The Grammy Foundation's "Careers in the Music Industry" at Berklee brought high school students face to face with music professionals.

By Matt Moldover, '02
(May 30, 2000)

	The Grammy Foundation's David Sears (left) moderates the panel discussion.

Students asked questions that reflected a strong interest in band promotion, finding success in a competitive market, and copyright issues spawned by the wide availability of new digital recording media. A collective dislike for image-based pop was also a popular theme. After one student adamantly condemned Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, producer and president of Rykodisc Records George Howard said, "Take Marilyn Manson or David Bowie. There's something really captivating about their stage presence, their performances, an atmosphere they create. It's not necessarily about tight jeans."

Other questions probed the growing field of music technology. Henning Pauly discussed work he has done with computer music and using music technology in the studio. Pauly went over some of the software he uses most frequently, including Cubase and Gigasampler. In response to the question of whether musicians should buy a PC or a Macintosh, Pauly said, "Go with what you're used to. That's the fastest way to learn."

After the panel concluded, fidgety students dispersed to Berklee recital halls, recording studios and labs to attend any of several seminars, each presented by a panelist or other music professional. Berklee faculty members also presented sessions on the college's majors in Music Business/Management, Film Scoring, Music Therapy, and Performance. In Recital Hall 1W, drumset instructor and associate professor Kenwood Dennard discussed his collaborations with such artists as George Benson, Chick Corea and Pat Martino. He also shared stories of a recording session he did with Miles Davis. Dennard said he was surprised to find that Miles arrived at the studio and began to practice scales. "You see, all musicians need to find time to reinforce the basics," Dennard said. When asked about coping with the pressure of live and studio performances, Dennard advised, "I can't just think of music as a spontaneously expressive thing. To succeed you must also think intellectually about what you are doing. Combine the intuitive and intellectual aspects of playing."

	Berklee's Concert Jazz Orchestra brought the Career Day to a rousing close.

Greg McKenna from the band Letters to Cleo gave a seminar that focused on the rigors of recording and touring. McKenna gave aspiring performers simple tips for success like "take the wrapper off your demo CD before you give it to people" and "be careful what T-shirt you wear to which gigs. Wear the wrong thing and you could get banned from a visiting radio station and all its sister stations." Students seemed surprised with McKenna's description of the rigors of the recording and touring life. "When recording I'm in the studio five days a week from twelve noon till two or four o'clock in the morning," he said.

The seminars concluded with a break and a complementary luncheon in the Berklee dining hall. Students then returned to the Performance Center for a concert by the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra. Greg Hopkins conducted an impressive set of tunes featuring several student compositions and arrangements as well as "Black Scholars" arranged by Jeff Keys. Students returned to their schools with a new appreciation for the bitter sweetness of the music industry.

Panelists:

- Chris Florio, writer, director of IDV Media multimedia production co. and leader of a 16 piece multimedia ensemble.
- George Howard, producer and president of Rykodisc Records.
- Kimberly Khare, teacher and director of Music Therapy for the Community Music Center of Boston.
- Rose LeBlanc, president of CD Alley internet music site, vice-president/partner of Soundworks Studios and co-founder of Soundworks Records.
- Greg McKenna, recording and touring artist with "Letters to Cleo".
- Henning Pauly, producer and Berklee graduate.
- Michael A. Smith, director for the Boston Arts Academy.

Additional seminar leaders:

- Peter Cokkinias, conductor, performer and associate professor at Berklee College of Music, performance division.
- Kenwood Dennard, performer, recording artist, and associate professor at Berklee College of Music, performance division.
- Jeffrey Dorenfeld, full time teacher, president of Dorren Products, and associate professor at Berklee College of Music, music business and management division.
- Jonathan Klein, composer, arranger and assistant professor at Berklee College of Music, film scoring division.
- Karen Wacks, president of the American Music Association New England Regional Chapter and associate professor at Berklee College of Music, music therapy division.