It was a little over two weeks ago when I attended a conference at the Cape Town City Hall called Music Exchange and I can't get over how much it has opened up my mind to the business side of music. Staying true to its name, this conference is a real platform for musicians to connect with professionals in various different spheres of the music industry. It even provides eye-opening information for a music teacher, who knows of a lot of people, but does not know much about the ins-and-outs of the music industry. If in a progressive school we, as music teachers, are not educating our learners about these incredibly significant aspects of music, then how do we expect them to ever make a successful career out of music. It's all very well that we teach them how to read music, practice their scales and perform in examinations and competitions, but send them into the world, and what do they know?
Unless they are outgoing, entrepreneurs who have a natural vision, most learners choose not to go into the music industry when they leave school. Their parents often tell them that they need to get a 'real' education and have a 'proper' job. So unless they have educators (or parents/mentors) who are willing to go the extra mile to give them skills and contacts for making it in the music industry, they just don't bother. Fortunately there are many people out there that do encourage aspiring musicians, but I still feel that we have lost many potential talents due to lack of knowledge of the inner workings of the industry.
Hence my great excitement at the outcome of this Music Exchange conference. With prominent sponsors such as Rolling Stone South Africa, Musica, Samro, Big Concerts and Red Bull, to name a few, the conference held enough relevant panel discussion topics, for everybody in the music industry. Of course the highlight for most was the inspiring Trevor Jones who has composed scores for many well-known films.
I was also very appreciative to receive a copy of Rolling Stone Magazine, I was so thrilled with it that I dashed out to get the latest copy!
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