This course shares practical tips and strategies to help you take your first step into launching your career as a musical artist. We’ll cover everything from developing your unique identity as an artist and how to lead a band all the way to planning and recording your first independent record with the help of crowdfunding.
Building Your Career in Music: Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructor: Leah Waldo
18,422 already enrolled
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(485 reviews)
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What you'll learn
Describe and discuss your identity, vision, and intention and identify strategies to balance the management of the band and the creation of the music
Develop your musical brand, build and leverage a network of industry professionals, and discuss the benefits of partnering with other brands
Develop a vision for a recording project and engage in a professional conversation with producers
Plan, design, and launch a crowdfunding campaign
Skills you'll gain
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5 assignments
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There are 6 modules in this course
Welcome to Building Your Career in Music: Developing a Brand and Funding Your Music! Before you begin the course, we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
In this lesson we will begin to lay the foundation for who you are as an artist and a leader. We’ll discuss the importance of having a strong sense of your identity, vision, and intention and we’ll also go over how to leverage your natural skills as a musician. I’m talking about things like intuition and collaboration, and getting these assets to work for you as an entrepreneur. Finally, we’ll discuss how to become a better band leader.
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Now that you have a strong foundation (your IVI), we’ll discuss building your brand and your fanbase. We’ll go over tips for building a presence on social media and how to connect to your fans and potential business partners on a personal level by learning how to network effectively. Finally, we’ll discuss the trend of artist-brand partnerships and why a brand partnership might be a smart move for independent artists.
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
In this lesson we’ll focus on planning your recording project, whether it’s a full length album or an EP. We’ll discuss the role of the producer and the very special relationship that exists between producers and musicians. We’ll also discuss how to cast a vision for your project by choosing the right songs, feel, and instrumentation. Finally, we’ll learn how to set up a simple recording budget so you can keep track of how much your project will cost.
What's included
5 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
The majority of this lesson will focus on planning, launching, and managing a crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding is a great way to gain support for your music, but running a campaign requires careful planning and preparation. We’ll also share some tips on how to turn your band into a sustainable business.
What's included
5 videos3 readings1 assignment
Congratulations! You've made it through the course content and now it's time to put what you've learned into practice for your final project.
What's included
1 video1 reading1 peer review
Instructor
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Music and Art
Berklee
University of London
IE Business School
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
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Showing 3 of 485
Reviewed on Dec 22, 2018
Leah Waldo is such a powerful woman and a smart teacher, I learnt so much from this course! Thank you!
Reviewed on Jul 9, 2020
Very good material for singer/songwriter with a small band wanting to make their first recording, or a budding artist planning to put something together.
Reviewed on Nov 6, 2019
Gives you a pathway to better your band and marketing skills and make a good impression to your audience and potential clients.
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Frequently asked questions
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