Video of the Week: Leading Like the Great Conductors

Today's "Video of the Week" is brought to you by Orchestra Conductor, Itay Talgam, who shares with us the unique styles of six, 20th century conductors, while illustrating important lessons for all leaders. 

I'm not an orchestra conductor but I gleaned quite a few ideas about leadership in music that I think translates very well to many different situations.  The most important message I gleaned was to respect the musicians you are working with and create relationships built on respect. 

Enjoy!

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Video of the Week: Never Stop Singing

Today's "Video of the Week" is the opening of the PBS documentary celebrating Minnesota's rich choral legacy.  It explains the draw for singers everywhere to gather and share in song no matter the person's age or skill level. Enjoy! 

For more info check out  http://www.neverstopsinging.org/

Goal Setting & Making More Music in 2011

I am a list maker.  I make lists so I don't forget things and to keep myself organized and focused.  A couple years ago I made what I called the "Big List" that would include all my goals and ideas for my life as a professional musician.  I included unfinished projects, goals that I once had but wasn't sure if I could or wanted to accomplish and things that I felt that I should complete based on social conformity.

So this year I took that list and broke it up into four main areas:  Worship & Sacred Music, Music Recordings & Performances, Blogging & Music Website, and Music Fun & Enrichment.  I also trimmed the fat so to speak and took out things that didn't make sense for me to be doing right now or ever.  That took some courage but I am now happy with the result. 


Goals and Ideas for 2011

Worship & Sacred Music

-Find & Attend a Kansas City Area Taizé service

-Find out more about Emerging worship
-Video Tape Myself Leading Worship for resume building
-Reignite Kansas City/Raytown Taizé worship if possible
-Find a Worship Director / Church Music possition so that I can continue to use my skills

Music Recordings & Performances
-Record 1st Vocal Christmas CD

-Make a Children's Music CD to go along with E-book

-Record a Taize Music CD

-Make a Wedding & Sacred Music Sampler CD
-Find more ways to share music with others through local performances
-Work on Jazz and Pop Standard repetoire

Blogging & Music Website

-Add a Music Player on My Blog, Website and Facebook to showcase recorded works

-Finish rep list on biography page of website and blog
-Continue tweeking and making the site better.
-Stick to my weekly writing schedule and even prepare posts in advance
-Write my first e-book and learn how to share it.
-Grow my affiliates and sponsers by selling limited ad space

Music Fun & Enrichment
-Create a play-list of my favorite songs for my MP3 player

-Go out and listen to live Jazz in Kansas City

-Sing at a Piano Bar
-Go to the Kansas City Jazz Museum

-Buy a large conga type drum and take part in a drum circle


My next steps will be to list all the little things I need to do to accomplish the big items and create some deadlines.  So, every Saturday my Musical To-Do List posts will help me focus my actions and share with you what I am doing to achieve my goals for 2011.  I need the direction, extra motivation and accountability this will provide. 

What are some of your goals for 2011?  How are you bringing more music in your life?

A Music Director's Search

I have been without a choir for almost four years.  I fill in behind the conductor’s stand every once in awhile as a substitute but I miss the weekly rhythm of score prep and practicing pieces for rehearsal, designing a music plan and working with the choir that week for performance.  

I guess I feel I need to put this into words because lately the music I have been making has been far from a satisfactory experience.  I feel like the leadership that I currently sing under is uninspiring and quite frustrating.  Maybe this is coming from a place of bitterness.  I’m just not sure.  But I do know that a change is needed.  I feel that I am being held back and a little voice inside me wonders why I am still putting up with this mess.    

I am struggling with the fact that I am good at what I do and I am dedicated to making myself better every step of the way.  I have a God given talent to interpret music and work with a group of people to make it come to life.  I hold myself to a very high level of excellence but I am still not taken seriously because I don’t have “35 years of experience” or maybe because I am a woman or because I don’t hold tons of music degrees.  I am 28 years old.  How long is it going to take before someone finally gives me a chance to truly succeed?

There is a reason that in 2001 I opened my mail and found a flyer for a church music director position at my home church with an invitation to apply.  I have been called to this from the very beginning.  Every music experience I have had, every conductor I have sung with, every music class I have attended has prepared me for this.  That pastor could see my potential and that interviewing panel took a leap of faith and said yes to a 19 year old, freshman music student.  

I had an amazing time learning and growing as a musician and serving my church.  I was the closest to God that I have ever been bringing music to worship each week.  That chapter of my life ended after five and a half years simply because of life and the changes it brings.  I got married, had my first child and we moved to Kansas City to be closer to my husband’s employment.  I had to say goodbye.  One of the hardest things I have had to do.    

