Syllabus

AADM 5110/6010, Managing Your Professional Performance Career

Tuesdays/Thursdays, 11:15-12:05 (Online via WebEx, Synchronous)

Kristin Suess
[email protected]
Office: Virtual
Office Hours: By Appointment

Students are expected to review and follow the UC Faculty Senate policies on the following topics:

 Attendance
 Class Cancellation
 Academic Integrity
 Accessibility
 Title IX (Sex-Based Discrimination/Harassment & Sexual Violence)
 Counseling Services

Course Overview, Description, Purpose

This course is an overview of practical career management issues in the professional performance arena.
Students will examine practical career management issues in the professional performance arena, including
resumes, marketing and promotion, taxes and unions. Aimed primarily at instrumental and voice students
contemplating professional performance careers. Topics also include personal & business financial management,
creation of career plans, strategies for success, networking skills, career options, fund raising and grants.
The purpose of the course is to survey various career paths in the performing arts, and introduce non-performance
based skills that can help mitigate risk and facilitate success.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course a student will be able to:
1. Discuss, reflect upon and begin to develop professional music performance career options and
the creative, analytic and interpersonal skills required to attain them.
2. Create a personal performance career scenario, with timeline, strategies and budget.
3. Research and create effective professional promotional materials, including a business plan.
4. Reflect upon and relate course activities to the student's personal goals.
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Pre-requisites
Academic Program Prerequisites
Recommended for students pursuing a full or part-time career as a performing artist.

Academic Level Prerequisites

Recommended for undergraduates who are at least a junior or senior level, and for graduate students. The topics
explored are of greater relevance to students who will be forging a career in the very near future. However, the
course may also expose gaps in expertise, so having another semester or two remaining at school to address a gap
is a viable strategy in terms of optimizing course sequencing.

Course Format
 The course is organized in a series of Topic Modules, with informational resources, discussions, and activities
designed to introduce the student to a big-picture view of a career in the performing arts.
 To realize course expectations, students take responsibility for their own learning and participation as an active
learner. The instructor will act as the facilitator of learning.
 To optimize time together as a group, this course used a “flipped” model of instruction. Students must be
willing to learn outside of the class time, by utilizing self-guided, asynchronous modules with text, video, and
tutorial resources.
 During class sessions, the instructor will provide workshop-style activities on key concepts and information, with
students breaking into partner or small groups to complete various assessments. During group discussions,
students are responsible for engaging with the material in an active manner. In addition, active participation in
Canvas team discussions is expected.

Course Materials
Recommended Texts
Beeching, Beyond Talent, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 2020
Cutler, The Savvy Musician, Helius Press, 2010
Kobliner, Get A Financial Life, Fireside, 2017

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Assessments/Activities and Grading Policy

The final grade consists of four parts:
Assignments – 30%
Class Contribution/Preparedness – 25%
Professional Career Project/Portfolio – 40%

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Learning Portfolio – 5%

Assessments/Exams
Assessments for this course is a steady mix of submitted work throughout the semester. Many assignments are
credit/no credit, with timely submission equaling full credit. A few assignments will be graded based on a rubric, and
up to 5 (short) topic exams will be administered. There is no comprehensive mid-term or final exam for this course.
Rather, students are expected to spend 6-8 hours on a final project, with additional documentation as to process
and course learning. All submissions must be digitized for submission online.
Credit/no credit assignments will not be accepted more than one week past the due date. Assignments (including
Discussion Board) with a rubric will be accepted late, but penalized for late submission and will be lowered by ½ a
letter grade each week it is late. If a student is not able to complete a rubric assignment by the due date for any
valid reason, the student can work with the instructor in advance of the scheduled due date to negotiate a revised
due date. Reasonable requests, including “technology fails,” will not be denied.

Pass/Fail, Audit, and Withdrawal Policy

Students may convert class grades into a Pass/Fail per the policy of the University of Cincinnati and CCM. Students
wishing to audit the class will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but it is not recommended. Students must
initiate withdrawals by the deadline established by UC.

Classroom Procedures/Policies
Communication
Instructor is highly responsive to email. Due to class being exclusively online, instructor will also provide a cell
phone number for texting/voice calls.

Technology use during/for class

This course must be accessed via a laptop or desktop computer. Content is not optimized for smaller/mobile
devices.

