The Portfolio Musician: Case Studies in Success

Written by authors Jeff Conner of the world-renowned Boston Brass, and Grammy nominated recording producer and university professor John M. Laverty, the theme of The Portfolio Musician: Case Studies in Success is that the musicians of today need to have multiple skills in music unlike prior generations that only needed a single skill. An examination of the contributing musicians’ profiles confirms that this is sage advice. Containing a collection of forty-seven profiles, the Portfolio Musicians share their experiences in classical music, pop music, jazz, opera, conducting, composing, teaching, the music industry, artist management, studio recording, and many other fields of music. The average number of professional activities in music reported by the Portfolio Musicians throughout their careers is five. Their collected advice for aspiring musicians provides real world strategies including things to do as well as things not to do. The time frame for which a person decides to be a musician (on average, age fifteen for the Portfolio Musicians) through formal music study (college) is another focus of the book. It is during this time the multiple seeds for success are planted and the necessary skills to be successful in music are acquired.

Written by authors Jeff Conner of the world-renowned Boston Brass, and Grammy nominated recording producer and university professor John M. Laverty, the theme of The Portfolio Musician: Case Studies in Success is that the musicians of today need to have multiple skills in music unlike prior generations that only needed a single skill. An examination of the contributing musicians’ profiles confirms that this is sage advice. Containing a collection of forty-seven profiles, the Portfolio Musicians share their experiences in classical music, pop music, jazz, opera, conducting, composing, teaching, the music industry, artist management, studio recording, and many other fields of music. The average number of professional activities in music reported by the Portfolio Musicians throughout their careers is five. Their collected advice for aspiring musicians provides real world strategies including things to do as well as things not to do. The time frame for which a person decides to be a musician (on average, age fifteen for the Portfolio Musicians) through formal music study (college) is another focus of the book. It is during this time the multiple seeds for success are planted and the necessary skills to be successful in music are acquired.

Jeff Conner is the only original member of Boston Brass. He founded the group with some fellow Boston musicians while a student at Boston University and has engineered the meteoric rise of this ensemble’s fame in the world of popular chamber music. Jeff received his master’s degree in Music from Boston University and his bachelor’s degree in music from The Boston Conservatory. He has performed in 49 states and 30 countries and has conducted masterclasses around the world including sessions and residencies at the Eastman School of Music, The Julliard School, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, University of North Texas, Royal Academy of Music in London, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at the National University of Singapore and Mahidol University in Bangkok. Jeff is an ambassador for the Give A Note Foundation, giving musical instruments to schools in need. He has been a featured educator and performer at the Mid West Band and Orchestra Clinic, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Music Educators National Conference events, American Bandmaster Association Conference, The American Band College, Western International band Clinic and at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. Since 2006, he has served as an Artist/Educational Ambassadors for Jupiter XO Professional Brass Instruments. Jeff has been featured on The CBS Early Show, National Public Radio’s Performance Today, The Great American Brass Band Festival and has recorded several diverse albums with Boston Brass. Latin Nights, their latest offering, features a collection of some of the greatest classical and jazz works by Latin composers and performers and features the legendary drummer Steve Gadd, the beautiful voice of Talita Real, percussion and guitar. Other albums include Ya Gotta Try, featuring music from Horace Silver, Chick Corea and Dizzy Gillespie, produced by legendary jazz recording genius Rudy van Gelder and Within Earshot, featuring classical works by Shostakovich, Ginastera, Dvorak, Liszt and others. He has presented his Entrepreneurial Clinic “The Musician’s Toolbox” around the country including Yale School of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, University of South Carolina, University of Missouri Kansas City, University of Las Vegas, Kansas State University, Iowa State and the Indiana Music Educators Conference.