How to Grow as a Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed

by Sheila E. Anderson

Overview

A Friendly Guide to Launching and Maintaining Your Musical Career

It’s tough to make a living from one’s love of music, but Sheila E. Anderson shows readers how to do just that in How to Grow as a Musician. This encouraging yet realistic guide covers everything from developing and learning one’s craft to managing the business aspects of a musical career. This second edition expands on performance tips, self-promotion tactics, and steps to improve one’s networking skills to make fruitful connections. Anderson shares her insights as well as practical advice from successful musicians and other industry professionals on topics such as:

• Composing and recording
• Understanding and negotiating contracts
• Putting on a performance
• Getting and keeping gigs
• Utilizing social media
• And more

How to Grow as a Musician is packed with candid views on everything from overcoming failure to the art of writing a song to doing that all-important ego check. Whether they’re just getting started or have been in the business for years, all musicians will reap the rewards of this thoughtful career guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621537168
Publisher:	Allworth
Publication date:	11/05/2019
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	264
Sales rank:	1,156,425
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Sheila E. Anderson is an on-air personality on WBGO, Newark, 88.3 FM—the most popular jazz station in the country—and hosts Weekend Jazz After Hours, Salon Sessions, and the Sunday Night Music Mix. She currently curates the Jazz in the Garden series for the Newark Museum and the Central Jersey Jazz Festival. Anderson graduated from Baruch College with a bachelor of arts degree in English. She lectures on jazz history and is a Columbia University Community Scholar. She lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Part 1 On Development as an Artist 1

Chapter 1 Getting Started 3

Chapter 2 Learning One's Craft 35

Chapter 3 Formal Education versus Learning Onstage 42

Chapter 4 What Is a Sideperson? What Is a Leader? What Is a Producer? 56

Part 2 On Composing, Arranging, and Recording 69

Chapter 5 The Art of Composition 71

Chapter 6 The Art of Arrangement 80

Chapter 7 The Purpose of Recording 84

Part 3 On Personal Growth 97

Chapter 8 Self-Assessment 99

Chapter 9 Ego Check 108

Chapter 10 Success and Failure: Have Perspective 116

Part 4 On Performance Etiquette 127

Chapter 11 Putting On a Performance 129

Chapter 12 The Dos and Don'ts of Performing 144

Chapter 13 Jam Sessions 152

Part 5 On the Business 159

Chapter 14 Self-Promotion, Presentation, and Social Media 161

Chapter 15 Getting a Job and Keeping It 177

Chapter 16 The Art of "The Hang" 190

Chapter 17 Your Money: Contracts, Royalties, and Streaming 196

Chapter 18 Do You Need a Manager? An Agent? 208

Part 6 The Empty-Vessel Theory 215

Chapter 19 Ancestors: So Past, So Present-Standing on Their Shoulders 217

About the Author 229

Index 231

Editorial Reviews

How to Grow as a Musician by jazz champion, radio host, and bon vivant, Sheila Anderson is a literal life manual for the musician aspiring to a fulfilling career in jazz. With anecdotes and interviews with some of the most compelling jazz storytellers on the scene today—like Tia Fuller, Etienne Charles, Allan Harris, and Will Calhoun—and legends in the genre—like Ron Carter, Randy Weston, Al Jarreau, and Dr. Billy Taylor—Anderson shares the truth and experience in their voice and sound. This is all accomplished with warmth in her nurturing voice, while still providing nuts and bolts, ‘steps 1, 2, 3,’ for the musician that wants instructions on the business of jazz. [. . .] I also recommend How to Grow as a Musician for anyone that loves this music we call jazz to understand how to better support the musicians. In the words of my favorite jazz vocalist, Al Jarreau, as quoted in the book, ‘You should always be reaching, striving for another level.’ Thank you, Sheila Anderson, for taking us to another level of understanding with How to Grow as a Musician.” —Janis Burley Wilson, president and CEO, August Wilson Center

“From the ancestors’ spirited knowledge to persevering jazz musicians’ experienced scenarios, this book is an obligatory read for all musicians and creative artists looking to cultivate new sprouts for their growing careers.” —Ron Scott, columnist, Amsterdam News 

“For that performer who is trying to succeed in this business we call show, you need to get Sheila Anderson’s book. How to Grow as a Musician will get you around, across, over or through any obstacle, hiccup, bump or uncertainty that may be in the way.” —Wali Collins, author and comedian, Coyote Ugly, I Hate Valentine’s Day

“This book is a must-have for any serious student and will be a joy to read by jazz fans generally. Combining a warm conversational style with the voices of musicians who provide direct, hands-on experience, it manages to be both a very practical guide and fascinating look at the music business through the eyes and words of a cross-section of accomplished musicians. Highly recommended!” —Wayne Winborne, executive director, Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University 

“This book is a must read for every aspiring musician and music fans alike. Proficient musicianship is steeped in solid practice habits, fortitude, and perseverance. Sheila exposes the fantasy that preparation can be taken lightly.” —George Wein, CEO, Festival Productions, Inc.

“Read this book to become a BAADASSSS. Sheila Anderson has told it like it is.” —Melvin Van Peebles, filmmaker

“Sheila Anderson is a living legend in the world of jazz radio whose vision, wisdom, and knowledge are astonishing. Don’t miss this book!” —Cornel West, professor emeritus, Princeton University

“How to Grow as a Musician is both intelligent and comprehensive. Ms. Anderson offers an insightful and timely roadmap for one’s career.” —Gregory Generet, jazz vocalist

From the Publisher

As host-producer of a TV and a radio program on jazz in the New York City area, Anderson (The Quotable Musician) has met and interviewed musicians, composers, and other music industry professionals from all genres, classical to jazz. For this book, she put her connections to good use and culled the wisdom and personal experiences of 30 prominent musicians, including Grammy Award-winning performer Al Jarreau; Paula Kimper, a composer of opera, theater, film, and dance music; and Eric Reed, a jazz pianist who has played with the Wynton Marsalis Septet, Joe Henderson, Cassandra Wilson, and a multitude of other masters. Anderson has woven together a comprehensive guide that reveals the fundamentals necessary for living a creative and successful life in music, with insights on getting started, developing as an artist, composing, recording, songwriting, preparing for performance, working with a manager, and signing contracts. She shares musicians' candid and poignant advice on triumph and failure, self-evaluation, ego checks, and personal growth. An original title; recommended for all academic and public libraries.-Elizabeth M. Wavle, Elmira Coll. Lib., NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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