Success Beyond The Score

One of the things that I learned in the early stages of my music career is the importance of having a sound check.

In the early stages, I would turn in at the start time of the event with my instrument, put it together while I was in my seat, go on stage when my name was called, and play. This made it so I didn't normally get the sound experience I hoped. Fast forward to today, when I arrive 90 to 60 minutes before the starting time of the performance, depending on whether I’m bringing my own PA. I make sure that my sax mic is working, that my setup is correct and that my tracks work. Then, I walk around the stage in order to identify any zones where the signal of the radio mic may drop or stutter, or where feedback could be generated.

This is how I can guarantee a good sound and therefore a good experience for my audience. To illustrate, here is a little clip of me doing a sound check before playing Kingston Town at an event this summer:

As a musician, you may notice that, some times, parts of your body do not respond as quickly as they used to when delivering your music. If you are a singer, you may find that your vocal range has changed or diminished. As a violinist, you may experience pain in your neck and shoulders. Drummers may be familiar with stiffness and soreness on the knees and shins. Every instrument comes with particular challenges to the body and mind that can take a toll.

In Millicent's case, there was a moment when playing the piano brought her difficulties in her hands. She experienced pain on her fingers, and the knuckle joints would cramp or lock. At the time, she got an e-mail from the Musicians' Union, saying that a doctor specialised in musicians' ailments would visit Birmingham soon, and that members could book an appointment if needed. That's how she got in contact with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).

The professionals at BAPAM corrected the diagnosis given by Mil...

Fair Score is a joint campaign between the Musicians’ Union and The Ivors Academy, which seeks to ensure fair commissioning in media composition. It fights against coercive buyouts, opaque pitching processes, and deals that violate composers’ rights.

In a first survey conducted during 2019, the predecessor of Fair Score found that 35% of the surveyed media composers had accepted buyouts or work-for-hire deals. This means that, instead of receiving a commissioning fee upfront and royalties over time, they got a one-off fee and nothing else. This endangers the livelihood of composers, as they are deprived of long term income sources.

The same survey revealed that 41% of the surveyed composers gave up more mechanical rights than they wanted to, and 64% affirmed they believed the commissioning environment is coercive. This is unsustainable and harmful for the industry, even more now that commissioners count on the threat of generative AI to put pressure on media composers.

It’s importan...

Today is World’s Menopause Day, when people around the world raise awareness and share their experiences in regard to this natural stage of human life. For the occasion, this year, the International Menopause Society published the 2025 White Paper, The Role of Lifestyle Medicine in Menopausal Health: A Review of Non-Pharmacologic Interventions. There, they show strong evidence, gathered across multiple studies, that point at how healthy habits in daily life can make a real difference in the well-being of menopausal individuals.

This idea aligns neatly with Millicent's own experience as a menopausal musician. When I joined the Smarter Change 12 weeks programme with Pamela Windle, we focused in making healthy lifestyle changes tailored to the specific needs and workings of my body. That’s why I wore a blood sugar monitor for weeks, in order to learn exactly which foods favour my metabolism, and what is the best time to eat for me. We looked at how to optimise my sleep patterns within th...

It’s not a secret that I favour the summer. I like the warmth and the light, the outdoor gigs and the myriad of events. While I appreciate the charm of autumn colours, the joy of Christmas and the cosiness facilitated by winter, it just doesn’t compare.

Regardless, seasons pass. Going with the flow of time, striving to see the best of each moment, is the best we can do.

To make it all easier, remember to:

• Get ahead with preparations: Don't wait until temperatures drop to unbearable levels before checking if the heating in your house works properly or whether the insulation in your windows is doing alright. Bring your winter bedding and clothes out of storage and see if they're fit to use. If you struggle with vitamin D levels, talk with your doctor about supplements and treatments before the clocks move backwards at the end of October.
• Stay active: The warm embrace of the blankets is tempting, I know. Don’t let the cold or the darkness stop you from doing things, though! Some peo
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Sleep was one of the areas of my life most affected by the changes of menopause. My quality of rest and sleep decreased drastically, affecting my health, performance and appearance. I took it to my own hands to fix it, and came up with 1o Things You Can Do If You Are Sleepless And Menopausal. It worked well, although —as it normally happens— there was room for improvement.

Said improvement came from what I learned during the Smarter Change programme with Pamela. There was some fine-tuning of things that I was already doing, and the introduction of a whole new concept:

I set up my sleep when I wake up

A lot is said about the importance of the last couple of hours before bed to ensure sleep quality. However, with Pamela, I learned that the first hour after waking up is just as crucial.

As soon as I open my eyes in the morning, I look for some light. I go to the yard or sit near the window, remove my glasses, and allow the sunlight to fall on my eyelids. Those minutes of quiet, that I...

While the first season of the podcast Success Beyond the Score is already a few years old, it contains valuable information and perspectives that are still helpful. Today, we want to highlight episodes four to six of season 1, which are connected as a series to talk all about business cards:

4. Should I get business cards?

Should I get business cards? When I should get them? This is the first of a three part series about business cards for musicians, singers, rappers and spoken word artistes finding their way in the music industry.

5. What should I put on my business cards?

7 Tips for what should be on your business card - Printing on both sides of the card; Type of Picture; Write-on side; Card weight; Font Size; Card size; and Text content. This episode also includes bonus tips!

6. 10 points of etiquette for managing your business cards.

What is the best way to give away your business cards? Should you give them to everybody? These questions and more are answered in today's ...

Since the beginning, Success Beyond the Score has been a project with international reach. Our resources are available wherever there's an internet connection. In the same way, Millicent has offered saxophone lessons online for years, with excellent results.

Now, she is preparing a new way to reach musicians and singers who want to take the next step in their journey. The idea is to offer you live support and information regardless of your location. In order to do so in the best way, we need your input. 

We have put together a short survey to gather opinions on online courses and online coaching sessions. Answering it will take you just a few minutes, and because we know that time is gold, you'll receive a gift for your contribution at the end.

Click here to start the survey.

If you know more people in music who could be interested in taking courses online or receiving online coaching, we'll be very thankful if you send them the survey too. It's going to be open for a few more days...

Time is always scarce. The more something matters to us, the more it feels like everything else gets in the way. Days are just too short. Or are they?

Look at your typical schedule for the week. There are some fixed things that you can't skip if you want to stay alive: sleeping and resting, eating, hygiene routines, physical activity. Block those out. There are also unskippable commitments, like work or study —with their respective commute time— house chores, and family logistics (for example, getting your kids ready for school). Finally, there are things that enrich and give meaning to your life, like the nurturing and enjoyment of your relationships, or your spiritual journey, religious or not. Once you block those out as well, you will see the time you really have for yourself, and can decide how to best use it.

At this stage, it's a matter of priorities. What do you want to achieve? What are the most important steps towards achieving it? A to-do list will be very handy, as it wil...