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| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Prospective Music Career | 5/15/2012 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: If you would be so willing to take a moment to lend advice to somrone aspiring to get to where you ... A: You are correct that if you have the inspiration and talent to write music, you need the technical ... | ||
| Playing as a professional | 3/22/2012 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: What must I do to play in a live band, do I need a liscence to do so ? A: fortunately no license is needed to play in a band if you write your own music. All you need to do ... | ||
| Career Advice | 9/23/2011 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: Hey there. I am at a lose as what to do for college. I want to play violin/viola and/or piano as a ... A: Apologies for the slow response. The best thing to do is play whatever instruments you like, take ... | ||
| Inquiry | 4/1/2011 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: How are you ? My recent questions " Do you know where I can find information on reputable indie ... A: Here is a link to guide books that can help you. http://ascap.com/music-career/resource-guide/ ... | ||
| Singing in puberty | 3/12/2011 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: Sir Todd, I'm a teenager that is growing out with music.I sing , play the guitar etc.But I saw a ... A: I think the documentary dispensed some poor advice. You can certainly overuse and strain your ... | ||
| Music Teacher | 2/11/2011 | The Doctor |
| Q: What personality do you have to have in order to work with children and teach them about music? A: I hope you are not asking a homework question for a music education class. If you are, then I urge ... | ||
| How can you send your demo if you have only one song? | 6/22/2010 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: I’m an amateur pianist and I’ve written a song, about which I’m happy. I want to send the demo to a ... A: One song can make a demo, but I would not recommend you send it to a publisher or recording company ... | ||
| Career in Music | 4/28/2010 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: Sullivan I currently major in vocal performance, and my career goal is to first teach whether ... A: Although a Masters may be helpful, it is not necessary for teaching at the secondary level. You ... | ||
| classical music recording | 12/29/2009 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: i am a completely blind pianist. I learned only by ear and never used a music sheet. I like to ... A: A blind pianist introduced me to classical music when I was a kid, and set me on the path to what I ... | ||
| Music Careers | 11/26/2009 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: I love music and I play flute, sax, clarinet and trumpet, but I don't know what career I want to go ... A: especially the low reed books, so this is what you should aim for. You'll need to play all the ... | ||
| Music Performance | 7/8/2009 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: Sullivan, I have been having a real hard time in music lately when it comes to performance. I would ... A: Beyond my suggestions below on how to improve from this, you should learn to have a short memory ... | ||
| sight reading | 3/13/2009 | The Doctor |
| Q: I've been playing the guitar for a number of years, and am proficient at the instrument, but have ... A: Sight-reading is a kind of practice entirely on its own, separate from the other music that we ... | ||
| career advice | 3/10/2009 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: I'll write you for some advice on my situation since you may have had some experience with these ... A: Two thoughts on your location: The advantage to staying where you are is that you probably have no ... | ||
| record label deals | 1/25/2009 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: Can you tell me how much money musicians usually earn from their records sales when they are on a ... A: First you get an advance. Normally is $100,000 to $250,000. Sounds like a lot but its not. The ... | ||
| Copyrights and networking | 1/24/2009 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: I am an aspiring Christian rapper. I have written quite a few songs and have even produced some ... A: Here is everything you need to know about copy rights. http://www.copyright.gov/ If you were to ... | ||
| getting started on my career | 1/21/2009 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: I am 28 year old songwriter presently residing in the Hartford,Ct area originally hailing form ... A: There doesn't appear to be question here. At least nothing I can directly address. Here some ... | ||
| Qualifications and Opportunities for Backup Singers | 12/20/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: My son is considering a career as a backup singer, but we are having a hard time finding specific ... A: to be a professional backup singer you are most likely looking at studio work because today's ... | ||
| P.A. | 7/30/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: What is a personal assistants role in relation to working with a musician? A: Personal assistants are in charge of the business details that a highly in-demand musician has no ... | ||
| My "next step"!! | 3/17/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: I'm a 27 year old musician. I've finished the prac part of my music degree (voice major) and have a ... A: It sounds like you have a good start to your plans. There is no playbook for your next step, you ... | ||
| Musical Career after High School | 3/6/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: I'm currently a high school student who loves music, and would love to continue with it through ... A: I attended a conservatory where everyone had to fulfill the requirements of the music performance ... | ||
| Music Copyright Training-Intellectual Property | 2/25/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: I am a HS librarian, and have a student that is interested in becoming a music lawyer, and wanted ... A: The student should follow the traditional law school path after high school; it is my understanding ... | ||
