Professional Development for musicians

How to Survive and Thrive in the Music Industry

Topics

Auditions & Interviews

Careers in Music

Composition

Education

Finances

Marketing & Promotion

Mental Health

Musical Theatre & Opera

Music Law

Music Technology

Professionalism

Writing Resources

About

About Aaron Alon

Aaron Alon is an award-winning composer, writer, director, filmmaker, and teacher. His concert music has been played in concert venues in seven countries on five continent, has been released on several labels, and has received numerous national and international composition honors. He’s been an active writer and lyricist since 2009. His plays and musicals have been performed and read around the US and in the UK. He was a 2022 finalist for the Fred Ebb Award for musical theatre writing. His first feature film, BULLY, won over 20 festival prizes from film festivals around the world. Current projects include three new stage musicals, new plays and screenplays, and new content for his YouTube channel, which has had over 9 million views. He is a member of ASCAP and a founding member of Houston’s Thunderclap Productions. Aaron holds a doctorate in music composition from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, and he is chair of the visual & performing arts, director of music, and a professor of music at Lone Star College-University Park. He is a two-time winner of Lone Star College’s Faculty Excellence Award.

About the course

2016 Professional Development Class
Lone Star College

Dr. Alon also teaches a course in professional development that’s designed to assist students in developing the critical skills required to be successful musicians in the professional world. Among other topics, students learn how to write professional résumés, CVs, cover letters, and bios; effective audition, rehearsal, and performance etiquette; and the basics of music law and music business. Dr. Alon teaches the course exclusively at Lone Star College-University Park in NW Houston. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/UPMusic.

blog posts

Web Design for Musicians

Web Design for Musicians

So, you've got your website up, but now you need content for it!  (Don't have your website up?  Read this starter guide!) Before you start designing your site, spend some time searching through others' sites and find ones that you like, so you can borrow ideas from...

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Graphic Designing for Music

Graphic Designing for Music

Musicians are deeply dependent upon the talents of graphic designers to create posters, logos, websites, and more.  However, graphic designers all too often fall into common traps that render their designs nonsensical or unintentionally amateurish or comic in...

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Introduction to Score Reading

Introduction to Score Reading

It's important for all musicians to be able to read from a full score and to know about common ensembles, even ones in which they don't play.  This primer is meant as an introduction to score reading and orchestration. Post Navigation Navigate to your area of...

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Musicals vs. Operas

Musicals vs. Operas

In this modern age when academics seem to eschew most binaries, it may seem impossible to say what anything is anymore.  In the music world, the distinction between musicals and operas is a thorny one that plagues music students, audience members, and...

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Genre Guide: Opera

Genre Guide: Opera

It's important for emerging musicians in all fields to immerse themselves in those fields. To help, I'll be releasing a series of basic guides that offer starting places for learning about your field. It's critical to note that these guides are very incomplete and...

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Genre Guide: Musical Theatre

Genre Guide: Musical Theatre

It's important for emerging musicians in all fields to immerse themselves in those fields. To help, I'll be releasing a series of basic guides that offer starting places for learning about your field. It's critical to note that these guides are very incomplete and...

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Stress Management

Stress Management

Musicians are often under high amounts of stress. Gaining a better understanding of stress can help you learn to manage it. Stress management is a lifetime commitment, but you will be hard-pressed to find something else with as much of a pay-off for your quality (and...

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Contemporary Concert Music Listening Guide

Contemporary Concert Music Listening Guide

This list is chiefly assembled from various lists by other composers and musicians. This list is to get you started in listening to 20th and 21st century composers.  It is by no means comprehensive, but it should give you a taste of some of what's out there. JOHN...

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Need to Cancel a Gig?

Need to Cancel a Gig?

You should never cancel a gig if you can avoid it, but sometimes we all have to.  Here are my 6 tips for canceling a gig with the least negative impact on your professional career.  While this may seem like a lot of work, you should try to get this wrapped...

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