Students get inside look at music industry

Sisters students got an extraordinary inside glimpse of the music industry last Thursday, April 9, as they sat for a Q&A session with four long-time industry professionals who were in town for the Sisters Starry Nights concert with Keb’ Mo’ (see story, page 1).

Mason Wilkinson, who has worked as a production manager and tour manager with the likes of Crosby, Stills & Nash and Bonnie Raitt, has been working with Sisters Starry Nights since its 1997 inception, and is vital to the professionalism of the production. Songwriter, keyboardist, and producer Tim Lauer has participated with a variety of musicians in Starry Nights shows for many years, and drummer, songwriter, and producer Casey Wasner is also a Starry Nights alumnus. Songwriter Angela Lauer works extensively in film and television.

The varied backgrounds of these music pros gave the students a perspective on the wide range of career paths into the music industry.

A student kicked off the session asking whether it is necessary to go to college to pursue music seriously as a career.

“Big capital N, capital O – No!” Tim Lauer said – acknowledging that his answer might not be popular among educators.

He noted that many of the top-tier session players he works with in Nashville don’t read music, and that there are enormous opportunities for continuing self-education online. That said, he noted, college can be an option.

“The biggest thing I got was, I was with a bunch of people my age who wanted to do music,” he said. “You don’t need 20 people; you can have three or four and that’s your community.”

Wasner concurred that the most important element of developing as a musician is to find and work with people who are as serious about music as you are – and some who are better than you. Like an athlete, a musician who is challenged will get better at their craft.

“You have no choice but to get there,” he said.

All of the musicians agreed that no matter what path a young musician takes, there are three keys to success: Develop a skill set; bring a high level of energy to all your endeavors; and keep learning all the time.

Wilkinson urged students not to pigeonhole themselves in a particular form of music – and to be open to opportunities that are not directly involved in playing. That’s how his career evolved; he realized he wasn’t a pro-level player, but he loved music and still sought a career in the field. That became facilitating the work of other artists.

“That’s the satisfaction that I wanted in my life,” he said.

Angela Lauer agreed that having a wide palette of styles makes a musician and writer more versatile and presents more opportunities. She urged students to listen to and play a variety of styles. While indie pop is her wheelhouse, she can work in a range of genres and styles.

“I write music for film and TV,” she explained. “I get requests for all kinds of music and I have that skillset because I listened.”

Wasner’s work evolved from drumming into songwriting – but his wheelhouse developed when he created a studio in his home and started recording and producing. Both he and Tim Lauer find great satisfaction in helping others realize their musical vision.

However they pursue their interests in music, there are opportunities to explore – and they are changing rapidly with technology and shifts in the industry. Tim Lauer offered the students a strong message:

“It’s possible to have a job that’s fun. It’s possible to have a job that doesn’t feel like work. You know what lights you up. You know.”