Attendance Policy
Please see the attendance policy.
Attendance to all synchronous meetings is required. In case of illness or professional leave of absence, WebEx
sessions will be recorded for the student to review. If possible, student should make a best attempt to catch up on
any missed team/partner activity.

COVID Support
 uc.edu/publichealth
 [email protected]
 Any member of the campus community exhibiting symptoms should self-report to University
Health Services (UHS) at [email protected], and University Health Services will follow up
with guidance to any member of the campus community who self-reports or receives testing.

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Class Cancellation Policy
Students should not schedule any commitments during the synchronous class meeting time. The majority, but not
all scheduled sessions will be utilized by the entire class roster. In other words, a few sessions will be suspended or
held for individual check-ins. Students will be notified via email and in Canvas.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Each person brings a different background, perspective, and even personal philosophy to CCM. This course
celebrates and respects our differences as an opportunity to learn and grow from and with each other. Our
acceptance of each other may be imperfect, due to inherent biases; however, we commit to a process of pursuing
diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Notice of Non-Discrimination
This course adheres to the UC Notice of Non-Discrimination.

Accessibility Policy
Please see the accessibility policy .
Topic Modules have been designed according to the principles of Universal Design, utilizing a mix of text, video,
audio, and practical application to facilitate learning. However, continuous improvement is always a goal. The
instructor is available to work with a student to present concepts in an alternative format in order to assist learning.

Trigger Warning
Confidentiality: The topics explored may occasionally result in the sharing of confidential information, as related to
finances, product ideas, and shifting career goals. By participating in this class, the student and instructor agree to
be respectful and hold sensitive information in confidence.
Discussion Board: Students are expected to be attuned to current events, issues, and developments in the artistic
sphere. Various articles will be posted on the Board, as selected by student teams. Use of the Discussion Board
format on Canvas fosters new ideas and active participation, especially for those students who prefer to express
themselves in a written format. If a student is feeling triggered by a particular topic, the student may apply to the
instructor to not participate in the Discussion Board. Different and even controversial ideas could be expressed in
this open format; students should be respectful of peers, their ideas and opinions.

Academic Integrity
Please see the Student Code of Conduct for more information.
The instructor trusts students to submit original work for this course. Utilizing outside resources, including the
expertise of peers, is actively encouraged for most of the course work. A few exceptions to this general policy are
outlined in the assignment instructions.

Student Resources
Please refer to Academic Excellence and Support Services which includes the Accessibility Resources Office, the
Learning Commons, Testing Services, and Veterans Programs & Services.
Students can refer to the Course Objectives (CO) and the Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) for insight as to course
structure. This course is not one for which students can “cram”; rather, consistent effort throughout the course is
necessary as reflected by the Assessments/Exams description above.

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Course Calendar
Course Learning Objectives (CO)
Upon completion of this course a student will be able to:
1. Discuss, reflect upon and begin to develop professional music performance career options and
the creative, analytic and interpersonal skills required to attain them.
2. Create a personal performance career scenario, with timeline, strategies and budget.
3. Research and create effective professional promotional materials, including a business plan.
4. Reflect upon and relate course activities to the student's personal goals.

Week Module Student In-class Outside-of-class

Learning activities responsibilities
Objectives
(SLOs)
Brand YOU: Goal Setting, Outline (any) goals in an Orientation Review Module
1
Personal Mission actionable format (CO 4) Establish Class Culture
Statement, Introduction
to Networking Articulate a clear personal
mission statement Assignment: Partner Assignment: Partner
(elevator pitch) (CO 2, 3) Video Video (if not completed
during class)
Brand YOU (cont.) Engage in peer-to-peer Select ArtsJournal Teams Review Modules
2
networking and
Personal Finances: formulate a strategic SMART Goal Practice Discussion Board:
Expenses contacts list (CO 1) Respond to partner
videos

Assignment: Goal Poster

Assignment: Contacts List

Personal Finances: Compare different career Innovation radio stories Review Modules
3
Expenses (cont.) options (CO 1) discussion

Portfolio Career: Different Team 1 Discussion Discussion Board: Team 1

Paths/Soft and Presentation (Rubric)
Transferrable Skills
Assignment:
Compare/Contrast Essay

