Hosted by USC's Thornton School of Music, the GRAMMY Foundation's national GRAMMY Career Day drew more than 1,300 Los Angeles-area high school students for a day of inspiration and encouragement. While attending exclusive panels and workshops, the next generation of music professionals got up-close and personal with dozens of acclaimed musical artists and industry trailblazers, many of them GRAMMY winners and nominees.
Recording Academy President Neil Portnow kicked off Career Day by welcoming the influential industry participants who were giving their time to "the most vital program produced by the GRAMMY Foundation." Portnow said their participation could "stir someone's passion and get them to think about their career in a completely different way."
Portnow then became part of that process himself, conducting a panel that featured — among others — Teen People Music Editor Zena Burns; Jive Records Vice President of Creative Development and Los Angeles Chapter President Jonathan McHugh; and current GRAMMY nominees Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael of Maroon5.
At Recording Academy Chairman Daniel Carlin's panel, he said not all who aspire to be artists can attain that goal. Panelist David Helfant, Paramount's Senior VP of Business Affairs for Music, Motion Pictures Division, spoke of starting on guitar at age 8, realizing he wasn't going to be the next Jimi Hendrix, and following his passion through entertainment law.
"If you really love what you do and are strong in your convictions, you'll find a way to find your niche in the music business," Helfant promised. Current GRAMMY-nominated engineer Manny Marroquin said he had started as a drummer, but after he began recording, he "fell in love with knobs and faders and that side of the world."
Current GRAMMY nominee/musician Dave Koz and music supervisor/Co-Chair of the L.A. Chapter's mentoring program Maureen Crowe urged the students to welcome unexpected opportunities while pursuing a career. "You have a path you're on," said Koz, but it's "all about the side roads" that are "full of surprises." Crowe advised knowing how to plan, but "be willing to say yes."
Legendary songwriter Lamont Dozier talked of how he used every setback in his career as a stepping-stone, starting from when at age 9, he got up to sing in front of his classmates and they yelled for him to stop and threw things at him. "Embrace fear," he counseled. "It's going to get you from one place to another." About songwriting motivation, Dozier said, "When I feel like I don't want to do it, I do it" until the negativity passes. "Don't say you've got writer's block," he insisted. "That's not true."
Three-time GRAMMY-winning producer and L.A. Chapter Trustee Jimmy Jam's panel included MTV News Vice President Ocean MacAdams; current GRAMMY nominee Kanye West; and Universal Music Publishing Creative Affairs Executive Tom Sturges, among other industry pros. Jam also led the "Behind The Artist: The Team Of Advisors" workshop, where attendees learned how managers, publicists, label executives, music attorneys and record producers shape artists' careers.
Facilitated by producer/musician Randy Jackson, the "American Idol Junior" workshop demonstrated television's "American Idol" process, with a panel of experts and students evaluating and critiquing aspiring vocalists. At the "When Musicians And Genres Collide" workshop, moderated by Dave Koz, top rock, pop, R&B and jazz artists told how talent, education and business savvy combine to build success.
"So...You Want To Be A Music Major?" allowed dedicated music students to connect directly with leading music educators who guide music majors in achieving academic and professional goals. A team of recording professionals and experts from cutting-edge music-recording technology company Digidesign gave the interactive "Plug In To Pro Tools" workshop, where participants familiarized themselves with the state-of-the-art software- and hardware-based system for audio and MIDI recording.
One of the fastest-growing areas of music was covered in the "DJ/Remixer" workshop, and attendees were educated in progressing from spinning music and remixing to developing a viable career. Another relatively new, expanding field — music in video games — was the subject of "Music: It's In The Games," which addressed how music is playing a key role in this genre.
Other workshops, "Image Is Everything: Art And Photography In Music" and "Meet The Press: Music Journalism," presented valuable insights and the nuts-and-bolts of how image-making is accomplished, the workings of the media and advice on career opportunities.
The new GRAMMY in the Schools Web site, www.grammyintheschools.com, was launched in conjunction with GRAMMY Career Day. This interactive Web site gives high school and college students the opportunity to do additional exploration on music industry careers.
At "The Art Of The Song" workshop, Dozier, joined by songwriter Harold Lilly, covered topics from finding sources of inspiration to music publishing. Several attendees presented their original compositions, mostly a cappella, to enthusiastic response. At the workshop's end, Dozier expressed his faith in the students: "The music business is going to go on with all of you at the helm."
