Publish Your Sheet Music and Profit on Load.CD
July 2, 2009
Are you interested in selling the music you write? If you would like to make things easy, and not bare the expense of setting up your own website, you can set up a page on Load.CD and start selling.
Load.CD provides you with your own personal web page, where you can upload, publish and price all the music you write. The fees you charge will be collected into your personal account which can be easily transfer to your PayPal or bank account. You can also upload any type of information and pictures of your life and work. Load.CD provides you with the chance to advertise yourself to thousands of clients around the world.
Visit Load.CD for more information.
Careers in Music: Performer/Accompanist
October 13, 2008
A career in music performance has great appeal to many people. For the fortunate few, a career in music performance can be very successful and financially rewarding. Though, for those few that see success there are many equally talented individuals that never see there moment in the spotlight.
If a music performance career appeals to you, be prepared to work hard. Start practicing today, and never give up. Listen to you favorite artists. Discover what it is that they do that you like so much. Practice some more. Forming a style that is all your own is what will set you apart from everyone else.
A concert pianist is by far one of the hardest career tracks to be successful in, though with hard work, anything is possible.
Other performance opportunities for a pianist include:
1) Orchestra Ensemble Pianist
2) Church Pianist
3) Music Theater Pianist
4) University Choir Pianist
5) Solo Accompanist
6) Chamber Ensemble Member
7) Wedding Pianist
Private Teacher
9) Rock Band Keyboardist
10) Jazz Band Keyboardist
Recommended Skills/Training
Experience in high school band, orchestra, small ensembles, and/or solo experience is reccommended. College degrees are not necessary to be successful, though it is typically the best choice for individuals that desire a career in music performance.
Careers in Music: Conductor
October 9, 2008
Conductors most commonly rely on a supplemental income to support themselves and their families. Some conductors enjoy an international reputations, and are able to support themselves very well. There are also several hundred jobs around the world with major orchestras and opera companies, and music theater groups that provide comfortable salaries for conductors.
The greatest number of conductors are conductor/teachers in the public and private school system, and conductors for church choirs and community music groups.
Requirements for Conductor
Conductors are typically university trained musicians. While some graduate with a degree specifically in conducting, others will graduate with a degree in another area such as music performance. These conductors will later work to enhance their conducting skills through practice and opportunities the conduct bands and orchestras.
Careers in Music: Composer
October 6, 2008
Music composers create new instrumental and vocal music. They write music for special events, for the musical theater, for performing artists, and for television and film. Sometimes a composer will be asked to simply arrange a song that was written by someone else.
Requirements
A composer should have a strong knowledge of music theory and music history. They should also be aware of the capabilities of each instrument and voice that they write for, including ranges and transpositions.
Education
A university education is common among composers, though not required. Employers will be more interested in your talent as a composer than the degree you hold. Composers play at least one musical instrument very well, and have some measure of skill on others.
Careers in Music: Event Coordinator
October 6, 2008
Event Coordinator Responsibilities
An event coordinator plans, coordinates, and evaluates special events. The coordinator plans an event with his/her own ideas or those of someone else, and then guides the implementation of those ideas from beginning to end. The event coordinator works with information that they have been given, such as the type of event, what the event is for, the number of people attending the event, the time given to complete all tasks, and the budget for the event. Another primary responsibility of an event coordinator is to maintain an annual calendar of events. After he/she has an understanding of what will be required for a particular event, the event planner works with music agents, party supply vendors, and caterers. He/she may also arrange for transportation, hotel rooms, and whatever else is needed to prepare of the venue for the event. Every detail of the event is overseen by the events coordinator.
Employment Opportunities
There are many opportunities for employment as a event coordinator. As an event coordinator you may find yourself with opportunities to plan sporting events, corporate parties, conventions, music concerts, or fundraising events.
Education
An Entertainment Management degree is recommended for employment in this field. A background in marketing is also a helpful skill in event planning. When the event calls for rental and performance contracts, a modest knowledge of business law is useful. It is also beneficial to good financial management and communication/public relations skills.
Other Careers in Business
Careers in Music: Music Therapist
October 2, 2008
Music therapists combine music, education, and therapy to help people with disabilities improve their physical and mental health. Insight and patience are essential for music therapists. Music therapists should possess a music skills, and have compassion for disabled people.A music therapist can find employment at a number of places including hospitals, schools, clinics, mental health centers, nursing homes. They may also choose to open a private practice.
Required knowledge and skills include formal study of behavioral and physical sciences, piano and/or guitar skills, or other instruments, a talent for adapting music for the individual, and a knowledge of instruments and the voice. Minimum training required for this type of position is a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy.
Further Reading
Careers in Music: Music Store Owner
October 2, 2008
Music stores are typically family owned, with the exception of national chains like Sam Ash and The Guitar Center. A music store owner will oversee sales, music product ordering, inventory and employees.
Music store owners also work to build good customer relationships. They will provide quick responses to questions, offer quality products and resolve complains.
Types of Music Stores
Music store owners can choose what kind of store they would like to open.
Guitar/Drum Store
If your interest and experience is in guitars, you may want to open a guitar store to include electric and acoustic guitars, strings, and amplifiers. To attract more customers, you may expand it to include drums and drum accessories.
Piano Store
If your background is in piano, you may be interested in opening a piano store. This type of store with feature a variety of digital and acoustic pianos and music books. You may also have a piano tuner on staff to service the pianos you sell.
Band and Orchestra Store
If you have enjoyed many years playing in the band or orchestra, a band and orchestra instrument store is a perfect fit for you. This store will include band and orchestra instruments, accessories and music books. Maintaining a staff of private teachers offering private lessons is a great way to keep customers coming back.
Careers in Music: Lyricist
October 2, 2008
A lyricist writes the words for the music. The lyrics are set to music that is written either by the lyricist or by a music composer. Sometimes the music is written before the lyrics, and sometimes the lyrics are completed before the music is written.
There are three types of lyric writers:
1) A person who only writes the words is a lyricsist
2) A person who writes the lyrics and the music is a songwriter
3) A person who writes the lyrics to opera music is a librettist
Lyrics writers enjoy creative writing, poetry and music. Successful writers like Oscar Hammerstein II (Sound of Music, Oklahoma, and the The King and I) work very hard to make their words interesting and memorable.
Further Reading
Careers in Music: Copyright Lawyer
October 1, 2008
Copyrights protect the creators of art, music, thoughts and ideas that are not generally covered by American patent law. It is the role of the copyright lawyer to protect the creative ideas of these writers, musicians and artists.
The most successful copyright lawyers hold a bachelor’s degree in some type of engineering discipline, such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or Information Sciences. These types of programs help students interested in copyright law to understand modern copyright litigation.
Further Reading
Careers in Music: Publisher
October 1, 2008
Music publishers are involved with such things as talent acquisition, songplugging, copyrighting, licensing, and royalty collecting. A career in music publishing offers a wonderful opportunity for the creative individual.
The most popular position in music publishing is in talent acquisition. The two main objectives for a person in this position is discovering and developing new songwriting artists and bands, and adding published music with a proven track record for sales to the company catalog.
Another popular position is that of a “songplugger.” A songplugger is a person you works to promote songs. In the early 20th century piano players worked as songluggers, typically sitting on the mezzanine level of a store and playing whatever music was sent up to him by the sheet music store clerk. George Gershwin songplugger early in his musical career. A songpluggers role today continues to include the promotion of songs, while working to develop new songwriters and connect them with recording artists.
Further Reading
