Karen Albert is currently an adjunct instructor at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI where she teaches a studio of voice students, music history courses, and a vocal techniques course. 

What educational experiences have been most valuable to you as a professional?

Many of the educational experiences proving to be the most valuable in my professional career came directly from my time in college classrooms. As I prepare my own course structures/content now, I am constantly referring back to how my own professors conducted their courses--especially my professors at MSU. The excellence and effectiveness in course structure and content at MSU really prepared me to begin teaching in higher education. Taking advantage of special workshops, master classes, guest lectures, etc. also gave me broader perspectives and a wider skill base that I can now draw on as a working professional. I would encourage students to take advantage of the variety of educational experiences available at MSU. Even if something is outside of your discipline, attend anyways. You may learn something that will be very useful to you later on!

What opportunities would you recommend students take advantage of during their time at MSU?

I would encourage students to take advantage of their access to so many excellent resources that are right at their fingertips. Explore the rare book collection in the library (something there is bound to inspire a research project!) Attend a cello masterclass if you are a vocalist. You'll learn how other musicians approach their instrument and get a whole new perspective on legato that you can translate to your medium. Attend the Hollander lecture in musicology every spring. Go to every single Running Start workshop. Try participating in an ensemble you would not normally be a part of. Engaging with a variety of musical disciplines broadens perspectives and prepares you for a professional field often demanding a multi-faceted musical skill set. I guarantee you will someday be presented with a musical opportunity lying outside of your primary training. Having a broad base of even limited knowledge, experience, and references will become extremely valuable when you fully enter the professional music community.

What do you think are the most important skills to have as a musician today?

One of the most important skills for every working musician to have is something they can do professionally outside of performing, whether it be teaching, directing music programs at a church, or computer coding! It is very difficult to make a living through performing alone. I really don't know many professional musicians who make their living only through performing. The more you can prepare for and embrace this reality while you are in school, the better prepared you will be when you fully enter the workforce. Developing a secondary skill while in school can be difficult because practicing and honing musical skills take so much of our time, but really try to prioritize some time for learning some other skills. Take some choral conducting lessons so you can become the music director at a church. Complete a three-month training course in coding. Take a few business classes. Many disciplines traditionally outside of music can eventually be re-oriented towards your musical career. For example, if you become a skilled computer program writer, you can eventually form a business focusing on helping musicians create beautiful, professional websites. If you develop business administrative skills, you can use those to work for a music-focused business or organization (like a professional symphony, opera company, or a company such as J.W. Pepper.) Balancing a performance schedule with a second career can be tricky, but it is possible. Especially for the creative, problem-solving brain of a musician!

Victor Marquez is currently Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Truman State University. He is also the founding Director of Uncommon Practice, a new music ensemble.

What experiences did you have at MSU that prepared you to be successful today?

Getting to work with and learn from great teachers and peers. Teachers that, in addition to sharing their knowledge with students, are wonderful role models. As a composer, I find myself inspired by their work and commitment to music creation. As a teacher, I often remember their approach to teaching a certain subject and better understand why they did things the way they did it (and why it was so effective).

I think I also learned lots from collaborating with other students, this collaboration was in most cases encouraged by MSU Music Faculty, and I still continue to be in touch and work with some of these wonderful musicians, who today hold a variety of professional positions throughout the U.S. and all over the world.

What skills do you believe are most important to have as a musician today?

Professionalism, adaptability, and creativity (both at the musical and the extra-musical levels).

How have you had to adjust your professional life in response to COVID-19?

As a teacher, I have had to learn how to use new software (zoom, imovie, etc.), and redesign lectures to make them more effective for the on-line format.

As an ensemble director, I’ve had to come up with creative ways for members of the group to work together remotely, and to deliver our work to our audience safely and through alternative means (i.e. video premieres).

As a composer, and since live concerts have come to a stop, I’ve stopped traveling to premieres and festivals and focused on recording some of my previous works, as well as starting new projects trying to think of both the current options for performance, and a not-so-distant future when we go back to some kind of normalcy.

What have you done to keep up your mental health throughout the difficulties of this year?

Trying to stay busy and creative, to adapt to the new circumstances and to plan for the future. Staying physically active (exercising in a safe manner) has helped too.