Information for Current Students

The "How-To's" to Grant-Writing in Music Schools

If you plan to be a faculty member at a music school, you’ll need to know about grants. Join MSU Community Music School grant writer Sarah Bohan and Professor Richard Sherman to learn how to craft a grant that’s sure to pay off.

Tuesday, January 17th, 6:00-7:15 PM
Music Building Room 145

Running Start Live Pitch

Come support your classmates as the finalists to this year’s competition share their innovative projects for a chance to get funding to bring them to life.

Sunday, January 22nd, 3:30-5:30 PM
Hart Recital Hall

New Opera: Creation, Commission, and Performance

We love the classics, but what about the new shows? Cori Ellison shares her experience with new opera and why it’s so important to the opera world.

Offstage Roles: Opportunities at Opera Houses with Cori Ellison

The Gap Year(s). They can be intimidating, but they can also help develop your career. Discover how to get involved behind the scenes in the opera house and build your career while developing your voice.

Wednesday, January 25th, 5:00-6:00 PM
Hart Recital Hall

The After-Hours Entrepreneur: Freelancing Smarts

Join Professor Justin Emerich to dissect the musical, technical, and promotion skills you need to be successful as a freelancer, and the differences (and similarities) between the broadway, orchestra, chamber music, and studio music circuits. Professor Emerich has played with the Canadian Brass, Pink Martini, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Broadway shows such as Kiss Me Kate and 42nd Street, and more.

Thursday, February 2nd, 11:30AM-12:20PM
Music Practice Building Room 102

Developing Audiences for Classical Music

They say classical music is dying, but is it really? James Roe, executive director of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, visits the College of Music to share strategies on how to build - and keep - your audience.

Tuesday, February 7th, 4:30-5:30 PM
Music Practice Building Room 219

Careers in Arts Administration

Sometimes we forget that there’s much more to the arts than just performing. James Roe takes you behind the sound to learn about careers in arts administration that set the framework for the performing arts.

Wednesday, February 8th, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Music Building Room 245

Operating in the Black: Business Models of Orchestras

Join James Roe as he makes "cents" of the financial workings of large ensembles and how they can impact your career as a performer. 

Wednesday, February 8th, 5:00-6:15 PM
Hart Recital Hall

ACDA Workshop: Conducting Musical Theater and Community Choir

Young alumni, including Meghan Eldred, Brittany Schmitt, and Phil Johnson discuss local conducting roles and how they can shape your career.

Sunday, February 12th, 6:00-7:00 PM
Music Building Room 206

Engaging Communities with Your Music: An Entrepreneur's Perspective

This session will introduce students to the possibilities of a musical career that engages with participants in a variety of settings using an entrepreneurial model. Using first-hand examples of musicking in educational, community, social service and health contexts, presenter Kathy Armstrong will share the rewards and challenges of creating a career path that reflects your passion and skill set. Discussion topics will include collaboration, personal branding, social innovation, time management and compensation. There will be opportunities for questions as well as a discussion of some resources.

Tuesday, February 21st, 6:00-7:15 PM
Music Building Room 145

Composing for the Commercial Music Industry: Lessons for Classical Music

Composer Julio Escrivan presents his ideas on how the commercial music industry can help inform how classical composers work in the classical music industry.

Wednesday, February 22nd, 5:30-7:00 PM
Music Building Room 207

Music Education Policy, Politics, and Activism

Join the College of Music Running Start Program and Music Education area for a music education policy workshop with Michigan Senator Curtis Hertel and Dr. Mitchell Robinson. Sen. Hertel has been a great friend to the music education community here in Michigan, and was the sponsor of SB718: Ensuring Equitable Access to Elementary Music Instruction for Michigan’s Children, a bill requiring that music instruction be provided to all children in grades K-5 in the state’s schools. The workshop will begin with 40-45 minutes of discussion between Sen. Hertel and Dr. Robinson on the following topics: working definitions for education policy jargon and their application to music educators (e.g. vouchers, schools of choice, charter schools, Common Core, teacher evaluation, "failing school", etc); survey of how school music programs are funded (state v. local policy), who has the power to change these policies, country/statewide comparisons, and recent changes to those policies; possible changes with the new Presidential administration (including how much power the Secretary of Education has over state/local policy, how long these changes might take, what can be done, and her policy implications for music.) Following the presentation, there will be ample discussion time to tackle the question, “what can be done as a student or as an educator to advocate for music education in the public schools,” as well as general questions. 

Sunday, February 26th, 6:00-7:15 PM
Music Practice Building Room 103

10 Things I Wish I Learned in Music School

John Wittmann, Director of Artist Relations at Yamaha, meets with top artists around the US on a regular basis, talking about the classical and jazz music field. Don't miss this chance to hear him condense all the information he learns from artists every day into his top ten tips for current music students.

Tuesday, March 28th, 6:00-7:15 PM
Hart Recital Hall

Ask a Professional: John Wittmann

Sign up for a 30 minute session with Yamaha's Director of Artist Relations John Wittmann to discuss solo/chamber careers, music education initiatives, clinics, percussion, and college faculty careers.

Sign up outside MPB 202.

Tuesday, March 28th, 7:30-9:00 PM
Wednesday, March 29th, 10:00-12:30 PM
Music Building Green Room

Finding Your Own Career Path

Join MSU alum Arthur Hanlon as he discusses forging your own career path and how his own journey took him from classical music to the top of the Latin Billboard charts.

Friday, March 31st, 12:40-1:30 PM
Cook Recital Hall

Ask a Professional: Arthur Hanlon

Chart topping pianist/composer/arranger and Billboard, Latin Grammy and Emmy-nominee Arthur Hanlon is one of the most recognizable name in Latin instrumental music today. As a Sony Music recording artist, Arthur has recorded and performed with superstars like Marc Anthony, Natalie Cole, Enrique Iglesias, Laura Pausini, Juanes and Bernie Williams among others. Sign up for a 30 minute coaching session to talk with him about branding, crossover to commercial markets, signing with major labels like Universal, and the latin scene in NYC and Miami.​

Sign up outside of MPB 202

Friday, March 31st, 2:00-5:00 PM
Music Building Green Room

Private Studio Prep

Interested in starting your own studio, now or in the future? Join Professor Derek Polischuk and Christine Beamer for a working group session that will jumpstart your preparation for starting your own studio. You will leave with: 1) a rough draft of a studio policies document and 2) a template for a recruitment plan for your instrumental area. Whether you're ready to launch a studio after graduation or just want to take on a few students after school at a local high school, we can help! We'll provide you dinner, just bring a notebook and come prepared to brainstorm.

Sunday, April 9th, 7:00-8:00 PM
Music Building Room 120