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ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:听A Thanksgiving Potpourri
The Economic Crisis & the Creative Class听Richard Florida summarizes a fascinating study of unemployment in creative industries vs. the economy at-large
Museums bring dance into their exhibits听How might we apply this to music? Hmmmm鈥�..
Tony Woodcock (President of NEC) asks: 鈥淪o what if the [orchestra] crisis isn鈥檛 really about money?鈥�Read this article听听猫听听
ENTREPRENEURIAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK:听Navigating the Gray Areas鈥�
I came across an interesting blog this week by a guy named Tom Hood. In it Hood said that the mark of a true leader is the ability to navigate through the gray areas of life. I liked this thought; it resonated with me. See, we often look at life in binary terms 鈥� right/wrong, good/bad, or, as we just experienced in the election, red state/blue state. But the truth is that most of life takes place somewhere in the middle of these polarities (we saw this in the election, too, where when one breaks down political affiliation by county and population density, one quickly sees most of the country as various shades of purple 鈥� red & blue mixed together). These middle points, these points between poles, are the so-called 鈥済ray areas:鈥� places of ambiguity, where the clear choice is anything but clear, and where there are sometimes compelling arguments on both sides of the issue. Hood was making the point that it鈥檚 in these times that we show our true character as leaders (and, I would argue, our true character as individuals).
I often wonder about musicians in this regard, because our musical studies have a coupon for creating the false sense that things are always cut-and-dried: either you kacked that note or you didn鈥檛; either you were sharp or you were on-pitch; either your rushed that triplet or you didn鈥檛. In our quest for technical excellence, I think we can lose sight of the fact that these right/wrong elements are only the beginning building blocks of our artistry. Making听music,听is so much more: the difference between a great artist and one who is merely technically proficient lies in the ability of the artist to take us into those gray places and tell us something about what we find there. The subtle turn of a phrase, a shift in color, the rubato that is听just right鈥hese are things that make music worth experiencing (whether one is a performer or a listener).
A dear friend of mine used to say, 鈥淭he value of a good education is the development of a healthy appreciation for the ambiguous.鈥� What are you doing in your education to develop such an appreciation? Are you engaging your studies with an open, inquiring mind, always considering alternative views and challenging your own assumptions? As you practice your art, are you daring to go outside your comfort zone and explore new possibilities 鈥� even if you don鈥檛 know where they鈥檙e leading? As you look ahead to your career goals, are you open to avenues you hadn鈥檛 previously considered, accepting the fact that sometimes what might seem like a diversion is actually an opportunity? The entrepreneurial mindset teaches us that embracing ambiguity can often be the gateway to new possibilities we could never otherwise see. So rather than shying away from those gray areas, dare to dive into them: you just mind uncover wonders you never imagined.
(Now, go back and read that blog by Tony Woodcock. No really.)
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And without further adieu鈥�
The Video of the Week!
Keep those videos coming鈥�
For some reason, this gave me uncontrollable giggle fits鈥� Thanks to Leanne Hampton for sharing!
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Once again we鈥檒l put our discussion of 鈥渃ommoditization vs. value鈥� on hold while we take some time to answer a few questions regarding the听New Venture Challenge:听what is it and how does it work and why should you care about it?
What is the New Venture Challenge (NVC)?听 The NVC is the campus-wide venture plan competition. Teams of students from disciplines across campus compete amongst themselves in 鈥渢racks鈥� (Music, Clean Tech, I.T., and Social Impact) and then the winners of each track compete in a Finals competition for the grand prize. Music Track winners receive a听$3,000 prize; the Grand Prize winner receives up to听$10,000 more in prizes听and other perks.
What is a Venture Plan?听 A venture plan (also commonly called a 鈥渂usiness plan鈥�) is an outline of any sort of operation: a for-profit business, all manner of non-profit organizations, an ensemble, a music festival鈥nything can be a venture. The plan describes the venture (what it does, who it鈥檚 for, how it operates) and outlines a plan for launching and sustaining it.
Do I have to have a plan already in order to participate?听NO.听In fact, that鈥檚 the whole point of the NVC: to guide you through the process of developing your idea and creating a plan to make it happen. So at this stage, a mere notion of something you鈥檝e been thinking of doing is enough!
That sounds intimidating. What sorts of help will I have? That鈥檚 the other point of the NVC: it鈥檚 not just the competition (which doesn鈥檛 happen until next Spring). It鈥檚 workshops, mentoring, lectures, and practice sessions, all designed to help you develop your ideas, polish your plan, and present it convincingly. You鈥檒l have lots of help & resources to do this 鈥� including other students, if you decide to form a team.
I dunno鈥鈥檓 still not sure鈥μ�You don鈥檛 have to commit to participate in the competition until January.听Then come visit Prof. Nytch and let鈥檚 talk about it!
The Entrepreneurship Center for Music 鈥⑻�Jeffrey Nytch, DMA, Director
Email:听jeff.nytch@colorado.edu听听鈥⑻齇ffice Hours: T/Th: 9-11 a.m.听 W: 2-4 p.m.听鈥� or by appointment
Entrepreneurship Wednesdays: 5-6:30 p.m., C-113听 鈥⑻� Follow us on听
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OPPORTUNITY UPBEAT!听Nov. 13, 2012
The Opportunity UPBEAT! is your weekly listing of job postings and other professional opportunities that come the way of the ECM. Check this space out for jobs, volunteer opportunities, internships, grants, festival auditions, and more!
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL听offers听partial travel funding听for graduate students to present research findings at meetings or conferences outside Colorado. The grant application for travel occurring 1/1/13-6/30/13 will open on November 15, 2012 at 9:00am. Funding goes very quickly, so be sure to apply early! The link to the application will be available here:听听
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LANDAU MUSIC听is now hiring听musicians to perform on cruise ships. Destinations include: Europe, Australia, Caribbean, Hawaii, etc. Free Room/Food/Travel. Production shows (Broadway, Pop Review), Headliner shows ,Top 40 sets , Jazz Combo sets, Big Band sets, and more. Our auditions are done online and we are seeking听experienced musicians who are are: 1) Solid readers, 2) Proficient in all styles, and 3) Have a great attitude.听Positions are currently available for听the following instruments: 听Keys, Drums, Bass, Guitar, Trumpet, and Sax. For more information, contact Steve Such, Music Manager:听steve@landaumusic.com听858.755.3320,
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THE PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL is now accepting applications for summer study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. For more information, visit their website:听
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ATLANTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL 2013 FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM听is now accepting applications.听Submission forms can be completed directly online at the official Atlantic Music Festival website:听听听AMF Fellowship provides complete financial coverage of tuition, housing, and meals during the four weeks of residency.听
The early submission deadline to submit for the U.S. and International applicants is December 1, 2012.听Information is also available through the Atlantic Music Festival by email to听admissions@atlanticmusicfestival.org, or by regular mail to Atlantic Music Festival, 228 Park Ave S #31975, New York, NY 10003.听For more information, please visit us online at听
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THE COLORADO STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION is currently seeking a Fund development intern to help develop a tuition assistance scholarship fund for pre-college music study. The goal of the fund, once established, is to partially pay music tuition costs for promising young students who cannot afford music lessons. For a full description of this opportunity, stop by the ECM bulletin board and get in touch with Professor Cremaschi.
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INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE!听The ECM offers a broad range of internship opportunities for students, ranging from positions with non-profit arts groups to for-profit businesses. Internships can be for academic credit or not, and can often be customized to suit your schedule and interests. If you鈥檙e interested, stop by the ECM office and we鈥檒l talk about the options!
