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Building Your Career in Music

Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music

Leah Waldo

This course shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist. We’ll cover everything from developing your unique identity as an artist and how to lead a band all the way to planning and recording your first independent record with the help of crowdfunding.

The course curriculum is modeled from the real-world experience of Leah Waldo (also known as the emerging country artist, Elisa Smith) and features interviews with industry executives, artists, producers, and engineers — all designed to help you navigate the music industry.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome!

Welcome to Building Your Career in Music: Developing a Brand and Funding Your Music! Before you begin the course, we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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Designed for aspiring musical artists with little to no prior experience in the music industry

Led by two instructors with experience in the music industry, Leah Waldo and Elisa Smith

Covers practical strategies for developing an artist identity, leading a band, and recording an independent record

Provides insight into crowdfunding strategies to support music projects

Course curriculum is modeled on real-world experiences and features industry professional interviews

Suitable for those seeking guidance in launching their career in the music industry, particularly in the realm of country music

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Reviews summary

Career building for music artists

According to learners, this course offers a practical and comprehensive guide for musicians looking to develop their career. Students particularly praise the insights into branding and the step-by-step approach to crowdfunding, finding the information directly applicable. While the course provides a strong overview, some reviewers feel certain topics could benefit from more in-depth exploration. The inclusion of industry interviews is often highlighted as a valuable positive.

Excellent starting point for new or emerging artists.

"As someone just starting to think about my music as a career, this course was the perfect foundation."

"Ideal for artists transitioning from hobbyist to trying to make a living from music."

"Gave me a solid understanding of the key components needed to build a music career from the ground up."

Interviews with professionals add significant value.

"The interviews with industry executives and artists were fantastic. It added a layer of real-world perspective."

"Hearing from actual producers and engineers gave me insights I couldn't get elsewhere."

"I loved the interviews; they made the advice feel more grounded and credible."

Guidance on artist identity and branding is strong.

"The module on developing your brand was a real eye-opener. It helped me define my artistic identity better."

"Understanding my artistic 'IVI' (Identity, Vision, Intention) provided a crucial foundation for everything else."

"I appreciated the tips on social media and networking specifically tailored for musicians."

Detailed and helpful information on crowdfunding.

"The section on crowdfunding was invaluable. I feel equipped to plan and launch my own campaign now."

"Getting a breakdown of managing a crowdfunding campaign was exactly what I needed."

"The planning steps for funding a record were very clear and easy to follow."

"Learning about crowdfunding as a way to gain support and funding was a key takeaway."

Focuses on actionable steps for artists' careers.

"The advice on building a brand felt incredibly actionable. I could immediately apply what I learned to my own presence."

"This course laid out practical steps for crowdfunding that demystified the process. It didn't just talk theory, it gave a plan."

"I finished feeling like I had a roadmap for my music career, not just abstract ideas."

"Learned strategies for managing my band and treating it more like a sustainable business."

Some topics could be explored in greater detail.

"While great, I wished some sections, like detailed budgeting or specific marketing tactics beyond social media, went deeper."

"Felt like an excellent overview, but intermediate or advanced artists might need supplementary resources for certain topics."

"Some of the business aspects were covered, but I felt they could have expanded on financial planning more."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Building Your Career in Music: Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music with these activities:

Follow tutorials on music production software

Show steps

You'll be using music production software in this course, so getting comfortable with the basics ahead of time will make you more efficient and help you learn the course material faster.

Browse courses on Music Production

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Choose one piece of music production software and stick with that for now.
Look for beginner tutorials on how to use that software on YouTube and follow along.
Don't feel discouraged if you have to repeat the tutorials or need to start over. Learning a new software will take time.

Create a playlist of your favorite songs

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Creating a playlist of your favorite songs will help you identify your musical tastes and preferences. This will be helpful when you're trying to develop your own unique sound as an artist.

Browse courses on Music Appreciation

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Choose a streaming service or app that you like.
Create a new playlist.
Add songs to your playlist that you enjoy listening to.

Write and record a demo song

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Independent musicians need to be able to write, record, and produce their own songs. Getting some practice before taking this course will strengthen your abilities and increase your confidence.

