The Portfolio Composer: Recent Episodes
Garrett Hope presents The Portfolio Composer
Glory St. Germain is the founder and CEO of Ultimate Music Theory, a TEDx Speaker, an international bestselling author with over fifty books, a host of global music teachers summits, and an expert coach & creator of the UMTC Elite Educator Program. Her passion for teaching excellence sets a new standard of achievement in music theory education. Through her online courses, memberships, and trainings she helps teachers elevate their income, impact their teaching, and grow their expert music teaching business. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Piano teacher, entrepreneur, and founder of Ultimate Music Theory Glory St. Germain joins Garrett Hope and Dr. Heidi Kay Begay to discuss the Ultimate Music Business Summit and why you ARE a business.
Websites:
- ultimatemusictheory.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Glory St. Germain is the founder and CEO of Ultimate Music Theory, a TEDx Speaker, an international bestselling author with over fifty books, a host of global music teachers summits, and an expert coach & creator of the UMTC Elite Educator Program. Her passion for teaching excellence sets a new standard of achievement in [...]
Luthier, singer-songwriter, and business owner Chris Alvarado makes finely-crafted boutique guitars in the Florida panhandle. After serving in the military, Chris became one of the most in-demand performers along Florida's Emerald Coast. He now runs Driftwood Guitars full-time and creates regular content for YouTube. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the [...]
Luthier, singer-songwriter, and business owner Chris Alvarado makes finely-crafted boutique guitars in the Florida panhandle. After serving in the military, Chris became one of the most in-demand performers along Florida's Emerald Coast. He now runs Driftwood Guitars full-time and creates regular content for YouTube. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Luthier, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and business owner Chris Alvarado discusses how making art is running a business, how to raise your rates, and how to be successful as an artist and with money. This is part two of two.
Topics discussed in these episodes:
- Chris' portfolio
- Diversifying your income stream
- Don't just rely on the one thing
- YouTube & content creation
- The mental roadblock
- The holistic approach
- Garrett's Venn diagram
- Making art is still running a business
- Being successful & famous
- Why go to Berklee?
- Selling out
- Money & success
- Knowing you can figure it out is a skill to develop
- Forming your business
- Raising your rates
- Surround yourself with business owners
- Just do it
- YouTube
Websites:
- www.driftwoodguitars.com
- Driftwood Guitars YouTube Channel
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Luthier, singer-songwriter, and business owner Chris Alvarado makes finely-crafted boutique guitars in the Florida panhandle. After serving in the military, Chris became one of the most in-demand performers along Florida's Emerald Coast. He now runs Driftwood Guitars full time and creates regular content for YouTube. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, [...]
Luthier, singer-songwriter, and business owner Chris Alvarado makes finely-crafted boutique guitars in the Florida panhandle. After serving in the military, Chris became one of the most in-demand performers along Florida's Emerald Coast. He now runs Driftwood Guitars full time and creates regular content for YouTube. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Luthier, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and business owner Chris Alvarado discusses how making art is running a business, how to raise your rates, and how to be successful as an artist and with money. This is part one of two.
Topics discussed in these episodes:
- Chris' portfolio
- Diversifying your income stream
- Don't just rely on the one thing
- YouTube & content creation
- The mental roadblock
- The holistic approach
- Garrett's Venn diagram
- Making art is still running a business
- Being successful & famous
- Why go to Berklee?
- Selling out
- Money & success
- Knowing you can figure it out is a skill to develop
- Forming your business
- Raising your rates
- Surround yourself with business owners
- Just do it
- YouTube
Websites:
- www.driftwoodguitars.com
- Driftwood Guitars YouTube Channel
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Dr. Heidi Kay Begay is a self-employed flutist, educator, podcaster, and non-profit organizer. She is the creator of the Flute 360 podcast, which delivers educational content, to the modern-day flutist, through various platforms. Since 2018, the podcast has produced over 200 episodes, received over 75,000 downloads from 70 countries, and has obtained several corporate [...]
Jeffrey Neavor works as a financial advisor after 22 years as a music educator. Jeff has focused on planning for music educators, composers, and freelance creators. Jeff's bands won 14 straight Illinois State Marching Championships, performed at multiple state conventions and festivals, were Presidential Inaugural Parade performers, had numerous BOA Super Regional Finals and [...]
Joseph Sowa draws from diverse influences to create music of detailed textures and vivid colors. His works have been played and commissioned by groups like PRISM Quartet, Hub New Music & the Genesis Chamber Singers and in sacred and educational settings. He is on the executive board of the Music Creators Academy, which teaches [...]
As a new music harpist, Danielle Kuntz is dedicated to bringing new music to life. She has focused her career on connecting living composers with new audiences by commissioning them and performing their music. Danielle also works to make the harp a more accessible instrument for composers through lectures, workshops, and individual instruction. Danielle [...]
Mark Herschberg is the author of The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Educated at MIT, Mark has spent his career launching and fixing new ventures at startups, Fortune 500s, and academia. He’s developed new software languages, online marketplaces, new authentication systems, and tracked criminals and terrorists on the [...]
Daniel Kellogg, President of the Young Concert Artists is a composer, is a YCA alumnus and former professor of composition at the University of Colorado. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the [...]
Daniel Spreadbury, who is part of the development team for Dorico at Steinberg, and Jason Heath of the Double Bass Conversations podcast join Garrett to discuss Dorico 4, a major new update to the engraving software. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free [...]
The Ultimate Music Business Summit (January 6–8, 2022) is a three-day conference with over thirty presentations, 1:1 Speed Networking sessions, live Q & A with the presenters, and a keynote by Dr. Drew X Coles. The presentations cover a WIDE spectrum of business-related topics and are full of actionable advice. This episode is [...]
Ric Flauding was an accomplished arranger, orchestrator, composer, conductor, and producer. Over the course of his career he wored with The London Symphony, the Nashville Recording Orchestra, the Prague Strings, the Fort Worthy Symphony, and many LA recording ensembles. He wrote for, and arranged hundreds of recording projects, many of which chartered on commercial [...]
Nainita Desai is an award-winning composer for film and media. Her recent projects include the critically acclaimed Oscar 2000 nominated film For Sama, Sundance 2020 winning feature The Reason I Jump, Netflix' most-watched documentary feature to date, American Murder, and the Annapurna Interactive Film-Game Telling Lies. Film4 labelled her as one of the top 5 [...]
Amelia Warner is an English actress turned composer. She began her music career releasing music under the name Slow Moving Millie. Her film credits include Mary Shelley and Wild Mountain Thyme. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio [...]
Rebekka Karijord is a composer and musician originally from Sandnessjøen, just south of the arctic circle in Northern Norway. Over the course of her career she has composed music for over 30 films, modern dance performances and theatrical pieces, as well as released six solo albums under her own name. Jon Ekstrand is a Swedish [...]
Composer, conductor, and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Turner is known for creating innovative and diverse music for the moving image and the stage. He is a two time EMMY nominee, has won the Music + Sound Award, the International Documentary Association Award, the AICP Award, and has been named in NPR Music’s Favorite Songs of the Year. [...]
