Professional development for musicians

Professional development for musicians By: Rosaria Pipitone

Current Scenario  With Financial aid implications, departments find it difficult to offer additional courses within their

curriculum

 Historically, students were able to enroll in elective courses. Financial aid has created roadblocks

for students to enroll in additional courses outside their major even though it may be pertinent to employment in their field

 Career readiness and placement is being monitored and tracked by higher administration  Students need to learn employability skills prior to graduation  Only 20% of students visit Career Services  Currently, some students are missing key skills sets to manage their new career post-graduation  Career Service strategies must be tailored for students pursuing employment in the music

industry

What skill sets are missing? Cont’d Based on the article which surveyed music industry professional, these are the services artists pay for.

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/451818/how-much-different-jobs-in-the-music-industry-actually-p

What other institutions offer • John Hopkins Peabody Institute • Career Strategies for Musicians- Carnegie Mellon • Eastman School of Music

What skill sets are missing?  Since it is unlikely for enrolled music students can afford their own, social media

coordinator, publicist, and assistant, it is important for higher education to teach them the beginner skills on how to manage their own career.

 Key skills:  Social Media  How to Write a Press Release  Resume Writing  Grant research

What do the students want?

Proposal outline  Offer four workshops per semester on Social Media, How to Write a Press Release,

Resume Writing, and Grant research

 Have local music industry content experts come present at SPC and record

workshops for future students

 Presentation of a certificate can be provided to students who attend all four

workshops as a resume builder

Proposed presenters How to market your work to the media?

 Presenter: Leilani Polk  Music Editor at Creative Loafing  10 yrs working as local music editor  Cost: $500  4 hour module

How to use social media for increased exposure  Presenter: Ray Roa  Social Media Coordinator for Gasparilla

Music Festival, TBT, Creative Loafing, and SubAp  5-6 yrs. working specifically with local

musicians  Cost: $200 (four hour module)

Proposed presenters Grant Writing Department

Career Services/ Digital Media Dept.

 Resume Writing/Portfolio  How to research individual grants  free in-house grant research training

tailored to Music and Arts  Cost: FREE?

 How to write an effective MIRA resume

and performance resume  Upload all materials onto portfolio

website  Cost: FREE

Proposed plan  Zero credit course for all Arts & Entertainment majors  Offer a professional development certificate to completers of four workshops  Track student retention attendees through scanning system  Record workshops for future students (in question)

Social media workshop objectives:  Student will have an understanding on how to develop their social media

campaign

 Make sure computers are social media friendly  Ask students to register with social media handles and URL’s  Ray wants to know their audience  Q&A  18-35 students Digital Arts/MIRA  After press release