What happens for you when you hear about a "self-made" success story?
The Secret Behind Improvisation
Music students, music majors, musicians: Ever wonder why you have trouble with improvisation sometimes while at other times it’s a cakewalk?
Need Help with a Jazz Project?
Did you know that there's a national non-profit association of writers, bloggers, photographers, web producers, audio broadcasters, film makers, videographers, and new media specialists whose focus is jazz?
Should I Take AP Music Theory?
Is AP Music Theory worthwhile? Is it a good idea to take the AP exam?
Would She Hire YOU?
USA Today recently ran an article by a career consultant named Andrea Kay. She talked about her experience of needing to hire a musician for a program she was presenting, and what it was that drew her to hire a particular individual.
Summer Music: Do It Now!
What happens when high school students attend summer music programs? They transform. There are no distractions to keep them from diving into their music as there are during the school year.
Music & Writing: Life as a Dual Artist
My name is Jennie Dorris, and I'm a musician AND a writer. It used to feel like a confession. Being a dual artist is the very reason I've been successful in my career.
Thinking About Studying Music Abroad?
From broadening your perspective as a human being and a musician to experiencing how your interests are taught, shared, and supported outside of your home turf, study abroad offers a compelling opportunity to learn in a new context.
Music Theory for Music Majors
This is the first of an important two-part series by Dr. Joel Clifft, director of Keyboard Studies at Azusa Pacific University and adjunct professor at USC Thornton School of Music (see bio below), about why music majors are required to take music theory classes.
Making it Through College Music Theory
This is the second in a two-part series on music theory by Dr. Joel Clifft, director of Keyboard Studies at Azusa Pacific University and adjunct professor at USC Thornton School of Music (see bio below), focusing on how to prepare yourself to be more successful when it comes to taking college music theory courses.
Joining the Peace Corps as a Music Ed Major
By Sara Goodman – I was sitting in my elementary/middle school methods class during junior year one morning in early February, 2010. Our professor was explaining to us the current job market. He told us flat out that there were no music education jobs in our state and to have a backup plan. For the past three months, I had already been thinking about joining the Peace Corps. One of my swim teammates from my high school was serving in Madagascar, and I was following her blog. My professor’s statement was the impetus for me to go ahead and start
Music Students Pick Up the Slack
Kudos to band students at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. They're members of SAM (Students for the Advancement of Music), and they're providing an interim solution to budget cuts that have forced the elimination of music in the Douglas County elementary schools.
Music School Auditions: This Too Shall Pass
Classes are back in session at most high schools around the country. For seniors whose plans require an audition for music school, those auditions are just around the corner. This is the beginning of the next phase in the wild and wacky world of applying to music school, and not the easiest of times for students OR their parents.
Career Development: How Much Support Will You Get?
We've already mentioned the fact that one of the top criteria for deciding which school to accept, should you be fortunate enough to have a choice, is how much career development support you'll receive. Now that graduation and what follows are becoming increasingly more real to seniors, it's time to revisit your options.
Who’s to Blame at a Concert?
We've written about the occupational hazards of hearing loss facing musicians on MajoringInMusic.com (see "Use Protection! Tips for Saving Your Career"), so it was particularly interesting to discover the 11.16.11 blogpost, "Is Your Favorite Band Making You Deaf?", written by Bob Boilen, host of NPR's "All Songs Considered."
Letting Your Music Be Heard
After spending Saturday at Occupy Denver to try to figure out for myself what the Occupy movement, at least the one in Denver, is all about, I was interested to see today's NPR's Song of the Day, "No Doctor" by the Seattle band Virgin Islands.
Buyer Beware: Music Scholarship Scams
Tis the season for scam services who want to lure you into paying for access to “thousands of scholarships, internships, and jobs” for a “small fee.” Don’t believe it and, most of all, don’t buy it. Any scholarship or internship that’s worth applying for is one where you don’t have to “pay to play.” But you have to do your homework to find them.
Ready for Music Theory in College?
Music theory is a part of every music major's curriculum because it has everything to do with being able to understand and perform music.
Music Ed Meets Social Work
How exciting to hear that the Los Angeles Philharmonic will be partnering with Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY and the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA to offer a one-year Master of Arts in Teaching degree. The training will offer a music ed program geared toward underserved communities.
Career Support from Music Schools?
We urge students to find out what kinds of career support they're likely to get at the schools they're interested in before moving forward with applications.