Jackson Greenberg is a Philadelphia born, Los Angeles based musician, producer, and composer of music for Film, Television and concert ensembles. After graduating with a degree in Music from Princeton University and a graduate degree from University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Jackson has written original music for many films and television shows [...]
James Sizemore is a New York based composer, orchestrator, and producer with notable credits in film and television. James' projects range from producing the score to the Oscar winning film Spotlight, orchestrating the Hobbit Trilogy, and contributing music to such films as A Dog's Purpose and Split. In addition to his film and television work, [...]
Joseph Sowa draws from diverse influences to create music of detailed textures and vivid colors. His works have been played and commissioned by groups like PRISM Quartet, Hub New Music & the Genesis Chamber Singers and in sacred and educational settings. He is on the executive board of the Music Creators Academy, which teaches creative [...]
Jim Ginsburg is the founder and president of Cedille Records. He oversees all of Cedille's releases and produces a majority of them. Cedille Records has grown to be one of Chicago's greatest ambassadors of classical music, garnering 18 Grammy nominations and six Grammy Awards for its recordings. In 2009, the Chicago Tribune named Ginsburg a "Chicagoan of the Year," writing" Let's hear it for James Ginsburg. The Chicagoan is one of the last independent entrepreneurs in classical recording, a man who has stuck to his artistic vision and made a success of it at a time of market shrinkage and industry downsizing." Founder and President of Cedille Records Jim Ginsburg discusses the Chicago-based mission of his record label, the importance of physical CDs, and making collectibles.
Website:
- www.cedillerecords.org
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Jason Graves is a two-time British Academy Award-winning composer renowned for his textural concept scores and innovative orchestration in cinematic games such as The Dark Pictures Anthology, Moss, Tomb Raider, and more. His repertoire is truly diverse, from aleatoric and sweeping orchestral journeys in space, to haunting and immersive soundscapes in historical, gothic and supernatural worlds, to manipulating ancient instruments in a Stone Age natural environment and whimsical waltzes for an intimate pastoral palette. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Jason Graves discusses the long-term thinking required to build and sustain a successful composing career.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
musicsummit.biz
2020 Has Been A Struggle… And Everything Has Changed!
The creative industries have been decimated in 2020. And still we’ve fought through the fear and failures. We’ve tested pivot after pivot and we’ve discovered strategies that work.
We want to provide you with a shortcut to growing your music business. We want you to survive and thrive despite the challenges we face in our industry and country.
Introducing the Ultimate Music Business Summit.
Here’s what you’ll get when you register for this FREE summit:
- Business models that are working for musicians right now
- Strategies to tame the Inner Critic and battle your resistance
- Ideas for engaging your community and making a difference
That’s 21 Business-changing Lessons we’ve learned this year that you can leverage to build your own Stimulus Plan and make 2021 Your Best Year Ever!
But that’s not all… The summit also includes:
- Panel Discussions on the current state of the music industry
- How to make your business pandemic (and politics) proof
And much, much more!
Go to musicsummit.biz and get your free ticket today!
Matt Morton is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and engineer/producer from Columbus, OH. He started on the guitar at age 9 and went on to learn the bass, piano, drums, mandolin, cuatro, charango, ukulele, banjo, and cello. His feature-length scores include the multiple award-winning Apollo 11, Dinosaur 13, and Scaring the Fish. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Matt Morton discusses the power of teaching to grow as a composer, the role of the composer as producer, wearing multiple hats, and why you should form an LLC.
Websites:
- www.mattmortonmusic.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Anxiety is a pernicious bedfellow. So many of us—especially creatives—live it with constantly. It will eat you up inside. You don't have to live this way. Here's a short lesson on how. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Anxiety is a pernicious bedfellow. So many of us—especially creatives—live it with constantly. It will eat you up inside. You don't have to live this way. Here's a short lesson on how.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning concert, film, and video game composer. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Disney Concert Hall, and many other venues. His recent Kickstarter campaign became the highest grossing Classical Music campaign of Kickstarter history. His albums have peaked at #1 on the Billboard Classical Charts, and he was collaborated with a wide range of artists from numerous genres, from Lang Lang to BT. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Part Three of the Kickstarter Miniseries: Christopher discusses having a team, rolling out rewards, booking Abbey Road, and the bottom line.
Websites:
- christophertin.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning concert, film, and video game composer. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Disney Concert Hall, and many other venues. His recent Kickstarter campaign became the highest grossing Classical Music campaign of Kickstarter history. His albums have peaked at #1 on the Billboard Classical Charts, and he was collaborated with a wide range of artists from numerous genres, from Lang Lang to BT. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Part Two of the Kickstarter Miniseries: Christopher discusses money, his target fundraising amount, and choosing the appropriate rewards.
For information regarding the FREE digital world premiere of To Shiver The Sky on Saturday, August 29, 2020. visit this Washington Performing Arts page.
Websites:
- christophertin.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning concert, film, and video game composer. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Disney Concert Hall, and many other venues. His recent Kickstarter campaign became the highest grossing Classical Music campaign of Kickstarter history. His albums have peaked at #1 on the Billboard Classical Charts, and he was collaborated with a wide range of artists from numerous genres, from Lang Lang to BT. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Part One of the Kickstarter Minisieris: Christopher discusses why he chose Kickstarter, the importance of placing your audience first, and what funding and audience support looks like in our current music economy.
For information regarding the FREE digital world premiere of To Shiver The Sky on Saturday, August 29, 2020. visit this Washington Performing Arts page.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Ben Lovett is a current American recording artist, film composer, songwriter, and producer from Georgia. He is the founder of the record label Lovers Label. His non-film compositions are released under the names LOVETT and Lovers & Friends. He has won several awards, including Best Score for "The Last Lullaby" and Best Score for "Ghost of Old Highways." This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Ben Lovett discusses the importance of not letting a lack of knowledge stop you, how COVID-19 is affecting the film industry, and his latest film, "Stuffed."
Topics Discussed In This Episode:
- Ben's portfolio
- Avoiding jobs
- There is no divide between the personal life & the professional life
- Being a philosophy major
- Creating opportunities
- It's about who know who you are
- Maintaining rights
- Playing the long game
- Luck
- Having the right mindset
- COVID-19 & the entertainment industry
- Stuffed
- Living in Asheville, NC
- California Gig Law
Websites:
- benlovett.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Conductor Ingrid Martin discusses her new online resource Conducting Artistry and why it's so important to get to know the people who will choose, conduct, and perform your music. Ingrid Martin is an Australian conductor. She is passionate about helping conductors be better leaders, musicians, and educators. With degrees from universities in Australia and the U.S. and many years on the podium she has created an online resource to help conductors called Conducting Artistry (conducting artistry.com).
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Conductor Ingrid Martin discusses her new online resource Conducting Artistry and why it's so important to get to know the people who will choose, conduct, and perform your music.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Drum & Lace is an Italian composer and performer that creates music for film, tv and media. Her live performances oscillate between electronica & chamber music, often with spatial audio elements. Ian Hultquist is an American Film Composer who has made a name for himself scoring films, tv and documentaries for Netflix, HBO, CNN and NatGeo. Together they have co-scored projects such as HBO doc At The Heart of Gold, and most recently the AppleTV+ Original Series Dickinson. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.steinberg.net/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
This episode is sponsored by nkoda, the home of digital sheet music. Try nkoda for free!
