Like most careers in modern music, there isn’t one straight path to scoring for film and TV or video games. While it would be great to follow in the footsteps of a John Williams or a Hans Zimmer and learn the craft of orchestration and classical underscore, the reality is that there are very few jobs that ask for those specific skill sets.
Every musician has to learn the art of practicing. Nobody will deny that it can feel like a chore sometimes, perhaps even more often than not, but to become a successful musician you have to learn how to love it.
Glenn Morrissette is an orchestrator for Seth MacFarlane's animated TV sitcom, "Family Guy." He talked with MajoringInMusic.com about his role as an orchestrator and the joys of working from his home on wheels.
Healthy belting is an extension of speech, so as voice students, if you do not have a strong, clear sound when you are speaking, particularly in your lower notes, you may not have a natural capacity to belt.
Take every chance you get to stand up for music in the schools. Send an email, sign an online petition, write a letter, or speak out at a school board meeting when you hear that music programs are on the chopping block. And not just in your own neighborhood.
Music theory is probably the most daunting and challenging class freshmen music majors face. Meeting the challenges is easiest for students who’ve taken AP Music Theory or who’ve had strong music theory training in summer music programs or with private teachers.
Some students (and parents) assume that if you're not a musical prodigy, you should major in something other than music. Nothing can be farther from the truth! In fact, there are actually benefits to not being a prodigy, so long as you're someone who feels compelled to pursue music.
So, is music really an employable major? These days, every major in music seems to require some kind of business and communications savvy: the ability to fundraise; the ability to use social media and stay on top of its rapid-fire changes; the ability to promote yourself and your ideas; the ability to communicate well with a broad range of people, from business owners and funders to audiences, parents, students and fellow musicians (depending on your area of emphasis); the ability to keep your books and pay your taxes if you are self-employed; the ability to advocate for your particular emphasis in music. Sometimes these skills are associated with the label "entrepreneurship." But regardless of what you call them and regardless of what aspect of music you major in, you will need them to be viable in your field in the 21st century.
A worried parent of a music major confided in me that the four years her daughter had spent as a music major might have been put to better use. The daughter, who had joined the Peace Corps after graduation, discovered an interest in public health, and wanted to pursue a master’s degree in that field.
Spring graduates of the University of Colorado Boulder chose Mary Poppins to deliver their commencement address. Dame Julie Andrews, as she is now known, imparted far more useful wisdom than “just a spoonful of sugar…”
How to best celebrate a high school or college music grad is a challenge. The've probably already received more than their fair share of mugs, instrument sculptures, and neckties, all with musical note themes.
How does a music major shift gears and start a business? Ask John Knific, pianist-turned-entrepreneur.
Are you a candidate for hearing loss? Do you have earbuds dangling from your ears most of your waking hours? Noise-induced hearing loss, also known as "NIHL," results from damage to hair cells in the ears.
Whether you're having some kind of pain with playing, tension that you know isn't working for you, or are just interested in playing with more freedom and ease, the Alexander Technique can help.
Maria Schneider shares insights on how to start a band with equally committed band members.
The May 1st deadline for a final college decision is just around the corner –– if your son or daughter hasn't yet decided on a music school, here are 5 pointers for parents to help you survive the next few days!
Arts high school administrators and college music school admission directors offer insights and wisdom to assist you in thinking about what makes sense.
Sounds like an oxymoron, but World Voice Day gives us a chance to consider the benefits of silence. Here are a few thoughts on maintaining vocal health through the acronym of SILENCE.
I never would have guessed that music entrepreneurship would be my calling. I can remember walking around various college fairs when I was still in high school, waiting for a certain major or university to excite me.
Joining a national music association offers several benefits to music majors: • Direct access to mentors and role models in the field you plan to enter; • Networking opportunities with peers and professors at your own school as well as at music schools across the country; • Opportunities to attend professional conferences at a reduced rate (possibly free) to gain insight into your career field; • Connections to job banks and job vacancy lists; • Professional experiences that prepare you for interviewing and other career-related concerns; • Access to professional journals and other members-only educational resources.