Lessons from a Street-Wise Professor: What You Won't Learn at Most Music Schools

by Ramon Ricker, Steve Danyew

Lessons from a Streetwise What You Won’t Learn at Most Music Schools was first published in 2011. It’s a book that discusses contemporary issues in the real world of music, and the fact is, much has changed since then. An update was needed, so voilà—the second addition. For this edition, I asked Steve Danyew to contribute. He’s a former colleague at the Eastman School, and as a young person, he’s up on all the latest and greatest happenings in the tech world. He’s also a fine composer whose career is blossoming now. What has changed in the last seven years that affects musicians? Certainly, the use of video has gone through the roof, not to mention social media, email marketing, Facebook ads, boosted posts, GoogleAdWords, and the list goes on. More and more musicians now publish their own music and recordings. The Internet has made it possible for them to side-step the big publishing houses and record labels. It’s pretty much a “given” that musicians who are building solo careers must have a strong web presence. They connect with their fans and often use crowdfunding to raise money for projects. And since this is the real world in which we live, we have to talk about money. Changes made by Congress have impacted health care and taxes. Is it better or worse? The answer is, it depends. Each individual’s personal circumstance will answer that question. Then there is the manner in which musicians are compensated for their creative work—copyright, royalties and now-digital royalties are being reexamined. These subjects are all addressed in this second edition. What hasn’t changed in the real-world music industry is the human dynamic. Audiences still stand and applaud a performance. They don’t applaud their sound systems or playback devices. They appreciate and recognize excellence and quality. That is really the essence of this book. In my mind, in order to find success in music two conditions must 1. Do something you love and commit to quality; and 2. Get your message out and get noticed. Here’s hoping the pages in this second edition will help aspiring musicians and old pros alike do just that. Ray Ricker

Genres: Music

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Dan Graser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy books by great musicians talking about the very things that have made them successful which are not a part of the normal music school curriculum. This work from Ramon Ricker is the second edition of his Lessons from a Street-Wise Professor, now updated to include the social media world.

This is a good starting place if you are unsure about some of the unspoken elements of how to be a successful musician. His tips are well formulated and generally very widely applicable. Perhaps the most in-depth and unique section to this tome is actually on taxes of all things! The most engaging and instantly applicable section is in Chapter 11 where you are give 97 blunt and honest tips on how to carry yourself as an artist. Thankfully, I have noticed a trend where many of these suggestions and ideas are permeating music programs especially at the graduate level.

If you enjoy his writing on academia I would highly recommend Teaching Music in Higher Education by Colleen Conway. If you focused on his remarks to future performers I would highly recommend Beyond Talent by Angela Myles Beeching. And if the freelance lifestyle interests you I would highly recommend The Freelancer's Bible by Sara Horowitz.

I think for many curious musicians this larger more all-encompassing volume can serve as an effective launching pad from which to pursue further study.

[Jeff Manchur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Other than the sections on taxes and investing, Beyond Talent or The Savvy Musician are far better books about establishing a music career, and both are based on a world beyond the author's home institution.

[Zach Finkelstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific business introduction to life as a freelancer entrepreneur.