Composers Drum & Lace and Ian Hultquist discuss the business of collaboration, the California AB5 bill, and building trust.
Topics Discussed In This Episode:
- Ian & Sofia's portfolios
- Composing for the fashion industry
- Getting into movies
- Dickinson
- Collaborating
- Studio design
- Building trust in a collaboration
- The business of collaboration
- CA tax & employment law
- Web presence
- Being gracious to people
- Knowing your composer community
Websites:
- drumandlacemusic.com
- ianhultquist.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Amy Gordon is a composer, arranger, singer-songwriter, and vocalist in Los Angeles, CA. She is an active choral composer, including being the composer-in-residence for Nova Vocal Ensemble. Her music has been described as melodic and accessible, yet with surprising harmonic twists. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
This episode is sponsored by nkoda, the home of digital sheet music. Try nkoda for free!
Composer Amy Gordon discusses the steps she's taken to build her composing business including creating an online store for her music.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
It’s the fourth anniversary of The Portfolio Composer. And every anniversary I take a look back at the previous year’s most popular episodes. These episodes are the most downloaded episodes of the previous year. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
This episode is sponsored by nkoda, the home of digital sheet music. Try nkoda for free!
The Most Popular Episodes of 2019!
Most Popular Episodes:
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10–Ep 211-Danny Bensi & Saunder Juriaans on Letting Go of Ego
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9–Ep 210-Gabriel Mann on Being Invested
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8–Ep 212-Dale Trumbore on Staying Composed
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7–Ep 205-James Adler on Marketing A Winter Triptych
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6–Ep 215-Pamela Z on The Five Jobs of a Successful Artist
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5–Ep 213-Sean Beeson on The Six P's of a Career
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4–Ep 202-Adam Lastiwka on Scoring Travelers and Finding a Mentor
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3–Ep 201-Philip Sheppard on Bach, Audiences, and the Olympics
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2–Ep 207-Scott Lang on Realizing You're an Entrepreneur
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1–Ep 206-Alex Harwood on Making Yourself Discoverable
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
Angela Myles Beeching is a music career coach who helps musicians get more of their best work out into the world — so they can finally become the artists they are meant to be. Ms. Beeching is the former director of career and entrepreneurship programs at Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, and New England Conservatory. The third edition of her book Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music is out now. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
This episode is sponsored by nkoda, the home of digital sheet music. Try nkoda for free!
Music career coach Angela Beeching discusses the importance of mindset in building your career and the release of the 3rd Edition of her classic career book, Beyond Talent.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Lillie Harris discusses the finer points of being a professional copyist and being The Green Copyist
Website:
- www.lillieharris.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Chad Hobson is a British composer with impressive credentials in film and award-winning television. His work in film includes a wide range of genres, from gritty urban dramas like Adulthood (Noel Clarke), Epic fantasy like Stardust (Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer), to most recently HBO’s Leaving Neverland, directed by Dan Reed which chronicles the sexual abuse allegations made by two boys against music icon Michael Jackson. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Chad Hobson discusses the importance of being comfortable, paying your dues, and finding freedom in the pressure.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Herdís Stefánsdóttir is a composer of music for multimedia, a songwriter, and an electronic musician. Her compositional endeavors -- installations in museums, dance, theatre, and a successful electronic music duet she is a part of – are establishing her as an expansive artist. Herdís’ first studio film was “The Sun is Also a Star”, an MGM and Warner Brothers production. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
The former opera singer Sune Hjerrild, had the vision of what is now Truelinked after experiencing how the disconnect between the ‘four As’ (Artists, Arts Organisations, Agents and Audience) of the classical music industry could sometimes cause havoc in an artist’s career, and greatly impede the working process of arts organizations and agents. In 2013 Sune and his partner founded Truelinked that now employs 20 people and have clients all over the world. In 2018 the company acquired Operabase. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career! Opera star and startup founder Sune Hjerrild of Truelinked discusses why it's important to consider all the stakeholders, using data to improve the opera industry, and necessary business skills for musicians.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
John David Mann rose to international prominence with his award-winning parable The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg), which has sold nearly a million copies in two dozen languages, has been hailed as "one of the most important parables about business—and life—of our time" by Adam Grant (Give and Take) and praised by the likes of Arianna Huffington, Seth Godin, and Glenn Beck. The Latte Factor is his 30th book. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
John David Mann returns to discuss The Latte Factor and how you can meet your financial goals and shatter your money myths.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Mark Cawley is a hit U.S. songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one on one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, The Spice Girls and many more. His new book, Song Journey, hit #1 on Amazon in 6 categories. From upstate NY he has lived in Boston, Indy, LA, London and for the past 24 yrs in Nashville TN This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Songwriter Mark Cawley shares how he grew his successful career and outlines a path for all aspiring songwriters.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Chickasaw) is a dedicated American Indian classical composer and pianist who expresses his native culture in symphonic music, ballet and opera. All of his compositions have been commissioned by major North American orchestras, ensembles and organizations and his works are performed throughout the world. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate shares how embracing his identity and the challenge of building a career has catapulted his music business.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Pamela Z is a composer/performer and media artist who makes solo works combining a wide range of vocal techniques with electronic processing, samples, gesture activated MIDI controllers, and video. She has toured extensively throughout the US, Europe, and Japan. Her work has been presented at venues and exhibitions including Bang on a Can (NY), the Japan Interlink Festival, Other Minds (SF), the Venice Biennale, and the Dakar Biennale. She's created installations and has composed scores for dance, film, and chamber ensembles (including Kronos Quartet). Her awards include the Rome Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Doris Duke Artist Impact Award, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation residency, the Herb Alpert Award, and an Ars Electronica honorable mention, and the NEA/Japan-US Fellowship. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer, performer, and inventor Pamela Z shares her story and why every creative needs to master the five jobs of a successful artist.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Composer and conductor Brian Ralston has spent the past 15 years creating compelling melodic tracks that inspire audiences. His creative gifts lend themselves to an extremely rich sound that can be felt throughout his works. Ralston’s recent credits include Being Rose starring Cybill Shepherd and James Brolin and 20th Century Fox’s Crooked Arrows directed by Steve Rash (Buddy Holly Story, Can‘t Buy Me Love). Ralston also serves as an instructor for the UCLA Film Scoring program. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Brian Ralston shares how composing is inherently entrepreneurial and breaks down his 10 Lessons on "Breaking In."
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Sean Beeson is composer, sound designer, and pianist who has worked on hundreds projects for games, films, ads, trailers, for clients like Google, Disney, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Sony. His piano music has been streamed over 90 million times on YouTube, and his concert works have been premiered globally by artists Dame Evelyn and BalletMet Columbus. He lives in the middle of nowhere Ohio with his wife Laura and has five children. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Sean Beeson discusses building a career in the Midwest and the six P's to a healthy career.
