Music Ed Mentor Podcast #65: The Music Industry and YOU

One of the smartest things I did in my pre-music teaching life was to work at a music store. Not only did I make lifelong friends, I got to know all of the other music teachers in the area where I worked, I learned a lot about music instruments and accessories, I got to attend live performances of Broadway shows, meet professional musicians and celebrities, and basically develop a knowledge of the music industry.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for educators to have knowledge of the industry. What advantages does being connected with the industry have? What does the industry look like these days? Why should we be involved and how can we? What are we missing by not knowing the people and services that support us? And if we decide to one day leave the classroom, where is a good entry point in the industry to look for work? Is that even an option?

To help me answer all of these questions and much more, I have brought on one of my favorite friends, a mentor, educator, music publisher, entrepreneur, marketing guru, and just an outstanding conference presenter, John Mlynczak.