“Music making is a never-ceasing process of change and progress.” –Jacqueline du Pré, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 205 If you aspire to perform as an independent musician, whether solo or in small groups, this article will help you stay ahead of change and be...
“For musicians and arts organizations to achieve financial sustainability, it’s vital that they develop new audiences and build communities of supporters.” -Gerald Klickstein* If we aim to increase attendance at our concerts and, in the process, attract loyal...
“Programs are a bit like prix-fixe menus in a restaurant: We can’t serve music à la carte . . . so our menu has to be quite diverse and – tasty.” -Eckart Preu, conductor The Musician’s Way, p. 212 Data from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts show that two of the...
“If your programming ideas aren’t working, don’t blame your audiences.” The Musician’s Way, p. 212 For aspiring musicians, career sustainability depends on audience growth. Problem is, a standard conservatory education doesn’t equip graduates with...
“The spontaneity and collective energy catch fire to a degree that some performances leave indelible memories.”–The Musician’s Way, p. 154 During much of the twentieth century, before the advent of high-tech home entertainment, large numbers of people attended...
“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...
“Don’t give up the dream, but build your competencies so you can pursue many dreams.” -Gerald Klickstein On March 18, 2019, I was pleased to record an interview in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with pianist Kai Talim for his outstanding “Skip the...
“Memorable concerts don’t merely deliver what’s expected; they also take audiences beyond what they can envision.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 211 Although we musicians devote years to refining our artistic and technical abilities, few of us study the...
“Diverse careers are available to musicians because people worldwide consume huge amounts of music-related products and services every day.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 300 Supply and demand are the fundamental forces that determine prices. So, for us classical musicians,...