Website:
- www.daletrumbore.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Dale Trumbore's compositions have been commissioned, awarded and performed by ensembles including ACME, Center City Opera Theater, Choral Arts Initiative, The Esoterics, Inscape Chamber Orchestra, the Maryland State Boychoir, New York Virtuoso Singers, The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists, and VocalEssence. She recently released her first book, Staying Composed. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Dale Trumbore returns to The Portfolio Composer to discuss her book on the composer's process, Staying Composed: Overcoming Anxiety and Self-Doubt Within a Creative Life.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans are award-winning film composers. They have been playing music together for over twenty years. In the last eight years, they have completed well over 100 acclaimed film and TV scores. The duo is best known for their music in 'Enemy,' 'Martha Marcy May Marlene,' 'The OA,' 'Ozark,' 'American Gods,' and 'Boy Erased.' This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composing duo Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans demonstrate why letting go of ego is the key to success and why you need to focus on getting your music out the door.
Websites:
- www.stenfertcharles.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Gabriel Mann is a composer, songwriter, singer, and band member of LA-based alternative rock band The Rescues, he has made significant strides in every corner of the music industry. Equally comfortable in drama and comedy, scoring, songwriting and production, Mann wrote the theme and currently composes for the award-winning hit comedy series MODERN FAMILY, now in its tenth season, and is currently writing and producing songs and score for ABC’s new drama A MILLION LITTLE THINGS. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career! Composer Gabriel Mann how he got more, and better quality, work by niching down being invested in his projects.
- www.gabrielmann.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Maestro Roger Nierenberg is the creator of The Music Paradigm. The Music Paradigm is a powerful learning experience that uses symphonic music to illuminate compelling insights about people at work. Participants are seated directly amongst the orchestra musicians where they gain fresh understandings about the opportunities and challenges faced by their own organization. Over the past twenty years, Nierenberg has presented to hundreds of different organizations. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Websites:
- musicparadigm.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer David Norland discusses the importance of showing up and being as useful as possible.
Topics Discussed in this Episode:
- Coming to California
- Commercials to movies
- Royalties from Prime Time TV
- Raising awareness of your work
- Not being happy with your reel
- Showing up daily
- Positioning yourself
- Lessons learned at each stage
- Telling someone else's story
- Staying excited as a composer
- Pushing yourself forward
- Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies
- Putting yourself in places where you can develop relationships
- Being as useful as possible
Websites:
- www.davidnorland.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Music educator turned leadership trainer and public speaker Scott Lang points out how we are already entrepreneurs, we just need to realize it.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Alexandra Harwood is a BAFTA Cymru Award-winning composer whose films have screened worldwide. She is a classically trained composer with degrees from The Royal College of Music and The Juilliard School. Most recently Alexandra scored Mike Newell's film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society starring Lily James. The original soundtrack album is released by Decca Records. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Alexandra Harwood shares how she built her career and took advantage of every opportunity.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
James Adler is a pianist who “can create whatever type of music he wants at the keyboard” (Chicago Sun-Times) and a composer who writes “with uncommon imagination” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution). He made his orchestral performing debut at 16 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has performed throughout the world. His extensive list of compositions is headed by Memento mori: An AIDS Requiem. Performed worldwide, recorded by AmorArtis Chorale and Orchestra, and published by Alfred Music. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer James Adler returns to discuss how he marketed his album, A Winter Triptych, and how he turned a liability into an asset.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
It's the fourth anniversary of The Portfolio Composer! And every anniversary I take a look back at the previous year's most popular episodes. These episodes are the most downloaded episodes of the previous year. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Most Popular Episodes:
-
10–Ep 194-Michel van der Aa on Starting Small
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9—Ep 185-Peter Nashel on Turning on Your Business Head
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8—Ep 192-Jonathan Dove on Being Your Own Boss
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7—Ep 177-Jennifer Jolley on Nurturing Confidence
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6—Ep 180-Liz Lawson on Being a Music Supervisor
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5—Ep 183-Robert W. Smith on Teaching Business Skills
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4—Ep 186-Tony Manfredonia on Building a Balanced Career
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3—Ep 178-Should You Go To Graduate School?
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2—Ep 189-Bruce Broughton on It's All About Sales
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1—Ep 182-Michael Hall on Not Playing it Safe
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Composers Chrysanthe Tan and Theodore Jander share how they're using Patreon to build their careers, engage their audience, do meaningful work, and if it's the right fit for you. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Websites:
- chrysanthetan.com
- www.theodorejander.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Adam Lastiwka is a Canadian-born film and television composer who splits time between Vancouver and Los Angeles. He is best known for his work on the globally-renowned Netflix series ‘Travelers’ and the Emmy-nominated CBC series ‘Interrupt this Program’. In addition, he has also scored over five hundred episodes of popular shows airing on networks such as History, Discovery, Food, Syfy and NatGeo. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career! Composer Adam Lastiwka discusses scoring the Netflix hit Travelers, the role having a mentor had in shaping his career, and why you need a mentor, too.
Website:
- www.adamlastiwka.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Philip Sheppard is an award-winning composer, producer, cellist, Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music & member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has composed 60+ film, gaming, TV & theatrical scores including Sony PS4’s highly acclaimed video game, DETROIT: Become Human. He collaborated with Odesza on their album, A Moment Apart, which was nominated for 2 Grammys. He also arranged all the national anthems for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Fall From Earth is his 2nd solo orchestral album & was recorded at Abbey Road Studios & released June, 2018. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer and cellist Philip Sheppard discusses the importance knowing what your audience wants, finding freedom in restriction, arranging all the national anthems for the London olympics, his rules for success.
Website:
- philipsheppard.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Stacy Garrop's music is centered on dramatic and lyrical storytelling. She shares stories by taking audiences on sonic journeys—some simple and beautiful, while other are complicated and dark—depending on the needs and dramatic shape of the story. She has won numerous awards and grants with her music being performed regularly around the world. This episode and the Ep 200 Live Event is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. This episode and the live event were also made possible by these sponsors: Performers Music Music at Columbia College Chicago The American Composers Forum Cedille Records Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
In this special live recording Stacy Garrop reflects on her transition from an academic life to a full-time composing. She shares what it takes to make things happen and how to engage with your network.
Website:
- garrop.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Dietitian, podcaster, and entrepreneur Amber Pankonin discusses how we, as composers and busy, stressed-out musicians, can make healthy choices that will help us be more creative as well as give us the ability to build our businesses.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Saxophonists, entrepreneur, and educator Sean Murphy discusses the current state of classical music publishing, the importance of sustainability, and the story behind Murphy Music Press. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. This episode is sponsored by The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and their Third Annual Young Composer Competition. To apply visit PYOS.org by November 21.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Website:
- Art's Management & Entrepreneurship at Baldwin Wallace
- Murphy Music Press
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. This episode is sponsored by The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and their Third Annual Young Composer Competition. To apply visit PYOS.org by November 21.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer James Edward Barker tells stories of building relationships and being bold. He also discusses why we should always be striving and to never become complacent.
