blog posts…and the list goes on! So, it stands to reason that we should put some serious […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

At least for freelancers, this is essentially true. When your “employers” are a wide range of contractors, venues, presenters, universities, and other organizations that hire musicians, it is important to be making a good impression on everyone you interact with in a professional setting. Academics talk about the interview process for a professorship – how […]