Music Publishing Podcast

Composer Alexandra Gardner (Ep. 9) returns to talk about what should and shouldn't go into your composer website. Links: Alexandra Gardner Dale Trumbore: Seven Things to Remove from Your Website DaleTrubmore.com Caroline Shaw Agata Zubel Harold Meltzer

Kevin Clark is a philanthropy consultant, product manager, and composer working to help artists thrive. He is the brains behind the New Music USA project platform, and speaks and writes about arts economics, technology in the arts and non-profit worlds, and philanthropy. During the course of our conversation, we talked about some of the interesting up-and-coming organizations that he consults for, making art sustainable, Baumol's cost disease, and fundraising with Kickstarter.

In addition to his work as a composer, Jonathan Newman is the Director of Composition & Coordinator of New Music at the Shenandoah Conservatory; he was also a founding member of the composer consortium BCM International. During the course of our conversation, we talked about writing for educational ensembles, the history and impact of BCM International, and being "pigeonholed". Links: JonathanNewman.com Jonathan on Facebook Jonathan on Twitter BCM International BCM Forums

Anne Lanzilotti is a violist, composer, and fierce advocate of contemporary music. She is a member of The Rhythm Method string quartet, co-founder for Kalikolehua — El Sistema Hawai'i, and a member of the string faculty at NYU Steinhardt, and she created "Shaken Not Stuttered", an online resource of extended techniques for strings used in Andrew Norman's orchestral and chamber works. During the course of our conversation, she and I talked about collaboration, the joys and challenges of commissioning, and new music advocacy. Links: Anne Lanzilotti Shaken Not Stuttered The Rhythm Method Kalikolehua — El Sistema Hawai'i

For this week's episode, I sat down to chat with David and Matthew Maslanka. David is a renowned composer, often known for his extensive catalog of works for wind ensemble; and Matthew, David's son, is a euphonist and engraver, and handles the operations for publishing David's music. During the course of the conversation, we talked about the trajectory of David's career and the important changes he made and risks he took along the way, how Matthew handles publishing David's works, and the importance of being true to your music and yourself.

In her first appearance on the show, exactly 30 episodes ago, Dale Trumbore mentioned How to Go On, her secular requiem commissioned by Choral Arts Initiative. She explained the plan to premiere and record the piece with the ensemble, and promised to be back to talk about the process. So this week, she and CAI Artistic Director Brandon Elliott join me to talk about the process of the preparation and recording of the album: from the project's genesis through fundraising, marketing recording, and post-production, up to the impending release this month.

Joshua Gersen is, in addition to being a composer, the Musical Director of the New York Youth Symphony and Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic. An advocate for new music, he helps to oversee the NYYS's annual composer competition, which awards commissions to three composers under 30. During the course of our conversation,w e talked about the role of youth orchestras, the nature of orchestral writing, and the annual NYYS composition competition. Links: Joshua Gersen New York Youth Symphony

Scott Tegge, tubist for the Gaudete Brass, knows how to hustle, and he's genuinely an awesome guy. We met at the "composer hang" coordinated by Frank J. Oteri during the Midwest Clinic, and I knew right away that he had to be a guest on the show. In addition to all the work he does for the quintet, he also teaches an insane amount, and is in the process of creating a new non-profit to help generate more opportunities for brass players. During the course of our conversation, a few of the things we talked about were: collaborations (both good and bad), having diversified revenue, and knowing how to fundraise effectively.

William J. Lackey is one of the many cool people I met at the Midwest Clinic. In addition to his work as a composer, Billy has been the Administrative Director at the Mizzou New Music Initiative, and served on the Boards of the newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, the Odyssey Chamber Music Series, and the Kansas City Electronic Music and Arts Alliance. He's currently a Vice President of Programs at the American Composers Forum, and he brings all of the skills he learned in these various positions to bear in his composing career. During the course of our conversation, we chatted about transformative teachers, learning administrative skills, and a host of opportunities available for composers through the American Composers Forum. Links: William J. Lackey Soundcloud American Composers Forum Mizzou New Music Initiative & International Composers Festival

In Part 2 of my conversation with Frank J. Oteri, we talk about reconciling different genres, thinking about audiences and their (lack of) preconceptions, and amateurism.

To say that Frank J. Oteri has a multi-faceted career in music is a gross understatement. In addition to his own work as a composer, he has been the Co-Editor for NewMusicBox since it was created in 1999, where he writes and reports on all manner of topics relating to the realm of new music, and he bears the unique title of Composer Advocate at New Music USA. He works tirelessly on behalf of composers in the US and abroad, and has a breadth and depth of knowledge of living composers and their works that is, quite simply, staggering. I've been friends with Frank and his wife Trudy Chan (Ep. 25) for years, and it's always a joy to hang out and chat with either of them. So for this week, Frank and I sat down with a bottle of wine, and talked for over two hours! Rest assured, I've split the conversation into two parts so that the second half will come out next week. In Part 1 of this lengthy conversation, we talk about pushing artistic boundaries, the nature of "originality", and what it means to be an advocate f

Composer Reena Esmail (ReenaEsmail.com) joins Dennis to discuss a range of topics, including being a woman composer and a composer of color.