Website:
- James' Spotify Channel
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Shell Tain is a recovering accountant and personal coach who specializes in helping people untangle their money knots. She studied coaching with the Coaches Training Institute and holds CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) and PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditations. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Website:
- shelltain.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career! Composer and author Deeann Matthews discusses the importance of copyrighting your music and offers her course The Ultimate Guide to Copyright Songs.
Website:
- The Ultimate Guide to Copyright Songs Course
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Multidisciplinary and Grawemeyer Award winning composer Michel van der Aa discusses the importance of starting epic projects out small.
Website:
- vanderaa.net
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Film and media composer Penka Kouneva sheds light on how to get the next gig through building relationships and you should NEVER talk about your work first.
Website:
- penkakouneva.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Jonathan Dove shares his journey of learning how to become his own boss, realizing people want or need his music, and engaging with communities.
Website:
- jonathandove.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Entrepreneur and restaurateur Gabe Lovelace is co-owner of Ground Up Restaurants which run one of the most popular restaurants in Lincoln, NE, Honest Abe's. In this episode we discuss the balance of art vs. commodity and the similarities between starting a restaurant and launching a composition career.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Lij Shaw is a Grammy-winning music and podcast producer who is in the midst of an intense legal battle with the city of Nashville, TN. If you have a home studio, or have clients come to your home, this episode has information you need to hear.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Bruce Broughton has had a tremendous career composing for media and the concert hall and advocating for composer's rights. In this episode he discusses why it's all about sales, why you're under the obligation to learn the business, and why you need to go for what you really want.
Website:
- www.brucebroughton.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Joel Corelitz is a composer who believes music has a soul. In this interview he shares why focusing on style is a dead end and why persistence is key.
Topics discussed on this episode:
- Transitioning from the conservatory to commercial music
- The wrong path
- Pretty, traditional, music is boring
- Wrestling with an art form
- Wanting to be an artist
- The role is to be in service to someone else
- Three ways to think about opportunities:
- Passion projects
- Good for career
- Good for finances
- Knowing who you are as a person
- Style can be a dead end
- The commissioner needs something in return
- Music is an isolating career
- Be persistent & join the community
- Learn what to do in the valleys
- Give them a reason to work with you
- Don't be afraid to specialize, yet be a generalist
- Be a good listener
Website:
- www.jordancritz.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Jordan Critz is an award winning composer and producer. His work has been featured on numerous recordings as well as film and television including Disney, National Geographic, Apple, CBS, PBS, ABC, NBC, ESPN, Lifetime, TEDx and more. Jordan believes that every melody tells a story. His goal in composing and producing is to craft the melodies and music to enhance the story that’s being told by the artist or by the film director. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Jordan Critz discusses the importance of finding the sound you love and building a career in Nashville.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Tony Manfredonia is a composer living in Petoskey, MI, providing a sensory experience through colorful orchestration and warm melodies. Recent performances include ensembles such as the University of Cambridge Concert Band and the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra. Composing soundtracks for video games, such as Call of Saregnar and Kharon’s Crypt, he aims to audibly enhance each game world. Continually advocating mental health awareness, he musically expresses the inexpressible for those who don't have a voice. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Sadler at Studio184.
Peter Nashel is a New York based composer who works extensively in television and film. His latest television work includes Netflix’s Marco Polo as well as the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck produced Incorporated for SyFy. His recent film credits include Neon’s I, Tonya directed by Craig Gillespie and Tom McCarthy’s Win Win. He has worked with acclaimed director Alex Gibney on several documentaries, including Client 9. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Peter Nashel discusses his journey from performer to scoring movies including the highly acclaimed I, Tonya, the difference between amateur & professional, and turning on your business head.
Website:
- edwardjacobs.org
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
This episode was edited by E.J. Saddler at Studio184.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer and educator Eddie Jacobs discusses his innovative NewMusic Initiative to help students learn the value and process of commissioning new music.
Website:
- edwardjacobs.org
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Robert W. Smith (b. 1958) is one of the most popular and prolific composers in America today. He has over 600 publications in print with the majority composed and arranged through his long association with Warner Bros. Publications and the Belwin catalog. Mr. Smith is the President/CEO of RWS Music Company, exclusively distributed through C. L. Barnhouse. In addition, he is currently teaching in the Music Industry program at Troy University in Troy, Alabama.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer, educator, and business owner Robert W. Smith discusses the essential business skills composers need to learn and what it takes to build our composing and publishing businesses.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Michael Hall is an internationally recognized soloist/teacher with over 40 compositions written for him, teaches at VanderCook College of Music, and is co-founder/Artistic Director of the Bandung Philharmonic—the first professional orchestra in Indonesia. As a soloist, Michael has appeared in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Vienna, Reykjavik, Bangkok, Los Angeles, New York City, and Jakarta. He gave the US premiere of Chen Yi’s concerto Xian Shi, and premiered Stacy Garrop's concerto Krakatoa in Jan 2018. This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Violist and new music advocate Michael Hall discusses why it is important to not play it safe and to create your own opportunities.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Brooklyn born and bred artist Tamar-kali is a second-generation musician with roots in the coastal Sea Islands of South Carolina. As a performing and recording artist, she has defied boundaries to craft her own unique alternative sound. 2017 marked her debut as a film score composer. Her ‘expressive and varied score swells around dramatic widescreen views of the Mississippi delta’ [Variety], in Dee Rees’ Mudbound a Netflix feature wowing film festival audiences and generating Oscar buzz.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Afro-punk
- Being an artist
- Wearing a lot of hats
- Bosses tell, leaders show
- You have to be a great leader as an independent artist
- Money
- You have to pay yourself
- Having a business brain
- Dee Rees
- Mudbound
- The work is the way
- You have to be creating
- The Law of Attraction
- Make sure the necessity of the work doesn't interfere with you as a person
- Create a harmonious environment
- Hiring the right people
- Having integrity and being responsible
- Don't feel desperate
- Share your resources
Website:
- www.tamar-kali.com
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg, the future of scoring. Visit www.dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career! Music supervisor Liz Lawson discusses the ins and outs of music supervision, the need to learn how to market yourself, and why you should always send links.
This episode is sponsored by Dorico by Steinberg. Visit dorico.com/tpc for a free 30-day trial version.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Conductor Jordan Randall Smith is the Music Director of chamber orchestra Symphony Number One and Music Director of the Govans Chorale.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Conductor Jordan Randall Smith joins guest host Anthony Lanman to discuss Symphony Number One, tenacity, making your own opportunities, and owning your contacts.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composers Stefanie Lubkowski, David Smooke, Emily Doolittle, Dan Gawthrop, and Timothy Andrew Edwards form a panel to discuss the necessity and purpose of graduate school in composition from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds.