| requirements | 2/2/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: Hopefully some day I can play for a major orchestra. I wanted to know if there is an age ... A: Acceptance into an orchestra is by competitive audition, so there is technically no minimum ... | ||
| music | 2/1/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: A friend and I make hip hop music and he has already started his own personal mix cd, I on the other ... A: This is right down my alley, since I am involved in a similar business arrangement myself (although ... | ||
| music | 1/23/2008 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: I would like to record my own version of several old hymns such as "Amazing Grace", etc. and ... A: Anything written before 1923 is in the public domain, so you can do whatever you want with this ... | ||
| how can i get an scholarship in usa to be a tenor? | 12/4/2007 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: , my name is juan javier, i am from ecuador, i love classical music,i've been taking singing classes ... A: New York has Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Queens College, and SUNY, to name a few. Oberlin ... | ||
| how can i get an scholarship in usa to be a tenor? | 12/4/2007 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: , my name is juan javier, i am from ecuador, i love classical music,i've been taking singing classes ... A: First, you need to make sure you are prepared for conservatory training, so you need to have a good ... | ||
| Is a career in music a good choice? | 11/9/2007 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: My name is Kaitlin and I am currently working on a research paper: Careers in Music: The positives ... A: If your looking at careers it depends what you want to do. This would fit trying to be a rock or pop ... | ||
| How to find managers & publishers to submit songs | 11/8/2007 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: I've a number of questions concerning songwriters, submitting to movie companies, etc. and ... A: Given outside the United States I'm not how international law effects any of this. You first stop is ... | ||
| Singing | 10/22/2007 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: Ok i love to sing and one day i want to be able to have a career in singing... i mostly like Jazz... ... A: There are always going to be people that say you can't sing...you can't let that stop you. All that ... | ||
| singing | 10/16/2007 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: how do you get a license for singing? A: The easiest approach is to ask BMI (www.BMI.com) and ASCAP (www.ascap.com) about the songs you are ... | ||
| music | 8/6/2007 | Todd Sullivan |
| Q: My name is Vafa. I'm 18. I decided to address to you for advice. I don't know what to do. Please ... A: First, you need to network to find good musicians that share your goals and will form a band with ... | ||
| Getting published, I am lost. | 7/18/2007 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: I am a singer/songwriter for many years now. I have written many songs to date and would like begin ... A: You hire a manager to market you to music publishing companies. No one takes unsolicited materials. ... | ||
| Hi | 1/18/2007 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: is there any way to learn scales easy??? a easy way to memorize the fret board?? it would really ... A: Sorry for a slow responce but there was a tech problem on this end. There can be money tons of ... | ||
| amplifier heads | 1/2/2007 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: i don't really understand the point of an amplifier head, my birthday is coming up and i cant decide ... A: Head is simply an amp without the speakers. Its then connected to seperate speakers in 1/2 Stack or ... | ||
| Singing | 1/1/2007 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: my name is Mindy, and I am a 17 year old living in New Orleans. I have read several interviews by ... A: You need to see who in your area. Then you need to sell yourself to them. Sometimes entertainment ... | ||
| how to become a musician | 12/13/2006 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: Paul how long dose it take to become a guitarist, songwriter and a vocalist/ I WANT to become a ... A: There no easy way to estimate it but its lots of practice and it will be a few years minimium of ... | ||
| author of a song | 12/4/2006 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: I'm not a singer, not even a musician. However, my uncle was quite talented and in his day wrote ... A: Step one is register your copyright with the Copyright Office at the Library of Congress. ... | ||
| help me please | 11/21/2006 | The Doctor |
| Q: I have been searching the internet and reading books about careers in music and still feel completly ... A: Without receiving music degree(s) you can opt to study music privately from music instructors who do ... | ||
| torn between two paths` | 11/18/2006 | The Doctor |
| Q: anyways, i may want to be a professional musician one day but i really want to be a writer, too.(as ... A: Short and sweet: Yes. Briefly explained: You can always opt to have both careers, though just as ... | ||
| Touring Staff | 11/1/2006 | Paul Edward Zukowski |
| Q: The following questions relate to someone as big as Barry Manilow: 1. What kind of personal staff ... A: Barry Manilow is strictly at the Vegas Hilton. He really doesn't tour and has not for a long time. ... | ||
Answers by Expert:
Top Expert on this page
I am a full-time violinist/violist for Broadway/musical theatre, opera orchestras, and symphony orchestras in New York City. Any questions you have regarding your pursuit of a career in music performance or your study of an instrument are welcome! I am not qualified to field questions concerning careers in music education other than private tutoring.
12 years of professional experience in musical theatre, symphony orchestras, opera, and celebrity acts.
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Violin) Carnegie Mellon Univ. '99
Pierre Monteaux School for Conductors '00
Encore School for Strings (Viola)
Teachers/ Violin: Daniel Heifetz (solo artist), Viola: Karen Tuttle (LA session player/Curtis faculty), CJ Chang (Philadelphia Orch.)

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