“There are plenty of fine educators in the world – and some not-so-fine ones, too.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 293 I advise numerous aspiring music educators each year, and I find that many lack clarity about a vital aspect of teaching and learning. That is, they confuse...
“Some of your most gratifying musical experiences will be those that serve the greater good.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 299 Musicians and arts leaders who understand how to commission high-quality music can build new audiences, increase their revenues, engage...
“Any musician who says he is playing better either on the needle or when he is juiced is a plain straight liar… You can miss the most important years of your life, the years of possible creation.” -Charlie Parker, saxophonist and composer The Musician’s Way, p....
If you’re keen to impact more people through your music, and perhaps increase your earnings, then grant funding and partnerships with non-profit organizations can make both possible. First, though, it’s wise to understand the complete grant cycle. For...
To be eligible for full-time, tenure-track faculty positions, performers and composers typically need doctorates. And the degree that most of them earn is the Doctor of Musical Arts, the DMA.* Although universities sometimes hire renowned musicians who lack...
“To be a musician in the service of music is not a job; it is a way of life.” –Isaac Stern, violinist The Musician’s Way, p. 299 I write this amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when music teachers worldwide are surmounting obstacles to provide students with...
“It’s very gratifying to improvise in front of people. I feel I’m including them in what I’m doing, taking them someplace they might like to go and haven’t been before.” -Jim Hall, guitarist The Musician’s Way, p. 102 Improvisation is the most playful way that we can...
“Forward-thinking students uncover multiple career avenues that they would enjoy.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 301 Peter Spellman’s article, 5 Essentials of Music Career Success, gives the following sage advice: “Your goal, to use marketing lingo, is to ‘position’...
From 2026-2031, the college-age population in the U.S. will decline sharply, about 15%, due to the reduced birth rate during the great recession.* Combine that with competition from online learning, and numerous brick-and-mortar colleges are expected to shut down...