Composer. Blogger. Professor Person. Probably best known for her composer FAIL blog "Why Compose When You Can Blog?" where she posts her rejection letters online, Jennifer Jolley actually does write choral, orchestral, wind ensemble, chamber, and electronic works. She has been commissioned by ensembles and institutions across the United States and currently teaches at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Composer Jennifer Jolley discusses how she dealt with a lack of confidence, not believing in her music, and why she self-publishes.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Lacking original ideas
- Valuing your musical opinion
- Nurturing confidence
- Choosing concert music
- Getting performances
- Affirmation techniques to build confidence
- Using the Superman stance
- Bring a friend
- Making tweaks
- Composition competitions
- Whycompose.com
- Website content
- Staying top of mind
- ADJ*ective New Music
- Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
This week marks the third anniversary of the podcast! To celebrate I've gone through the 10 most popular episodes of 2017 and pulled out a short highlight from each one. Episode popularity was calculated by the number of unique downloads. Links to the full episodes are below Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
The 10 Most Popular Episodes of 2017:
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10: Ep 118-John David Mann on Adding Value and Being a Go-Giver
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9: Ep 126-Thomas Goss on Orchestration Online
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8: Ep 144-Jocelyn Hagen & Timothy Takach of Graphite Publishing on Becoming a Professional
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7: Ep 139-Dale Trumbore on How To Go On & Using Social Media
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6: Ep 130-Ravi Krishnaswami on Building a Relational Career
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5: Ep 127-Scott Tegge on Understanding & Engaging Your Audience
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4: Ep 133-Jeff Rona on Scoring for Movies and Games Pt 2
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3: Ep 123-Jim Stephenson on Letting Your Career Happen
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2: Ep 117-David and Matthew Maslanka on Showing Up & Doing the Work
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1: Ep 132-Jeff Rona on Scoring for Movies and Games Pt 1
Michael Katz, specializes in helping independent professionals get more and better clients by positioning themselves as Likeable Experts. Since launching Blue Penguin in 2000, Michael has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other media. He is the author of four books, and has published more than 400 issues of “The Likeable Expert Gazette,” a twice-monthly email newsletter and podcast. Michael has an MBA from Boston University and a BA from McGill University. Author and marketing consultant Michael Katz discusses his latest book, The Likeable Expert, and how to sell your art and service by being likeable
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Musician and film maker John Beder discusses his documentary Composed, his mission to help eliminate stage fright for musicians, and how he is marketing, promoting, and selling the film.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Composed
- Performance anxiety
- Common performance anxiety myths
- You are not alone if you experience performance anxiety
- How little performance anxiety is dealt with in our training
- Watch Composed on Vimeo
- Working through The Dip
- Marketing the film
- Selling our art
- Marketing is a dialogue
- Relying on the network
- Social media & Composed website
- Have conversations
- Believe in what you're making
- Set deadlines
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Paul John Rudoi is an award-winning composer, conductor, vocalist, and entrepreneur. He has sung with many professional choral ensembles in the United States, including Cantus and Seraphic Fire. Paul's compositions have garnered grants from the ACF, NEA, and ASCAP, and are published by PJR Music alongside Graphite, Walton, and others. As an entrepreneur, he will soon release Consortio, an online platform designed to make consortium-based commissioning more effective and available for all. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer, conductor, & entrepreneur Paul John Rudoi discusses solving the consortium problem and re-thinking how he uses social media from a personal perspective.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Ep 50-Chris Foss, Paul John Rudoi, and Adam Fieldson on How to Speak to Performers
- Cantus
- Being a composer, performer, conductor, & entrepreneur
- Consortio
- Ep 144-Jocelyn Hagen & Timothy Takach of Graphite Publishing on Becoming a Professional
- Solving the consortium problems
- Social media 2.0
- Silos & diversity
- Ep 164-Marie Incontrera on Social Media Marketing for Composers
- Leaving Facebook
- Find ensembles & build relationships
- Have a great website & brand
- Ep 148-[Rebroadcast] Jake Runestad on Learning from Other Composers
- Finding your voice through limitations
- What is valuable?
- Ep 151-Matthew Curtis of choral Tracks
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Passionate about advocacy, Michael Bussewitz-Quarm is a New York-based composer, conductor, and speaker. Michael’s most recent works include the commissioned work, “The Road That Has No End” and Requiem Dies Magna, which premiered in September, 2017 on Long Island under Michael’s direction. Michael recently organized the “Child Refugee Awareness” and “Hope for Recovery" Choral Consortium Projects, and “The Great American Choral Reef”, to be premiered on Earth Day, 2019. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Michael Bussewitz-Quarm shares the importance of being yourself and what it takes to create a second career as a composer
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Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career! Composer Adam Schumaker, who helps run the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, shares live streaming best practices and how to ensure great video and audio
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Conductor, producer and podcaster, Peter Szep is founder of the Indie Opera Podcast, the New York Opera Alliance and the New York Opera Fest.
Walker Lewis, stage director, has been acclaimed by the New York Times for his "imaginative staging". Recent work includes the Apprentice Scenes at Santa Fe Opera; The Companion (American Opera Projects); Glory Denied (Opera Idaho); The Pirates of Penzance and The Threepenny Opera (Amarillo Opera); and The Whole Truth & The Cask of Amontillado (American Modern Ensemble with Mark Campbell and Stewart Copeland of The Police). Upcoming: A Streetcar Named Desire at Opera Idaho. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Peter Szep and Walker Lewis from the Indie Opera Podcast discuss what it takes to produce opera today, the common mistakes composers make, and how you can bring your opera to life today
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A coaching short on re-defining success by looking at our whole life and not just one to three areas.
Aaron is a conductor, clinician and music educator who is passionate about bringing new music into the classroom. His students have collaborated with composers such as Scott McAllister and Michael Rene Torres, and performers such as the Columbus Ohio Discovery Ensemble. Aaron teaches middle school band in the Olentangy Local Schools. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s degree in Wind Conducting from The Ohio State University.
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Conductor and educator Aaron Given discusses having a unique voice, the importance of building connections, and writing for band
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Todd Brison motivates creative people. Both of his books, *The Creative Curse* and *The Unstoppable Creative* help people get over their creative blocks and change lives. His work has been featured on CNBC, Inc. Magazine, and Apple News.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Author Todd Brison talks about his new book, The Unstoppable Creative, what the future of work looks like and why creativity is necessary for survival.
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Aldo Shllaku has composed music for many feature films, documentaries, and TV programs. His music can be heard in films such as *Lupin III*, *Paranormal Asylum*, *The Blue Hour* and *On a Dark and Stormy Night*. Shllaku's music scores have received the Gold Medal for Excellence at the Park City Film Music Festival for *Pirate for the Sea*, *Still Water*, *Trespassing*, *A Kiss on the Nose*, and *Paperboat*.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career! Film and TV composer Aldo Shllaku shares why we need to invest in ourselves first, master our craft, and be pro-active in creating opportunities.
Website:
- aldoshllaku.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Founder and CEO of Songtradr, Inc, the Californian based music rights marketplace platform. Paul is a technology entrepreneur across the music and media industries with over 25 years experience. He is an award winning record producer and songwriter having produced and/or composed music with sales in excess of 15,000,000 units including twelve #1 albums and singles.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Entrepreneur and song writer Paul Wiltshire discusses Songtradr, solving problems, and being pro-active in promoting your music.
