Success Beyond The Score

Noticing the lack of female musicians in churches and within the music industry, Millicent created ‘Cafemnee’ in 2014 to deliver a series of networking and empowering workshops for female musicians and singers. During the pandemic, it became ‘Time For My Music‘, our online community group for women in music.

After these five years of wonderful achievements, both individual and collective, we want to expand and improve our efforts, so more women receive the support they need to achieve their goals in the music industry.

Our next step towards this is to assess how Time For My Music is perceived, based on the information that you, dear reader, have received about it from our channels. We have put together a four question survey to help with that, and we will be thankful if you'd answer it:

Go to the survey

It is quick and anonymous. Please send your answer before Sunday 22 November. 

A great process isn’t designed; it is evolved. So, the important thing isn’t your process; the important thing is your process for improving your process.
—Henrik Kniberg, co-creator of the Spotify Model

Henrik Kniberg has dedicated his life to think about optimization at every level, from organisations to businesses, and human teams to digital models.

• How would you apply his idea of a great process to your music process?
• Can you think of instances in your life in which this quote rang true?

The two episodes that we will revisit today focus on the business side of music, a topic that many musicians find difficult to deal with, given that it is out of the comfort zone for creatives. Although they might look intimidating, running the numbers, writing the contracts and developing your plans are not impossible tasks, and you don't have to dread them.

Let's start with episode 4, in which Millicent explains what a business plan is, and three ways in which it will help you achieve your goals in music:

Moving on to episode 5, a critical topic appears: money. The vast majority of new and emerging musicians struggle with the issue of payments, feeling that they don't deserve compensation unless this or that happens, or until they reach this or that level. Listen to three reasons why you should not wait or hesitate before charging for your music:

There is an audio only version available on all platforms where you listen to podcasts. A transcript is available for both episode...

As most of you know, I am predominantly a sax player. I am also a pianist, a vocalist, and someone who dabbles in music production. Each of these "identities" as a musician require a different instrument —yes, the voice and music production software are also instruments. We know that, in order to do our job, we must take care of them, but many times, we are so busy that we end up neglecting them.

For example, a few months ago this year, I started noticing that some of the keys of my saxophone were sort of sticky. They answered slower than usual, and it made playing a bit awkward. Although I decided that the issue was above my basic maintenance knowledge, and that I should take my saxophone to a repair shop to get it solved, I thought it would be something small and simple. Imagine my surprise when they discovered that five pads, which are a leather-type material piece sitting under the cup of each key, were so worn out that they needed to be replaced!

One quote that stung in the wall...

Yesterday, the International Menopause Society (IMS) observed the International Menopause Day 2026. Their aim with this is to spread awareness and share information about different topics related to menopause. This year, they talked about chronic pain at midlife.

The NHS defines chronic pain as pain that lasts more than 12 weeks, or beyond the natural process of healing, which means that it persists even if your tissues and organs seem alright, and your tests come back normal. Chronic pain can be its own diagnosis or a symptom of something else. In both cases, there are things you can do on your own to improve your situation of cope better, and treatments that you can take with the guidance of your doctor.

Click here to see the resources that the IMS put together about chronic pain in midlife.

Living with chronic pain is very challenging, especially in stages of life like menopause, which increases the symptoms. However, it doesn't necessarily means that you must give up on music. I...

Electronic music is young, and techno, even younger. So much, in fact, that Andrea Gill, known professionally as The Tunegirl, was born before it, in the 60s, at what was West Germany back then.

Techno first appeared in Detroit, USA, during the 80s, when Andrea was already a young adult. It is a genre that focuses on rhythm and the use of sound synthesis to develop new timbres, which means that it is heavily reliant on sound technology. Electronic instruments, digital audio workstations, software emulators and synthesizers are what allow techno artists to build their music across long periods of time —sets, rather than songs.

Andrea was captivated by the genre and its possibilities. She spent that decade and the next exploring minimal techno and working as a DJ. Then, she had a long pause, during which sound technology developed at great speeds and changed the field for electronic musicians. By the time she came back, the use of music software was so widespread that it looked inescap...

There is still time to join Time For My Music, our online community group to help and guide emerging female musicians in their path to achieve their music dreams. Sign up to work together with like-minded women like Joannie, to whom you can listen in the video below, talking about how she gained confidence and improved several of her skills thanks to the support of the group:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Millicent Stephenson (@millicentstephensonsax)

Just like her, upon entering, you will become part of a network, engage with projects and participate in talks and social events aimed at getting you closer to your goals.

If you sign up before tomorrow night, when enrollment closes, you will get a 14 days free trial during which you will be able to:

• Explore our extensive library, including the recent series of workshops we have held about amplifiers and mixers.
• Get acquainted with the other members and talk in our forums.
• Attend one drink, c
...

Episodes 2 and 3 of the third season of Success Beyond The Score address very different matters, although both are critical for the gigging musician: fanbase and sound.

There is an audience for every form of music, that is for sure. The real question is how to find them, reach them, and most importantly, how to show to promoters, labels and clients that you have the skills to pull a crowd. Listen what Millicent has to say about this topic on episode 2:

At first glance, episode 3 seems to be about something obvious. Music is sound, therefore low quality sound is detrimental to it. However, many tend to delegate this vital part of their performance to others, trusting that whoever said they'd be in charge of the equipment knows what they are doing and understand what the artist likes.

It's not so easy! Have a listen to Millicent's take:

Both episodes are available as audio only, and there are also transcriptions.

• Episode 2
• Episode 3

If you are a woman in music who would ...

Patricia has been an active member of Time For My Music, our online community that helps emerging female musicians achieve their music dreams, since the beginning. Through the years, we have seen her grow, challenge herself and achieve wonderful things. Let Patricia herself tell you about it:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Millicent Stephenson (@millicentstephensonsax)

This clip comes from our live concert in Birmingham some time ago. You can watch the whole show on YouTube.

Now, if you are:

• A female singer, musician, rapper or DJ, who would like to take your music hobby further by performing outside your four walls, and get paid, but don’t know how to make it happen
• Perhaps a woman who is already performing, but who struggles to some extent with things like sound tech, ways to improve stage craft, how to get bookings, etc.
• A woman who wants to return to music after a break, or give it one more push before quitting, and is now looking for t
...

People across the UK, including the West Midlands, have been suffering far-right riots, violent attacks, arson, intimidation and aggression targeting migrants and "foreign people". These discriminatory actions are promoted and supported by Reform UK, Restore Britain, and other actors of the far right.

Stand Up to Racism was born in 2015 to oppose such propaganda and stop its outrageous consequences. Together with the Trade Union Congress Midlands, they have summoned more than 60 organisations to congregate at Victoria Square, Birmingham, this Sunday 4th October. There will be key speeches, performances, and a march to celebrate the diverse and multicultural spirit of the West Midlands.

The Musicians Union will be present, marching with the trade union bloc. If you are a member, don’t hesitate joining the group. There is no need to register or do anything beforehand, just arrive on the day.

Come along and bring your friends and family. Let's rally together, create connections, and sh...