Cash McCall – The Blues

I want to organize a benefit in Austin, Texas. It would take place in October 2006. I want to contact some well-known musicians.

contact their agency by visiting their official websites.

I asked about playing wind instruments with braces and learned that it can be even more of a challenge when the braces come off. Then I thought about all of the high school musicians who never pick up an instrument again after graduation. What is needed to keep them playing? Opportunity? or motivation?

This is a good question. I work with this issue all the time since I am a music teacher. Braces can be a tough change to get through. Students who started their instrument in fourth grade or so will often quit before high school due to: braces, conflict with sports, conflict with other afterschool activites. I always tell my students to push on through! It will get easire onced thy get used to it which can take only 1 or 2 weeks. When the braces come off it is another adjustment but at that point they probably would stick with it. If they really enjoy playing music and feel a personal satisfaction from it, they will keep music in their scheedules. I think ear training is a big part of it. If their music lessons include learning how to HEAR the music, they will get more out of their lessons. This should start at an early age with a quality music education in preschool and elementary school. Playing duets with the teacher or playing with an accompanying instrument like piano would be some ways to do this in lessons. If they appreciate the music, the more they will be more inclined to keep doing it. Also plenty of positive reinforcement from the teacher, challenging yet reachable music selections, and a good group dynamic in the school band/orchestra will help convince a student to keep playing! I know I kept playing because my parents encouraged it in a positve way, and I just liked it. Now it is how I make money! And get to love my job, too.

I remember being told a famous musicians son walked out of an apartment at the age of two and he wrote a song about it. I also remember i really liked the song, so if anybody has any information on it please answer.

Eric Clapton. I think the song is, ‘If I were in Heaven’ or something like that.

Now that the economy is in a huge slump, what do you think will happen to our careers as performers and teachers? If you have already retired or if you have tenure, what do you think will happen to the young ones?

I have noticed in some places, the concert attendance is slipping due to high prices. In some ways ticket prices are lowering.

How does this affect education? DO you see them booting music out of public school programs? I just wonder what other working musicians think on this subject. Usually arts programs are the first to go and that is scary for a growing musician.

I’m not a working musician, retired.

But I can feel for you. Usually in any downturn in the economy, most often the arts and in particular, fine arts are the first to be impacted. And the field of education in general.

Seniority, tenure and such, is to be highly valued in such instances. Those lowest on the totem pole will suffer first, and the most.

Here in Nevada, we experienced the downturn quite some time ago, gaming being the principal industry that has declined sharply; and it, the state, has been severely impacted, its revenue greatly reduced.

I only hope you can hang on – "stiff upper lip" – and all that.

Best regards,

Alberich

I am asking about like orchestral musicians and not rock band musicians. Most specifically, I am asking about percussionists. The kind of percussionists who would play at broadway shows and orchestra concerts, not the kind that plays drumset in a club.

And I am asking about per year, but if you don’t know per year, just tell me what you know and I will try to figure it out. Thanks!!

Follow the link:
http://www.local802afm.org/frames/fs_wage.htm

It depends on a lot of things. They get paid by the hour. Different rates for performance than rehearsal, overtime, etc. You really can’t say per year, some shows don’t last a day, some go on for years. There really is no "average".

I asked this a little earlier… But this I want to specify, *classical* musicians… Cello player. What type of personality would a female cello player likely have?

To rephrase your question:

Can anyone help me generalize?

I have a recording studio based in South West UK, and am looking for musicians, businesses to use my service. With so much competition around I don’t really know where to start. I have all the skills and decent equipment but just wnat to know how to get my name around.

Place posters and business cards in every music store in the area. The small local music stores tend to be more in touch with the local bands than big chain stores – talk with the owners and let them know you are in business. Go to local band concerts and pass out business cards or put up posters outside the event. If you have any local music schools / colleges place posters inside the music buildings – there are usually bulletin boards full of info for the students. And let the director of music know about your services.

Best wishes.