Jennifer Rosenfeld 
You might remember my story about how a teacher’s feedback on my talent impacted me and my identity as a musician. After that post when live, many of you shared similar stories with me about how a teacher’s feedback had a negative impact on your career in music. It got me thinking… What should a teacher say … Read more
In this episode, I had the great fortune to sit down with Reena Esmail—a composer who bridges the gap between Indian and Western classical music—for an inspiring talk around her goals, struggles, and current projects. We dig into… What it means to pour one’s identity into one’s art (and how terrifying that can be) How … Read more
If you’re like most musicians, this is what happens when you’re trying to decide if you should sit down to revamp your press kit: The process can feels so time-consuming and overwhelming that many musicians procrastinate for months (sometimes years!) and potentially miss out on getting the opportunities that will help move their career forward. But what if … Read more
If you watched the winter Olympics last month, you might have seen the Samsung commercial based around the tagline, “do what you can’t.” Here’s the gist: It starts with parents encouraging their young kids to take their first steps, to leap into a pool, to ride a bike without training wheels… But then something shifts. … Read more
When you think about how to get gigs, a few options are pretty obvious: You can research venues and send cold emails pitching yourself or your project. You can follow the more traditional path and audition for orchestras or ensembles. You can even rely on word of mouth and referrals through friends. We’ve been thinking a lot about that … Read more
There are many terms for it: The gig economy. Contract work. A portfolio career. Whatever name you use, it’s considered by many to be the future of employment. A study by Intuit predicted that 40% of American workers would be independent contractors by 2020. For musicians especially, juggling multiple jobs is becoming the norm. As … Read more
Today’s guest, Jenny Bilfield, is a classically trained composer and pianist whose administrative career has taken her around the world. She is currently serving as the fourth President and CEO of Washington Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and her story of how she got there is a wonderful mix of risk-taking, hard work, and determination. … Read more
When you wake up five years from now, what do you hope your life and career will look like? I know, I know. You’re still wrapping your head around what you want THIS year. But it’s important to look forward, and here’s why: I imagine you have big goals to get your music heard. Maybe you … Read more