After several weeks of emailing to set up this episode, Stacy Garrop and I met in person at The Midwest Clinic, and had a wonderful time getting to know one another between Clinic events. A few days after I returned to NYC, we sat down for this conversation. Stacy's a great composer, and I had the pleasure of hearing her fantastic brass quintet Legends of Olympus performed by the Gaudete Brass while I was in Chicago. During the course of our conversation, we talk about: The Midwest Clinic Planning for conferences Writing music for different levels of ability Email newsletters Having advocates for your music Consistency in sending your email newsletters Being shy Stepping into a more outgoing persona Reaching out to new ensembles Formality and proper forms of address Tailoring your bio to the occasion Sending emails at the appropriate time Going freelance full-time The potential pitfalls of being a freelancer Planning your freelance finances Assessing your tolerance for risk Links: Stacy Garrop Composer Inkl

I'm joined this week by a number of friends and colleagues to break down The Midwest Clinic, which we all just attended – most of us for the first time. Trudy Chan returns to the show, then Frank Oteri (Trudy's husband, and the founder/co-editor of NewMusicBox) joins the conversation, then Sean Perrin of the Clarineat podcast and Garrett Hope (the Justin Timberlake to MPP's SNL) have a nice chat about our first experiences at the conference. In short: it's HUGE, it's overwhelming for a first-timer, and it's an amazing opportunity for composers and for musicians of all stripes to network and to explore a wealth of music, most of it new. Links: The Midwest Clinic Clarineat with Sean Perrin

After we spoke in Episode 19, Scott mentioned that we should have looked at one of my previous NMUSA Project Grant applications as an example to help other applicants, and I immediately started kicking myself for not thinking of that earlier. So this week, that's exactly how we start the episode – we look through two of my previous applications (screen-capped below). Then we go on to look at a few applications from the String Orchestra of Brooklyn (with the permission and at the behest of Ep. 23 guest Emily Bookwalter), as well as a broad look at some previously-awarded projects. It's a great talk, and I absolutely learned a TON in the process. On a personal note: great job to all of you who have been emailing Scott and his team about your applications after he was on the show earlier this Fall. That's exactly what I was hoping for, and exactly what we all need to do to make our applications better! Scroll down for screencaps and audio samples from the applications that Scott and I talk about. Links: The Port

Jay Venute is the wit and talent behind Jerk Birds and the webcomic Doodle Park. He's also a very close friend, a regular listener to the show despite not being a musician, and a constant sounding board for my myriad harebrained ideas. This week, we commemorate the six month anniversary of the show by talking about how it came to be, the trials and tribulations of all the behind-the-scenes machinations, and the various lessons I've learned along the way. We also spend time talking about our artistic common ground, showing appreciation, support systems, and the importance of being publicly vulnerable. Links: Jerk Birds Doodle Park Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Freelancer's Survival Guide The Portfolio Composer Garrett Hope

Angela Myles Beeching, author of the well-known book Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music, has created and run entrepreneurship programs in a number of major music schools throughout the country, and now is a full-time career consultant for working musicians. This week, she joins me to talk about her work with musicians, and some tips for composers and performers. Also, Angela has made a very generous offer to the MPP community: between now and December 14, 2016, she is offering a free 30-minute career consultation! Just email her at Angela@BeyondTalentConsulting.com, and mention that you heard her here. During the course of our conversation, we touched on: The perceptions of entrepreneurship Using entrepreneurial skills appropriately Teaching the entrepreneurial "mentality" vs. concrete skills Listening to your critical voice Time management Setting up creative blocks Forming habits Setting a pre-creative ritual Minimizing distractions during creative time Being in a space conducive to writi

Trudy Chan has had a multifaceted career in music. The former Senior Manager of Promotion at Boosey & Hawkes, Trudy now heads her own boutique composer management company, and works as a collaborative pianist, most notably as one half of the Cheah Chan Duo, which puts on six concerts of art song and piano music each season. Trudy and I have been friends for years, and we've had the pleasure of performing together several times. During the course of our conversation, we touched on: Friendship as the basis for working relationships Working for a traditional publisher Approaching performers and ensembles Doing your research The Virtue of Patience Being judicious in mailing materials Preparing for conferences The importance of showing up The dance of building relationships Business partners Some advantages and disadvantages of traditional publishing Submission tips Program notes Follow-up emails Black Tea Music The differences between promotion and publicity Links: Black Tea Music Cheah Chan Duo

My friend and fellow podcaster – and MPP Superfriend – Garrett Hope is back this week to talk with me about an idea that's not super-well-known within the music community, but has been helping artists, professionals, and small business owners for nearly a century: Mastermind Groups. Garrett and I are members of a small mastermind group of music podcasters and bloggers, and it's in large part thanks to this group of wonderful musicians that I've continued to improve this show over the past few months. What is a mastermind? Let Garrett explain it to you in this week's episode, where we discuss the benefits of creating a group of peer mentors, how to gracefully accept criticism, being accountable, and building a base of support. And head on over to Garrett's show The Portfolio Composer, where I'm this week's guest: Episode 99 – just before Garrett's landmark 100th episode! Links: Garrett Hope The Portfolio Composer Napoleon Hill: The Law of Success Napoleon Hill: Think and Grow Rich