Webinars and Hangouts

As iPods, iPhones and other popular devices become more populated with apps designed to make recording engineers out of anyone who has a finger to press “record,” it becomes increasingly important that producers of classical choral recordings pay even more attention to processes, quality-control and logical distribution paths. Octarium has recorded four CDs and is in the midst of their fifth. Each CD has presented challenges and each CD has been produced with different equipment and a different recording philosophy. Each CD has also been distributed in different ways. This webinar is designed to present the basics of the recording process, as well as highlight questions of recording style, recording philosophy and mixing and editing of choral sound. It will also delve into the issues of obtaining mechanical rights and digital rights and present good options for distribution of both the physical CD product and the digital product.

As musicians, we love to put on concerts, perform for others, showcase our friends, and share our passion for music with all kinds of audiences. Organizing a concert or a series of events can seem daunting, and we often make excuses why it’s not possible or won’t be successful. In this webinar, we will discuss how we made music happen in our community – from finding sources of funding, to finding performers and venues, to building a local audience base, and more! We will use the Westminster Chamber Music Workshop (WCMW), a chamber music series based in a small New England town as a case study for thinking about creative ways to make music happen in any community – large or small. This webinar will give you the tools to create your own opportunities for music-making and presenting. There is always a way to make it happen – we just need to be creative!

“As classical musicians, much of what we focus on has to do with crafting programs. Mostly Mozart? Basically Beethoven? Russian Night? Symphony…Fantastic! We know how to create thematic connections between musical works, but is that what it takes to engage new audiences in our art?” -Fifth House Ensemble

Why do “blind auditions” occur? Why are certain instruments predominantly played by men or women? Why are certain genres of music predominantly played by white musicians and others by musicians of color? Is this a “non-issue” today? Want to talk about it? Here’s your opportunity!

Finding a Job in Higher Education: Advantages of the Multi-Faceted Musician
Dr. Bebe and Prof. Mc Clowry will discuss ways of developing and exploring diverse sets of musical and non-musical skills to make yourself more eligible for these type of teaching positions. Both specific professional steps and broad general concepts will be addressed and open for discussion from the online participants.

Instead of creating a cookie-cutter orchestra to plug into every city, let’s create unique ensembles by bringing together all parts of our communities through programming, performance and commissions that directly tie to our areas. We will discuss and debate all aspects of entrepreneurialism in the orchestral field through case studies from the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) like: Beer and Brass at a brewery, Dia de Los Muertos celebration and ROCOrooters music ed/datenight.

Rose Bellini and Jim Holt are NYC-based young musicians, balancing responsibilities as performers, composers, administrators, bloggers, writers, entrepreneurs and more. In this webinar, Rose and Jim will guide the audience through a day in their life, from their day jobs, to gigs. They will explore ideas and strategies for how musicians make a living, including what they call "dirty little secrets." Finally, Rose & Jim will provide insight into what young musicians need to know beyond their instrument – ie. self promotion, booking, grants, etc. This is a great opportunity to hear first hand how young musicians are crafting innovative careers for themselves, and balancing many diverse opportunities. You are sure to take away a great idea or strategy for creating balance in your musical life!

Doug O’Connor, a founding member of the award-winning Red Line Sax Quartet shares the story of how he and three fellow saxophonists created a nationally recognized chamber ensemble from the group up. Doug will also share his thoughts, advice, and tips for successfully starting and operating a chamber music group. For anyone looking to start a small ensemble, or for ideas to enhance your current ensemble, this webinar and discussion is a must attend!

Since the group began playing together in the Spring of 2008, Red Line has made a historic sweep of top prizes at America’s most renowned chamber music competitions, winning 1st prize in the 2010 North American Sax Alliance and Plowman competitions, grand prize at the 2010 Chesapeake and Coleman competitions, a Gold Medal at the 2009 Fischoff competition, and 1st prize at the MTNA chamber competition.

Former Rice University student Tracy Jacobson shares her journey from attending the Generation-E Musician entrepreneurship conference sponsored by Eastman School of Music in 2008 to the implementation of her group’s entrepreneurial idea—The Music Bus Tour.

themusicbustour.org