BY: KAREN KERR
Students who network early in their music education — even in high school — are often more successful later in their careers. Whether students consider themselves introverts, extroverts, or somewhere in between, networking in college is absolutely essential.
At Inside Music Schools, one of our goals is to foster the ideals of connection and professional networking through career consulting. While building a strong professional network can seem daunting, it is a critical step for music majors looking to thrive in their field. By learning how to foster meaningful relationships, students can unlock opportunities that pave the way for a successful music career.
Why Networking in College is Essential for Music Majors
“People networking” is a process that involves the exchange of ideas and information among people with a common profession, and it is incredibly important in music. Some of the reasons why students should start networking early include the following:
- Building a Support System – Gaining access to a support system is one of the most helpful reasons to start networking in college. Often, people in a student’s network serve as emotional and professional mentors who assist in overcoming challenges or celebrating big wins.
- Learning and Development – Networking is also an excellent opportunity to learn from the experiences of others, gain access to new perspectives, or gain insider knowledge that may not be part of a traditional curriculum.
- Creating New Opportunities – The larger and more robust a student’s network, the more music internships and job opportunities they can access during and after their college education.
- Developing Credibility – Finally, students who go out of their way to start networking in college develop credibility, which is critical for a music career.
What Does “People Networking” Look Like for College Music Students?
For many students, networking isn’t necessarily on their minds right away.
As Guillermo Page, Assistant Professor at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, comments, “Students start the process of developing a network very late in their college career if they start at all. For the most part, it happens organically rather than a conscious effort to connect with everyone they come in contact with in their field. The reality is connecting with everyone — colleagues, guest speakers, professors, and professionals they work with while in school — is an excellent way to develop the best possible network and increase your chances for future employment after graduation”.
Networking can help build a sense of community among musicians at a school and, with a few helpful strategies, this community can lead to new opportunities and career growth.
Strategies for Building a Network of Music Professionals
For some (typically extroverted students), networking comes naturally. You’ll find them jamming out with various groups of musicians, navigating their way onto the stage at various venues for live music night performances, and even actively pursuing connections with fellow classmates and faculty.
However, from time to time, we do have students at IMS who need a bit more nudging to find their place amongst the crowd of networkers. Perhaps they are a bit more quiet or introverted. Others have a hard time feeling genuine or authentic. Take Tanisha, for instance, who eventually found her true self as a student at Berklee after opening up and being “ridiculously authentic”. All of this to say, a little practical support can help point students in the right direction, or even give them a plan of action to establish a network of professionals and fellow students intentionally.
Practical Steps to Start Networking in College
The following steps are critical for students who want to excel not only during college but also in their music careers:
- Start Early
The earlier students start building a college network, the better. Earlier networking gives students more time to build meaningful connections, and in many cases, industry experts are more willing to help inquisitive, young students who are excited about their future careers. - Set Goals
College networking involves setting personal and professional goals. This may include meeting two or three new people per week or even monthly, making a list of meaningful connections, and more. - Develop Personal Connections
Personal connections are just as important to networking in college as professional ones. It is important to build and maintain true relationships and friendships to increase the odds of receiving recommendations, support, and even referrals. For NYC session drummer and studio owner, Dustin Kaufman, “When you think ‘networking’ you’re already in the wrong headspace. Being in music school is such an incredible opportunity because you are surrounded by hundreds (sometimes thousands) of students who share your love of music. Simply find the people who you share common interests with and connect with just on a friend level.”
Gene Lewin, Professional Musician, and drummer for Broadway’s Audra McDonald, offered another perspective: “It’s hard to overstate how important networking and relationship-building is in the music industry. Simply put, I think my ability to build lasting, trusted relationships is the most important contributor to my success. That’s not to say you can rely exclusively on being a great relationship builder; You must master your craft no matter what … that is a given. But when you compare two candidates for any gig, and both have the requisite technical skills, the gig will always go to the person who is more pleasant to be around, who shows up on time, who supports the other artists and makes them better, who makes everyone laugh vs. stresses everyone out, who raises everyone up instead of complaining. Be the person everyone wants involved in the gig — it’s infectious!” - Take the Gig
For John H. Baboian, Professor of Guitar at Berklee College of Music, one such gig was the connection to an entire segment of his music career. “Take every gig that comes your way, as you don’t know who’s going to be there. About 20 years ago, I reluctantly took a gig out in Hudson, MA about an hour from me. It was cheap money and not a great band, but it was a Wednesday night in the summer, and my family was away, so rather than sit at home and watch TV, I took the $50 dollar gig.
The Northeast rep for Martin Guitars was there. He looked at me and recognized me as a Berklee guitar faculty member. He relayed how Martin was making a new Jazz guitar and was looking for a demonstrator/clinician, and asked if I was interested. Long story short, I worked for Martin for about 5 years, traveling across the country, doing clinics for them, and playing this great guitar — which I got to keep at the end! It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t taken that not so wonderful gig.” - Leverage College Career Centers
Many college career centers – particularly in music schools – assist students with networking. They can serve as liaisons between students and alumni who can resonate with a student’s interests, talents, and goals and may even lead them to other contacts and opportunities. - Participate in the LinkedIn Social Network
LinkedIn is a social platform for professionals, and many colleges, universities, and employers expect students to be active on it. It gives students the opportunity to identify people working in their dream roles, the ability to chat with alumni, and an option to reach out for advice from people they may not otherwise be able to interact with. Just be sure your outreach efforts are genuine.
As Jim Demler, Assistant Voice Professor at Boston University College of Fine Arts notes “Some students try to build their network via a social media presence rather than personal interaction. It’s still important to come to rehearsals and performances, be prepared, and be a nice colleague!”
Networking in College: Beyond Campus
Although LinkedIn is one of the most important tools for networking in college, there are other ways students can go about meeting new people and building relationships. When possible, attending events like South by Southwest (SXSW), National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), and ICON Rising, a three-day event for students interested in music production among others can leverage students to meet with true industry professionals, and learn more about building music careers.
Joining local music communities and organizations on social media can provide students with access to the times and locations of numerous local events, which are excellent networking opportunities. Some major groups include The Recording Academy and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, both of which offer extraordinary access to tools, people, and mentorship.
Develop Your Networking Skills Early with Guidance from Inside Music Schools
Networking takes time, effort, and energy, for sure. But it can be fun and exciting, too! With expert guidance and music industry consulting from Inside Music Schools, students and musicians can get an opportunity to connect with industry professionals, artists, and distinguished faculty in the industry, hone their skills, and expand their connections. Ready to feel more confident in your networking abilities? Let’s get started!
Karen Kerr
An accomplished professional with over 28 years of experience in higher education, admissions, and recruitment, Karen has always made her goal finding the best-fit school for student musicians. Most recently, she served as the Director of Admission and Recruitment at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where she was responsible for recruitment, auditions/interviews, and admissions of all undergraduate and graduate applicants. Prior to joining the Frost School, she was part of the admissions staff at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance where she reviewed applications at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.