Guest Author 
What comes to mind when you think of self-care? Maybe you think of taking a bubble bath or getting a massage or taking a much-needed vacation. And although these things fall into the self-care category, narrowing self-care to these types of actions can be problematic. Why? Because they’re what we would consider “emergency self-care.” In … Read more
Are you looking for ways to give back to your community? Many musicians understand the importance of volunteering but as busy professionals, it can be challenging to find the time to give back. So how can you find an opportunity that supports a cause you care about, fits into your busy schedule, AND uses your … Read more
Being a musician can be a rewarding experience: playing live shows, being creative and writing music, and doing what you love to do. However, these rewards, at least at first, come with one major drawback: you won’t be paid much at all when you’re just starting out. Many musicians find that a day job can … Read more
How far do you go to protect yourself from being vulnerable? Do you overthink before sharing something on social media? Do you procrastinate when it comes to reaching out to a presenter? Are you afraid to say, “I don’t know”? Putting yourself out there means risking being criticized, feeling hurt, or being rejected. But without … Read more
Ten years ago, I was a stereotypical hard-working, driven, committed young musician. I practiced more than my peers, I did everything my teachers and mentors asked, and I earned accolades along the way. All the way through a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, I energetically pursued my biggest goal: to earn a position as a viola professor … Read more
Bob Donnelly is a New York entertainment lawyer. One of his proudest accomplishments is a settlement he and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer came to with record companies. The settlement had to do with ‘Suspense Account’ Funds, where the record companies did not have updated addresses for certain musicians and were holding their royalty funds in … Read more
The holiday season is upon us! For performers, it can be a precarious time, as you often receive news of acceptance or rejection from applications and auditions. That means you could be inundated with social media posts from colleagues boasting about their wins. Plus, you might have to face family members who may not understand … Read more
This July I attended ELF — A Multimedia Concert, which examined the remaining artifacts and impact of “Project ELF,” a Cold War-era deep-water submarine communications project by the US Navy. The concert featured the composition ELFsong by Ashlee Busch synchronized with a video installation by artist Nayda Collazo-Llorens and writer Ander Monson. The concert took … Read more