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Marie Incontrera is a composer, conductor, pianist, and bandleader whose multi-genre work spans opera, big band, heavy metal, post-modern orchestra, and chamber music. As a composer, Marie's work has been hailed as "deftly woven jazz and gospel elements" and "beguiling" (NY Times). Marie is the bandleader of the Eco-Music Big Band, a multi-generational and unique big band that performs the work of its late founder Fred Ho and provides a platform for the next generation of composers.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer, bandleader, entrepreneur, & social media marketing expert Marie Incontrera joins us to share social media marketing strategies for composers
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John David Mann is an award-winning author whose books have sold more than 2 million copies, including the bestselling classic *The Go-Giver* (with Bob Burg). As a teenager, he started his own high school and was an award-winning composer. His book *Take the Lead* (with Betsy Myers) was named by Tom Peters and the *Washington Post* “Best Leadership Book of 2011.” His latest book is called THE RECIPE.
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Author John David Mann discusses his new book, The Recipe, including the self-publishing process along with parallels between traditional book publishing and self-publishing as a composer.
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
Dorie Clark is an adjunct professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the author of Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You, and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. magazine. A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, the New York Times described her as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives.” A frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, you can learn more about Dorie at dorieclark.com. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Marketing strategy consultant, professional speaker, and author Dorie Clark discusses her new book, Entrepreneurial You, and strategies to monetize your passions and create a portfolio life.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Marie Incontrera
- BMI Music Theatre Program
- Entrepreneurial You
- Struggling with building a career
- Monetizing your expertize
- The virtue of persistence
- Study people in the field who are already successful
- Hamilton & Rent
- Why you?
- Build your portfolio cohesively
- Dealing with uncertainty
- The myth of entrepreneurship
Website:
- dorieclark.com
- dorieclark.com/entrepreneur (Dorie's 88-question entrepreneur assessment)
Recommended Listening:
- Ted Nash Big Band, Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom
- Jeff Potter, Anthony Jackson, & Daniel A. Weiss, "Seasons of Love" from Rent
- The Nields, XVII
Recommended Reading:
- Dorie Clark, Reinventing You
- Dorie Clark, Stand Out
- Dorie Clark, Entrepreneurial You
- Kabir Sehgal, Jazzocracy: Jazz, Democracy, and the Creation of a New American Mythology
- Kabir Sehgal, Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped Us
- Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
- Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
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Jennifer Rosenfeld, CEO of iCadenza and President & Principal Manager of Cadenza Artists, has extensive experience working with musicians of all genres on identifying and pursuing their professional goals and overcoming obstacles that come up along the way. She received a JD/MBA from Stanford Law School and Graduate School of Business. And she co-authored the book Awakening Your Business Brain: An iCadenza Guide to Launching your Music Career. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Musician, entrepreneur, and career coach Jennifer Rosenfeld discusses Coro by iCadenza, an online career development platform for musicians.
Jennifer was previously featured in Ep 74 with her business partner Julia Torgovitskaya.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- iCadenza
- Julia Torgovitskaya
- Negative messages
- Wealth building & money
- Coro by iCadenza
- Three things musicians need to do:
- Learn new skills
- Network
- Hire coaches
- You need more than a manager
- Career momentum
- The value of coaching
Website:
- icadenza.com
- coro.icadenza.com
Recommended Listening:
- Ralph Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
- Chysanthe Tan, Stories
- Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Recommended Reading:
- Mike Michalowicz, Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine
- Cal Newport, Deep Work
- Jennifer Rosenfeld & Julia Torgovitskaya, Awakening Your Business Brain: An iCadenza Guide to Launching Your Music Career
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
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Ronit Kirchman is a composer, music producer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. She composes music for film and television, theater and dance, multimedia installations, and the concert stage. She is also an accomplished visual artist and author. She is the first composer to have received the prestigious Sundance/Time Warner Fellowship. Ronit is currently scoring the riveting new dramatic series The Sinner, premieres Aug. 2 on USA Network. Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Ronit Kirchman discusses the importance of getting experience, dealing with the busy-ness, and being project focused.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Managing the busy-ness
- The Sinner
- Being project focused
- Prioritizing your projects
- Fortuitous accidents
- Composing as performance
- All the business things
- Get a lot of experience
- Understand that there are many paths
- Following the breadcrumbs of success
- Identifying a niche
Website:
- ronitkirchman.com
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
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Four-time Emmy winning composer and composer of the Grammy-winning album Ask Your Mama, Laura Karpman maintains a vibrant career in film, television, video-game and concert music. Her most recent credits include the series Underground, in collaboration with Raphael Saadiq and John Legend, Step, a Sundance 2017 favorite, Eleanor Coppola's Paris Can Wait starring Diane Lane and Alec Baldwin.
Laura has received two GANG awards and an additional nomination for her videogame music which has been performed by orchestras internationally, as well as an Annie Feature nomination. She serves as an advisor for the Sundance Film Scoring Labs and is on the faculty of the USC Film Scoring Program. Laura is the founding President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers and is proud to serve as a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
She has graduate degrees from Juilliard where she studied with Milton Babbitt, where she spent her time in NYC composing and studying the complexities of concert music by day, while playing jazz and scat singing in Manhattan clubs by night.
Laura loves to teach and does so whenever she can. She currently serves on the faculty of the USC Film Scoring Program & the New Media and Music Technology Program at San Francisco Conservatory.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer and founder of The Alliance for Women Film Composers Laura Karpman discusses making artist the first priority and why you need to get your name on all the lists.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- New music vs jazz
- Milton Babbitt's "Who Cares If You Listen"
- Caring about every note you write
- Sundance Labs
- Moving from NYC to LA
- Learning to be super simple
- Learning by failure
- No wasted cues—everything finds its home
- Alliance for Women Film Composers
- Be an artist first
- Get on the lists
Website:
- laurakarpman.com
Recommended Listening:
- Igor Stravinsky, The Firebird
- John Coltrane, My Favorite Things
- Jason Moran, 13th
Recommended Reading:
- Octavia Butler, Kindred
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
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Currently the Resident Composer for the American Studio Orchestra, Jacob Yoffee is a Los Angeles-based composer writing primarily for Film, Television and Trailer Music projects.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Jacob Yoffee discusses how thinking like a music producer will give you a leg up when scoring trailers, films, and TV. Topics discussed in this episode:
- Trailer music
- Writing on spec
- Demo fees
- Making the music sound real
- Cutting through the competition
- Writing to emotion & feel
- Orchestration & music production
- Don't sound thin
- Writing for the samples
- Invest in the tools
- Being a music major at Peabody
- Difference between academia & media
- John Corigliano
- Behave as a business
- Think like a music producer
- Develop a team & network of musicians
- Invest in yourself & your workplace
Website:
- jacobyoffeemusic.com
Recommended Listening:
- Elliot Goldenthal, "Libera Me" from Interview With a Vampire
- Jennifer Hidgon, Blue Cathedral
Recommended Reading:
- Yuval Noah Harari, Homo Deus: A brief history of tomorrow
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
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Canadian-born, Scotland-based composer Emily Doolittle grew up in Halifax Nova Scotia and was educated at Dalhousie University, the Koninklijk Conservatorium in the Hague, Indiana University and Princeton University. From 2008-2015 she was Assistant/Associate Professor of Composition and Theory at Cornish College of the Arts. She now lives in Glasgow, UK, where she is an Athenaeum Research Fellow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Composer Emily Doolittle discusses the study of animals & music and balancing parenthood with composing and an academic career.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Biomusicology
- Zoomusicology
- How animals learn
- Regional differences within a species
- Transcribing & translating animal songs
- Folklore
- Motherhood
- Life balance
- Feminism
- Tenure clocks
- Letting go of the ideal bio
- Become comfortable with uncertainty & chaos
- Thinking how differing life experiences can enrich our perceptions
- The role of confidence
- The fear of having kids
- Make yourself take action
- Investing in daycare for the sake of your art
Website:
- emilydoolittle.com
Recommended Listening:
- R. Murray Shafer, 3rd String Quartet
- R. Murray Shafer, And Wolves Shall Inherit the Moon
- Cassandra Miller
- Chiyoko Szlavnics
- Jocelyn Morelock
Recommended Reading:
- Francois-Bernard Mache, Music, Myth and Nature, or The Dolphins of Arion
Help composers find the podcast by giving The Portfolio Composer a review on iTunes!
