The Business of Music

The Big Idea

I don’t know very much about Donny Deutsch, but I was at the gym watching the Today show while working out and Deutsch came on.  From what I recall, the story centered around his old show “The Big Idea.”  What stuck with me from the interview was: everyone can have a big idea. As a musician, as a horn player, I can go through method books, music, recordings, etc. and look for things that could I could improve upon.  The key is to follow through, roll up those sleeves and get to work.

Here is an interview, not the same one I saw, but you get the idea: http://preview.tinyurl.com/ykwf7px

One project I am involved with is the Pangean Orchestra.   In the most concise description, it’s an orchestra of world instruments, performing folk music and new works written for the ensemble.  The director, Colin O’Donohoe, sees that there is a great opportunity to have musicians from different cultures performing together, a group that reflects current populations around the world, much more than the standard orchestra.  Whoever thought I, a horn player, would be sitting in the same ensemble with a bouzouki, sitar, oud, and other world instruments?  Working on the admin team for this group, I see how much effort it involves daily to prepare for the first concert and to put the ensemble on the right path for success.  Colin put in his blog (http://colinodonohoe.wordpress.com/) that he started this ensemble for two reasons: “Social, “Leading a movement to showcase equality of cultures/instruments and breaking down the violent wall of ignorance  AND The music – this is the fun part. Life is way to short to not have fun, right?”

Not only do I really enjoy working with Colin, but he is taking a long term approach on how music ensembles function in our country and finding a way to have musicians be a part of the shape and focus of the ensemble.

So Monday starts the adventure into blogging about books written for musicians.  I was recommended to take a look at The Savvy Musician by David Cutler, which as a Duquesne University graduate, I was happy to do so.  In addition to Beyond Talent by Angela Myles Beeching, I’ll take points with Cutler’s book that apply to the same subjects.  I definitely recommend purchasing both books, to get a full view of each subject area.  Feel free to comment, add suggestions, or ask for feedback as the discussion goes along.  My hope is to grow a community of musicians looking to develop business skills to reach their artistic goals.