"3 Easy Steps to Fulfill Your Dreams in the Music Business"

Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky in the early 80's I always thought that my only options in music would be as a band director.  While this was a good plan at the time, I became very passionate about performing when I went to college.  

I was very fortunate to perform with an excellent high school band that afforded me with many performing opportunities.  After graduation, I joined the Morehead State University Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Drumline.  For two years, I went on tour with the MSU drumline who ended up as the Percussive Arts Society International Drumline Champions.  During the 1996 tour in Atlanta, I performed for the PASIC Marimba Individuals Competition for the first time.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into... I was just having fun playing the marimba. 

After the individuals competition ended, I felt accomplished.  I played "Wind in the Bamboo Grove" by Keiko Abe with passion and really felt good about my performance.  After the scores came out, I was in shock.  I was a 10th of a point from winning first place!!! 

All of my hard work paid off.  The sacrifices I made throughout the years were now worth it.  I spent so many nights in the practice room that my friends stopped asking me to go to parties.  They knew what my response was going to be.  "I am practicing."  Those three words were my mantra, my safe place, my passion.

 Upon graduation, I landed what everyone thought was a "dream job" teaching percussion and directing a band as an assistant director in Victoria, Texas.  It was an amazing experience that I would not have traded for anything.  I learned more about teaching on the job than what I could have ever learned in college. 

While I was teaching, I had many opportunities to perform with the Victoria Symphony as a percussion substitute.  I also played drum set with a Big Band,  a Dixieland Band, and a Country Rock Band that toured Dallas and Houston.  Everything seemed to be going as planned until the performing bug hit me.

I started preparing auditions to go back to college for a Master's Degree in Percussion.  This was a tough task since I had been out of practice for about 3 years.  Luckily, my practice habits of undergraduate school had prepared me well.  The challenge was on and I was going to meet it head on.

In the fall of 1999, I was accepted to The Rutgers University Mason Gross School for the Arts to study percussion with She-e Wu and Dennis DeLucia.  I remember feeling shocked and surprised that I was accepted to this prestigious university.  Being from the state of Kentucky, I felt very intimidated.  Somehow, I gathered the confidence to be myself and play with passion when I went in for my audition.  After it was over, I was relieved.  All the preparation and sacrifices had once again paid off.  

Much time has elapsed since those days, and many teaching and performing experiences have been had since then.  In addition to these teaching and performing experiences, I have been involved in the administrative side of music which has also aided in my view of how to become successful in the music business.  

During my time as a student, teacher, curator, and performer I have experienced 3 easy steps to help you fulfill your dreams in the music business.  I call them the 3Ps.  They are Professionalism, Preparation, and Passion and they are totally FREE.

1. Professionalism-This takes doing things that no one else wants to do.  It is called being a leader and leading by example.  Professionalism is making sure that you present yourself in a positive manner at all times.  

•  How many times have you heard a musician argue with the conductor?  If you want to argue with the person that hired you, consider yourself off of the call list.
• Do you ever get to a gig and something doesn't go right with the rehearsal?  Complaining about it to everyone around you isn't the way to get hired back.  No one likes a complainer and that is not professional.
• Be on time, be responsible , and be helpful.  No one likes a slacker!  People hire people who are genuinely nice and have it together.

2. Preparation- This takes focused practice, planning, and grit.  Downright hard work.

• Do you ever get to a gig and the person next to you doesn't know their part?  Take note to see if that person is at your next gig.
• Do you spend more time practicing than you do with humans?  Having goals for your practice and doing it consistently with focus will help you prepare for any gig.  If you are a good time manager, it is possible to have a focused practice session and have human relations.
• Are you practicing smart?  Quantity vs. QualityJust because you practiced 8 hours doesn't mean that your practice session was more effective than the person that practiced 4 hours.  Focused practice in smaller chunks, repeated over time is more effective than a crappy 8-hour practice session.  You know your attention span is not that good!

3. Passion- Do what you love and love what you do.   If you are not in love with what you are doing, it will show.   

• When you do what you love as an occupation, it doesn't feel like work.
• If you have a job that you do not love, it is time to locate a new job.
• When you can't stop thinking about something you care deeply about, that is passion.  

If you can be professional,  passionate, and prepared in everything that you do, you will be successful in music and in life.  Best wishes to everyone that is in the pursuit of a dream.   May all your dreams and aspirations come true and bring you happiness for years to come.  

K. Michelle Lewis