Richard Miles’ Post

Please have a read of a blog I wrote recently!

Don’t underestimate the careful planning and creativity when crafting meaningful classical music events for kids! Soprano Olivia Boen’s reflections help reveal the planning that makes these children’s outreach initiatives by the LSO so impactful. 1. Community First: Focused on serving, not just audience growth. 2. Ready to Engage: Kids learn about the music beforehand, making them active participants. 3. Kid-Friendly Content: Tailored to young attention spans with plenty of clever interactive moments. 4. Creative Themes: Uses relatable metaphors like puzzles and mechanics to explain music. 5. Live Composer Interaction: Kids meet the minds behind the music, adding a layer of excitement. 6. Inclusivity: Ensuring every child feels welcomed in the grand concert halls. 7. Educational Richness: Beyond listening, these programs teach musical fundamentals in fun ways. 8. Beyond Performance: Musicians engage directly, enhancing the connection. Engaging kids around music takes much careful planning, and is one of the most rewarding ways to build connection and community around classical music. #MusicEducation #CommunityEngagement #LSO #ClassicalMusic #OutreachPrograms 🎵👧👦

Energy, vitality, power & surprising warmth: Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 from Roderick Cox at Royal Academy of Music with Academy Symphony Orchestra. A performance to remember & treasure. My review: https://lnkd.in/et5tEy_m

Beyond the Baton: The Conductor as the Heartbeat of the Orchestra by Adam Scull https://lnkd.in/eqfYcF74 An orchestral conductor stands as a pivotal figure in the realm of classical music, embodying the crucial link between the musical score and its execution by the orchestra. This essay delves into the multifaceted role of the conductor, focusing on how they maintain the pace and harmony of the orchestra through their profound understanding of the music and the deft use of their baton. At the core of a conductor’s role is the interpretation of the musical score. The conductor must not only understand the technical aspects of the score—such as tempo, dynamics, and articulation—but also grasp the emotional and historical contexts that influence the piece. This deep comprehension allows the conductor to make informed decisions about how the piece should sound, which in turn guides their interactions with the orchestra.

I invite all my followers to please share this. Thanks! The Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians has issued an excellent statement about the gimmicky 'Candlelight Concerts'. Please do not support in any shape or form the Candlelight Concerts. They are now seriously threatening local organizations struggling to recover in this post-pandemic period. We need to protect our local non-profits from this corporation based in New York. Your local orchestras can not compete with their super corporate marketing power. Here's an excerpt from the OCSM-OMOSC statement: "Candlelight Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More is a poor facsimile of the transcendent three hundred-year-old concerto cycle for solo violin. The soloist in the Candlelight version is, in fact, the first violinist in the string quartet hired for the event, and the pay is not comparable to a typical soloist appearance. (Note: A sample contract between Listeso Music Group, Inc. and a performer states unequivocally that no part of the work rendered by the musician will be “subject to the rules or jurisdiction of a labor [sic] organization”.) The baroque orchestra is represented by another violinist, a violist, and a cellist. If it weren’t for “the magic of a live, multi-sensory experience” in an “awe-inspiring venue”, and approximately a thousand LED candles, even a very good string quartet performing an arrangement of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons might bring to mind the early days of cell phone ownership and the thrill of choosing a tuneful ringtone. Incredibly, it sells. The cost of admission to a one-hour Candlelight Concert is similar to a ticket to a Masterworks series symphonic concert, which is typically twice as long. While orchestras are unlikely to lose their core audience to Candlelight Concerts, what remains to be seen is how occasional and prospective attendees respond to such classical music-adjacent experiences: will it onboard new symphony subscribers for seasons to come, or seduce them with fool’s gold?"

For musicians, how to connect with potential audiences can be a challenge. Here are some helpful ways to frame a conversation into a positive experience: #audienceengagement #engagement #converations #whattosay #whatnottosay #saythis #saythat #open #friendly #experience #welcoming #welcome #audience #musicians #musician #orchestra #talking #awkward #keepitfriendly #grateful #musiceducation

What if we invested the same resources on "excellence in workplace emotional regulation and trust" as we do on "excellence from the stage"... I have developed a beta set of training workshops for orchestras on this and your input is the next step. If you'd like to share your thoughts on what's most needed (and why!) please let me know, we can jump on a Zoom. If you work or play in any part of the classical music sector, your insight would be invaluable. Drop me a DM or an email [email protected] #classicalmusic #orchestra #opera #organisationalpsychology #performance #psychologicalsafety #emotionalintelligence

Check out my blog post.From Bach to Bieber: Baroque Music's Impact on Pop Culture by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA #music #research #baroque #bach #sarniadelamare #taletellerclub #iservalan #newblogpost

You can find two of my most recent articles in the newest issue of Spotlight on Business Magazine where I cover Waves End RV Park and the Ship's Company Theatre!

really starts giving you an insight into the value of our INCLUDE project