I have had my hopes up a few times since then when job openings would come up in the area and I would apply, each time praying that my application would be considered.  I got really close last year when I applied for the music director position at my new church home.  I was even told that I was the number one pick but that they wanted to widen their search before making a final decision.  I really wish that they hadn’t said anything because now I have to deal with that knowledge wondering why not me?  What made them the better choice?  What’s even more frustrating is that I have continued to stay on and sing knowing what I know.  

As 2010 draws to a close, I am reminded of my goals for the year and what things I would like to accomplish in 2011.  Can I spend another year on this path?  Do I even want to?  Do I need to start looking for another church that will better use me?  It is looking even more like I am going to have to create my own way if I want to really use my musical gifts.  I do have options and they will take a lot of energy on my part to get them going and the success rate is unknown.  I will be embarking on uncharted territory. 

Have you ever felt like you were at a major cross road in your life and were really unsure about your next steps?  How did you handle it?  I would love to hear your stories.    

Crazy Awesome Orchestra

This is a crazy awesome music experience. I think it speaks for it self. Enjoy!

Creating a Musical Vision for 2010

For the past month I have been working on my musical vision for myself in 2010.  Each year I try to organize my activities to better reflect the goals I have for myself for that year.  Not everything goes as planned and some tasks get rolled over but each year it helps me stay focused.  I feel doing this activity this year is even more important than ever before for several reasons. 

1. I'm 27 years old and want to make sure that before I hit 30 that I tie up current loose ends and finish any projects that I have left undone so far.  I would like to enter that next decade with a somewhat clean slate, ready for what comes next for me. 
   
2. Now that I have two children my time to do what I love seems to be getting shorter and shorter.  I have to make sure what I do spend my time on is worthwhile and truly helps me accomplish my goals.
3. Many different versions of the "Bucket List" have been showing up for me when I'm reading online.  I must be calling these to myself for some much needed reflection.
4. I have so much I want to accomplish as a musician that I am a little overwhelmed.  Organizing and prioritizing my ideas should help take the stress down a bit.   
   

For this post I thought I would focus on my brainstorming sessions with the many "Bucket Lists" I have found.  I ran across 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind and decided to start there.  This list is all over the place and got me thinking about life and how I want to live it.  Then I was off to Day Zero where you can "Plan.  Create.  Motivate. Achieve."    Day Zero is the home of the 1001 day project.  It challenges you to complete 101 tasks in a 1001 days.  The tasks in your customizable list must be specific and be clearly defined.  Each task must also be realistic and stretching.  At first I had a hard time thinking of 101 things that I wanted to accomplish but Day Zero gives you suggestions that really helped to get the ball rolling.  Here are a few of my music goals from my list at Day Zero.   

1Go see an Opera

5 Sing karaoke at a bar

36 Record 1st Vocal Christmas CD

37 Create a play-list of my favorite songs for my MP3 player

38 Create & Offer a Family Music Class for the studio

39 Offer Music for Little Mozarts Music Class for the studio

40 Audition for the Kansas City Symphony Chorus

41Send info to Kansas City Chorale to audition

49 Record a Taize Music CD

50 Record a Sacred Music CD

61 Attend several live music events

66 Go to the Kansas City Jazz Museum

67 Go out and listen to live Jazz

68 Video Tape Me Leading Worship

71Sing at a Piano Bar

72 Record Wedding & Church Music Sample CD

73 Practice & Perform my 2nd Solo Recital

74 write 4 articles a month for my blog

75 Find out more about Emerging worship

76Attend a KC Taize service

78 Start my own Kansas city choir or ensemble

79 Book myself for Christmas 2010 music gigs related to my CD

80 Hold First Christmas Winter Concert w/ Choir-Ensemble

81 Hold First Late Spring Concert w/ Choir Ensemble

82 Hold a Spirituals Concert during black history month or MLK Day w/ choir ensemble

83 Reignite Kansas City/Raytown Taize for Advent 2010

90 Hold auditions for my choir/ensemble May 2010

91Have Choir Ensemble retreat August 2010

94 Hold German Leider Recital w/ Don Forsythe

97Add Music Player on Website to showcase recorded works

98 Finish rep list on biography

100 Prepare an audition notebook w/ varied selections

This is such a great way to keep track of personal goals of any kind.  I am looking forward to checking some of these things off my list.  I encourage you to take some time this week and make a list of all the things you have yet to accomplish on your 2010 "Bucket List".  Then make a plan for your year.  Research what it would take to complete some of your goals and break them down so you can manage the steps.  Stay confident and enjoy the journey.  You will reap some amazing rewards.