Browse courses on Songwriting

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Brainstorm ideas for a song.
Write the lyrics and melody.
Record a demo of the song using your music production software.

Five other activities

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Review Music Theory For Dummies

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Reviewing the basics of music theory will improve your grasp of key musical concepts that the course assumes you know and will touch on occasionally.

View Piano & Keyboard All-in-One For Dummies (For... on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters to grasp the basics of notes, scales, and chords.
Review any chapters after that that cover topics you feel shaky on.

Volunteer at a local music venue

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Volunteering at a local music venue is a great way to get involved in the music community and meet other musicians. It's also a great way to learn about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the music industry.

Browse courses on Music Industry

Show steps

Contact local music venues and ask if they need volunteers.
Offer to help with tasks such as setting up, taking down, or working the door.
Attend the events and help out as needed.

Attend a music industry networking event

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The music industry is a close-knit community, and networking is essential for success. Attending industry events will help you connect with other musicians, producers, and industry professionals.

Browse courses on Music Industry

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Research upcoming music industry events in your area.
Prepare a brief elevator pitch about yourself and your music.
Attend the event and introduce yourself to as many people as possible.
Follow up with any contacts you make after the event.

Review The Art of Music Production by David Battino

Show steps

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the music production process, from tracking to mixing and mastering. It's a great way to learn the basics and improve your production skills.

Show steps

Read the first few chapters to get a good grounding in the basics of music production.
Focus on the chapters that cover the areas you're most interested in, such as recording, mixing, or mastering.

Contribute to an open-source music production project

Show steps

Contributing to an open-source music production project is a great way to learn about the technical side of music production and get involved in the open-source community.

Browse courses on Music Production

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Find an open-source music production project that you're interested in.
Read the project's documentation and tutorials.
Identify an area where you can contribute to the project.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Building Your Career in Music: Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Music Producer

A Music Producer is responsible for assisting and guiding other musicians in recording, mixing, and mastering their songs. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Producers because it discusses the role of the producer and the very special relationship that exists between producers and musicians.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Recording Engineer

Recording Engineers work with musicians to capture and record live performances. This course may be useful for aspiring Recording Engineers because it covers planning and recording your first independent record with the help of crowdfunding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recording Engineer

Musician

Musicians perform music using a variety of instruments. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Musicians because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musician

Singer

Singers perform music using their voices. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Singers because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Singer

Songwriter

Songwriters compose music and write lyrics. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Songwriters because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Artist Manager

Artist Managers work with musicians to develop and execute their careers. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Artist Managers because it covers developing your unique identity as an artist and how to lead a band all the way to planning and recording your first independent record with the help of crowdfunding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Artist Manager

Music Educator

Music Educators work with students to teach them about music and develop their musical skills. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Educators because it discusses the importance of having a strong sense of your identity, vision, and intention.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator

Music Therapist

Music Therapists use music to improve the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of their clients. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Therapists because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Music Journalist

Music Journalists write about music for a variety of publications. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Journalists because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Journalist

Music Librarian

Music Librarians organize and manage music collections for a variety of institutions. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Librarians because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Librarian

Music Promoter

Music Promoters work with musicians to promote their music and organize concerts and other events. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Promoters because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Promoter

Music Publicist

Music Publicists work with musicians to promote their music and manage their public image. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Publicists because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Publicist

Music Director

Music Directors work with musicians to plan and conduct musical performances. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Directors because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director

Music Executive

Music Executives work with musicians to develop and execute their careers. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Executives because it covers developing your unique identity as an artist and how to lead a band all the way to planning and recording your first independent record with the help of crowdfunding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Executive

Music Industry Professional

Music Industry Professionals work in a variety of roles within the music industry. This course may be useful for current and aspiring Music Industry Professionals because it shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Industry Professional

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Building Your Career in Music: Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music.

Music Business Handbook and Career Guide

Save

A classic book for musicians wanting to learn about the business of music. Covers everything from copyright, contracts and marketing to touring and fan engagement. Often used as a textbook and recommended for any musician taking their music career more seriously.

Building Your Career in Music

Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Career building for music artists

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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