One of the things that is emphasized over and over in the business studies I’ve done is the importance of having multiple streams of income. This is the same principle that King Solomon taught in Ecclesiastes 11:1-2, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”
This was the impetus behind the practice incentive that I developed for my students this year – Quest for Capital! I wanted to set their imagination free as they considered all the possible ways that involvement in music can be used to add value to society and to create marketable products. Those who develop an entrepreneurial mindset will always be able to find a way to use their resources and skills to earn money and contribute to the economy.
I recently ran across a helpful post on the So You Want to Teach blog called, Top 10 Ways to Make a Living While Making Music. For those who love music and want to make a living at it, there are lots of opportunities available! Sometimes you just have to think “outside the box.” These sorts of topics remind me of The Savvy Musician by David Cutler, one of the best and most inspiring books I’ve read on all the possibilities that exist for musicians who are willing to think creatively and try innovative ideas. This is the kind of thing that music students of the 21st Century need to be hearing and learning about!
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