I am in the process of finalizing the reading list for my course next semester at the Yale School of Music on “Creating Sustainable Careers in the Arts” and am including Ben Zander’s TED Talk on Music and Passion. TED Talks originated from a conference with the world’s thought leaders in Technology, Entertainment and Design around the theme of “ideas worth spreading”. The talks have broadened in scope to include inspirations voices that anyone can access for free online on the ted.com website. I have chosen this particular talk because not only it is an inspiration for today's conservatory students to hear one of the world's great proponents of classical music but also because it contains some powerful leadership lessons that transcend music and apply to all areas of life.
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Horn Player and Manhattan School of Music Student
"[Career Planning for Music Entrepreneurs] was a fantastic workshop. In many ways, I wish that the topics covered in your seminar were part of the core curriculum for conservatory training. For musicians, self-esteem is closely related to artistic success which is in turn deeply intertwined with successful artistic endeavors. Goal-setting strategies, project planning, asking the key questions which help to unlock hidden information--- these are the skills necessary for building a platform of success.
I thought your seminar was a fresh look at how artists, and specifically musicians can do this. I was particularly interested how you were able to blend aspects of the disciplined-black-and-white corporate world with the artistic needs of musicians. Your advice was direct and pertinent, without being harsh and cold. It created a sense of possibility and enablement, which surprisingly started an ebb and flow of ideas in my mind, even while you were speaking. I was compelled to start jotting down ideas as the seminar was going on.
I look forward to working with you in the future, this is exactly the kind of devil's advocate, brain-picking, and support I need to see my upcoming projects into reality."
— John-Morgan B, New York, NY
legal analyst at major nyc financial institution
Where can I even begin to describe how much Astrid has helped me. I met her when I was beginning my final semester of college. I was unsure of what I wanted out of the next few years; she talked me through each thought I had until I knew exactly what I wanted. I was unsure of how to get what I wanted; she talked me through how to best present myself to potential employers and prepped me for every question I might be asked. Because of my sessions with Astrid, I was able to walk into every interview prepared and confident.
By providing a calming, judgment-free environment for me to reflect on what my hopes and dreams were, Astrid allowed me to focus on my future in a way I had not been able to before. It wasn’t always easy but she stuck with me until I knew exactly what I wanted for my future: two years from now, five years from now, ten years from now, and twenty years from now. My goals may very well change, but because of the skills I have learned from Astrid I know I will be able to apply myself to recognize what I want and go after it.
Not only was she so instrumental in helping me discover a career path that worked for me, I left every meeting with her feeling more in control and more hopeful about my future; in short feeling much happier. Astrid is a wonderful woman and every one she works with is the better for it – I know I am.
— Kate K., New York, NY
Composer
Astrid has turned around the way I look at my career in the most extraordinary way. I used to think that the professional part of what I do was very separate from the creative and deeply personal aspects of being a composer. Going after professional opportunities to get my music out there felt to me like a very daunting task--one that I found a little distasteful because it felt like "selling myself." Astrid really helped me realize that building a career has to come from the most genuine part of myself--in the same way as building a piece. With this understanding, the professional world looks much less scary to me now, and I'm able to reach out to my professional network with the courage of my conviction, and with the kind of personal investment and care that makes professional experiences deeply meaningful. Career building is about believing in what you do, and its validity; it is about communication and courage. It only works if it feels true to who you are.
With her supportive and positive attitude combined with her incredible sensitivity and intelligence, Astrid has created for me a wonderful safe space to discover how I want to develop my goals from the inside out. I have found in her a true kindred spirit as well as a powerful ally and coach.
—Hannah L,. New York, NY
publicist
I chose to work with Astrid because of her background in both the arts and business worlds. After our consultation meeting, it became clear to me that she works with her clients to help them achieve success that rings true for each individual, and doesn't just follow the same formula with everyone. She is also a terrific listener and very easy to talk to. There was nothing about the coaching process with Astrid that felt fake or empty -- we got down to nuts and bolts, and took a good look at the motivations behind my current habits as a means of changing those habits when necessary. As a result of working with her, I have reached a new level of balance in my life, and I have more confidence than before about my business decisions. Though it wasn't my main goal going into coaching, I also have found I am doing better financially than in the past. I am now able to approach new situations and apply what I discovered with Astrid, so the benefits of coaching with her have extended beyond the time we were actively working together. It was an invaluable experience.
— Christina J., Publicist, New York, NY
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Viewing entries tagged leadership
In my recent post about what it takes to be a successful musician in the 21st Century, one of the skills that I mentioned was Communication Skills. What do I mean?
Musicians need powerful communication skills in many different settings:- In ensembles to make sure that the group is on the same page musically, listening carefully to each other so that the music flows;
- In collaborations with other artists to maximize the synergies and create a powerful experience for the collaborators and their audiences;
- Engaging their audiences so that the audience members will appreciate the music and have a deeper and richer understanding of the performance;
- Teaching so that their students understand how they can improve and grow and learn;
- Creating something new, be it a festival, a non-profit organization or an ensemble, and getting people on board to support the new venture
- Networking so that they can meet and connect with other people.
Effective communication is a powerful leadership skill. It starts with knowing who you are as a communicator and what are your strengths. One way to do this is to know your communication style.
I consider myself ever so fortunate since I am in contact with a continuous stream of talented, intelligent, successful professional musicians, in my work as a career coach, guest lecturer the Yale School of Music, Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music and now as the new head of Career Strategies at YSM. As such, I am constantly on the lookout for what it takes to create “success”. In my experience, success for musicians is highly personal: whatever you think it takes to make you feel that you have achieved what is important to you.
And whatever that definition of success may be, there is a common thread to those who achieve it: they envision their success, they go after it to make it happen and along the way create sustainable careers.
This is leadership in its purest sense. Leadership is essentially the ability to inspire yourself and others to create success. This definition encompasses a mindset, a skillset and a process. And entrepreneurship takes the concept of leadership a step further by instilling the notion of taking charge and being the driver who makes things happen. Call them music entrepreneurs, call them cultural and artistic leaders—the label is irrelevant. These are the musicians of the 21st Century.
I used to get offended when I received short emails from my friends.
In response to my suggestion of “Let’s meet for lunch tomorrow,” I would get “Can’t” or “Sure” or “Where?”. This used to drive me crazy because I am someone who likes to provide context for my emails, as well as find out what is going on with my friends before zeroing in on the issue. I thought that they were snubbing me in their zeal to get to the bottom line.
That was before I learned about communication styles. At the risk of grossly oversimplifying the human condition, we tend to fall into one of 4 communications styles, based upon the extent to which
1. We value tasks versus people and
2. We are extroverted and inclined to tell or introverted and inclined to ask.
Values are the core principles that run your life. They are the key to your authentic self. One of the best ways to create success in your life is aligning your life with your top values and making decisions that honor those values.
In my career development workshops, I introduce the concept of values so that my workshop participants can begin to set goals that reflect the things that are important to them in life. In my experience, the more your goals align with your values, the more motivated you are to pursue those goals.
In my career development workshops, I introduce the concept of values so that my workshop participants can begin to set goals that reflect the things that are important to them in life. In my experience, the more your goals align with your values, the more motivated you are to pursue those goals.