Assignment: Track
Expenses
Portfolio Career (cont.) Identify and explain Skills survey Review Modules
4
necessary soft skills and
Personal Finances: transferrable skills (CO 1) Team 2 Discussion Discussion Board: Team 2
Revenue Presentation (Rubric)

Assignment: Progressive
Coaching Tools
Personal Finances: Demonstrate use of basic Personal finances Q&A Review Modules
5
Revenue (cont.) business tools and plan
financial present and Team 3 Discussion Discussion Board: Team 3
Personal Management: future (CO 1, 2, 4) Presentation (Rubric)
Financial Primer
Assignment: LifeCycle of a

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 $ (Rubric)
Personal Management: Create a personal budget Personal finances Review Modules
6
Taxes (CO 2) **Individual Meetings**
Assignment: Budget
Personal Finances: Money present, 1 year, 5 year
Disciplines
Personal Finances: Money Survey product Copyright and Fair Use Review Modules
7
Disciplines (cont.) opportunities, examine IP Discussion
considerations (CO 1, 3) EXAM: Financial Terms
Brand YOU: Intellectual MailChimp Demo and Tax Considerations
Property, Marketing Outline marketing basics,
Basics including specific tools i.e. Select Groups for
MailChimp (CO 3) Generational Marketing
Assignment
Brand YOU (cont.) Plan application of Group Assignment: Review Module
8
marketing basics to Generational Program
artist/program (CO 3) and Marketing Strategies

Team 4 Discussion
Presentation Discussion Board: Team 4
(Rubric)

EXAM: Intellectual
Property
Portfolio Career: Unions Survey unions and Assignment: Unions & Review Module
9
& Resources professional industry Pro Org WIKI (topic
organizations (CO 1, 3) selection) Assignment: Unions &
Pro Org WIKI (multi-week
Analyze public resources Partner Assignment: assignment)
(Candid) to determine Analyze 990
organizational fiscal
health (CO 1)
Portfolio Career (cont.) Interview professional Interview A-HAs! Review Module
10
expert to examine first-
hand perspective (CO 1, Assignment:
2, 3, 4) Informational Interview
(Rubric)
Team 5 Discussion
Presentation Discussion Board: Team 5

Personal Management: Identify and discuss Assignment: Review Module

11
Fundraising funding opportunities, Crowdfunding WIKI
with an overview of (organize)
traditional and
crowdfunding (CO 2, 3) Team 6 Discussion Discussion Board: Team 6
Presentation
Assignment:
Crowdfunding WIKI
(complete)

EXAM: Fundraising
Fundamentals
Personal Management: Adapt tools (i.e. contract Gig Files Assignment: Contract
12
Contracts and template) for personal (Rubric)
Negotiations use (CO 3)
EXAM: Negotiations
Relate and demonstrate Partner Assignment: Strategies
negotiation strategies (CO Negotiations Role-Play
1) Assignment: Unions &

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 Pro Org WIKI (draft
entries, peer reviewer
assigned)
Brand YOU: Toolkit Build toolkit of personal The Good, Bad, and Ugly Assignment: Resume, Bio,
13
professional Round-Up Brand Identity Style
materials/resources (i.e. Guide, Publicity Photo
resume, brand identity Planning
style guide, promotional
assets) (CO 3) Assignment: Unions &
Pro Org WIKI (Peer
Examine use of media Review)
(sound recordings,
videos) and plan a
recording session and EXAM: Sound Recording
recording project
(repertoire, budget)
based on best practices
(CO 3)

Brand YOU: Business Plan Create business plan (CO Assignment: 1-Page Discussion Board
14
3) Business Plan (Post to Responses: 1-Page
Discussion Board) Business Plan

No Class meeting for

Thanksgiving Holiday
Summary Outline (final) Assignment: “Gap Assignment: Unions &
15
professional scenario Between” Worksheet Pro Org WIKI (Final
with goals (CO 4) Entries)
Team 7 Discussion
Presentation
Discussion Board: Team 7
Final Project and Learning
16 (Finals)
Portfolio

I reserve the right to update this syllabus as class needs arise. Be assured that I will communicate to you any
changes to our schedule, syllabus or policies quickly and efficiently through Canvas and our WebEx meetings.

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