BOVM: The Business of Vocal Music, Basic Info

Welcome to the class blog! I hope we all take advantage of what a great journey we are about to embark upon. Good luck and Happy Blogging :) - Kate.

How To Get An “A” In The Business of Music Course

1. Be there, physically and mentally.

2. Participate. Give thought to the discussions and add your ideas to the public forum.  Questions and feedback are important for us as teachers and for the community of the class.  If you are a shy, less verbal person, or English is your second language, your comments will be doubly appreciated.

3. Take responsibility for the “Show and Tell” portion of the class. In this segment, you criticize or admire photos, graphic pieces, letters emails, or relate experiences with auditions, managers, concert presenters, etc.—anything we discuss in class, or that you think will guide others on their way.

4. Keep your Handout Binder up-to-date.  All students must present a large binder with all handouts protected with plastic sleeves at final class.  This way the binder can sit on a book shelf—totally organized—ready for your constant reference.

5. Score well on the exam.

6. Prepare your press kit with style and imagination.

 

The Business of Music Course Description 

This course teaches the critical business and interpersonal skills that can propel an accomplished musician into a successful career, as well as help him or her sustain a high level of professional activity once that career has been launched. Students develop an entrepreneurial know-how through lectures that focus on:

• Photos that make connections
• Dynamic resumes that work
• Graphic design that creates interest in an artist
• Polished phone, correspondence and email contact skills
• Program bios
• The recording studio and CD marketing
• How to secure—and relate to—managers and publicists (how to act as your own publicist)
• Web site development
• Understanding and preparing for tax time
• Interpersonal skills and discussions about how to combine a personal and/or family life with a career.

Leading members of the artistic and business community will be invited to instruct and expand on material covered throughout the semester. A term project requires each student to design and assemble a formal press kit that includes a cover logo identification, and unfolds to reveal letterhead and business card, a resume, a program bio, and—if possible—a listing of reviews from the press, or recommendations from high-ranking teachers or coaches. This last item is just something to think about and know about as you participate in summer programs, opera workshops, etc. A sheet of recommendations would be titled “Praise for….”

 

**I will try and have copies of all the class handouts available to view through the blog. You can find them at the bottom of the page, they will be organized by date. That way if, God forbid, you lost your 3-inch binder, you could start to rebuild it!**