Give Yourself the Chance to Compose!
Take Your Bike
*In the middle of this I start using the word “create” by itself, and what I mean is jumping into the unknown/ adventure/ the road less traveled/ start from scratch/ discover/ explore in a new way. Personally, “Taking my bike” has meant going from “performer” and taking on the additional role of “producer”. This also has been expressed in my life in going from artistically expressing myself in New York City, a place where the music/ art scene is super diverse, to challenging myself to reach new audiences in communities on Long Island where I grew up and is not known for art like the city. What is implied in each of our thinking through the use of those words “create, adventure, discover, TAKE YOUR BIKE” is individual to us and our experience and may alter as we grow and evolve. TAKE YOUR BIKE! I hope this logic, inspires you in your own special way!
We are business owners!!!!
While I have come a long way in terms of my financial knowledge in the past few years, I wanted to make sure to convey my sincere reaction during the process of getting from point A to point B; getting from “i am a musician and that’s it” to “i am a musician and therefore i am, of course, a business owner”. While I realize this sentiment of confusion may not be helpful to a fellow musician, I hope “teachers” and others who are in “leadership roles” find it helpful in progressing forward with an ever evolving music curriculum. In response to such confusion it is usually a traditional thought to “create a class” dedicated to this one topic. However, much like practice, I think it should be “LIVED” and oozing through the aura and purpose of an establishment dedicated to helping shape the minds of future artistic leaders. Some simple ways to create an atmosphere that lends itself to this kind of thinking is:
1) a poster that says “YOU ARE A BUSINESS OWNER”
2) Creating a blog where your teachers post strictly business resources like legalzoom.com and discuss things like “why should you declare a DBA?” or better yet “what is a DBA?”
3) get students involved in the social media process of advertising the school/ department. perhaps they do not yet have their own projects, but HEY! they are part of your school! and love being there also! in fact THEY ARE THE SCHOOL. why not have them involved in how to help support it via poster design, tag line, name of a concert, actively marketing to invite the neighboring businesses and families to come to shows?
There you go! 3 ways of probably many many more ways to get the conversation going and LIVE the process of working toward entrepreneurship.
Polyphonic.org is doing a great job at bridging the gap and “starting the conversation”!
Music Outreach with Young Audiences
Meghan discusses her work with Young Audiences, a national organization that helps bring arts education to children. Her outreach concert series, 47 Strings, is a performer with Young Audiences of Houston. Learn more at www.fortysevenstrings.com and like it on facebook at facebook.com/47strings!
A packed symphony concert?!?
Here Derek talks about a local symphony concert he recently attended in Dubuque, Iowa.
Music from a High School student’s perspective
In this Vlog I interview two high school students about why music is important in their life.