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Whether he’s captivating an audience as a panelist at WonderCon or engaging ‘The 100’ (CW) fandom in weekly live tweets or Reddit AMAs, composer Tree Adams blends his passion for the art of storytelling with his ability to create ground-breaking genre scores for film and TV. Over the past 20 years, Tree has had the opportunity to collaborate with great talent in diverse styles.
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Composer Tree Adams discusses making your marketing personal, writing for the characters, and matching the tone of the story.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Storytelling through music
- Listening to the characters
- Misinterpreting the scene
- Matching the tone to the movie
- Having an opinion
- Hitting the story on the nose
- Getting gigs
- Having a team (even of two)
- Putting together a professional looking package
- Making it personal
- Make it easy for them to hear your music
- Specializing
- Get an assistant
Website:
- treeadams.com
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Sarah Hamilton is a music-lover, and specializes in digital distribution and strategy. Ditto Music is an international music company with 8 international offices and is headquartered in Liverpool, UK. Working with over 150 000 artists and labels, Ditto is committed to helping artists and labels expand their reach online by offering digital distribution, record label services, unique service 'record label in a box' to assist in the setup and management of record labels, and digital consulting services.
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Digital distribution and marketing specialist Sarah Hamilton of Ditto Music shares how digital distribution works and the revenue possibilities of getting on Spotify playlists.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Ditto Music
- Record label in a box
- Streaming
- Spotify
- Supporting artists & composers
- Digital aggregators
- Rising above the clutter
- Finding your audience
- Spotify audiences
- Meta data for concert music
- Building a direct relationship with your fans
- Starting a label
- Don't be afraid of streaming platforms
- Use the data
- Ask for opportunities
Website:
- dittomusic.com
- oneofone.com.au
Recommended Listening:
- Matt Corby, "Brother," on Into the Flame
- Matt Corby, Resolution
- Kardajala Kirridarra, Bardakurru Ngurra
Recommended Reading:
- Patti Smith, Just Kids
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On a twist of The Portfolio Composer's regular format this episode is from a recent Music Publishing Podcast episode where I was the host on Dennis Tobenski's show!
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Dennis Tobenski shares about his new music distribution platform for self-published composers, NewMusicShelf, and a great new call for scores he is running.
Call for Scores:
- NewMusicShelf call for scores: 2017 Art Song Anthologies
Website:
- newmusicshelf.com
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Sarah is an arts marketer, activist, and enthusiast who in 2015 left her 'day job' in arts administration to launch Goddess of Win Music Business Solutions. Goddess of Win provides business support to freelance composers—everything from filling out pesky vendor paperwork to fulfilling sales and rental orders to customers.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
Assistant to a conspicuous list of composers and entrepreneur Sarah Meals discusses the how and why you should hire an assistant.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- BCM International
- Becoming an assistant
- Going full time
- Seeing opportunity & taking it
- When to hire an assistant
- Managing revenue
- Different licenses
- Residencies
- Commissions
- Emails
- PR & branding
- Websites
- Sales
- Retailers
- Hiring an assistant
- Have a functioning website:
- Catalog
- Scores
- Recordings
- Contact
- Responding to emails quickly
- Keeping up on your social media
Website:
- goddessofwin.com
Recommended Listening:
- Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 2
Recommended Reading:
- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
- John Steinbeck, East of Eden
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This interview was originally released as Ep 117-David and Matthew Maslanka on Showing Up & Doing the Work.
David Maslanka is best known for his more than 40 works for wind ensemble. His music is deeply informed by meditative explorations of dream spaces. Matthew Maslanka is the owner and general manager of Maslanka Press. He publishes many of David Maslanka’s works and manages David's residencies and commissions.
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Composer David Maslanka and his son Matthew discuss the creation and operation of Maslanka Press and building your self-publishing business.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Self-publishing
- Showing up
- Taking it one step at a time
- Persistence
- Working like a demon
- Having faith in choosing a composing career
- The self-study Harvard MBA
- Follow the money
- Have a book keeper and accountant
- Getting back to people timely
- Making a good visual presentation
- Building a team
- Hiring an assistant
- Black Ribbon
- Sell, don't rent your music
- Asia Pacific Band Director's Association
- One person/director/performer at a time
- Maximizing your options
Website:
- davidmaslanka.com
- maslankapress.com
Recommended Listening:
- Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring
- Bela Barok, Concerto for Orchestra
- Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Le Cog d'or
- Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi
Recommended Reading:
- Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols
- Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections
- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Black Swan: Second Edition: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
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Matthew Curtis, Tenor, has performed around the world with internationally recognized choral ensemble such as Chanticleer, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Philharmonia Baroque, American Bach Soloists, and the Rose Ensemble. He is now the voice and vision behind ChoralTracks.com, the highest quality rehearsal tracks on the market. Since it's founding in 2012, the ChoralTracks.com catalog has grown to near 10,000 pieces of music. Matthew works with hundreds of choirs and ACDA/NafME choir festivals.
Join The Portfolio Composer community and support the creation of the platform on Patreon. Just $1/month to enable the creation of more great content to help you build your career!
In this episode Matthew Curtis of Choral Tracks discusses how composers can find opportunities if they learn to look for them.
Here's a demo recording Matthew created for me of my SATB w/piano and soloist piece, I Greet Thee. The text is by John Calvin.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Choral Tracks
- Seeing a need in the market
- Helping composers
- Recording all the parts
- Subscription services
- Learning the ropes of running a business
- Taking the non-traditional path
- Hard work pays off
- Getting laser focused
- More opportunities
- Know your market
- Marketing yourself & building a brand
- Work harder than anyone else
- Treat your work like you're running a business
- Save your money
Website:
- choraltracks.com
Recommended Listening:
- Franz Biebl, Ave Maria
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