The Classical Musician and Musical Entrepreneurship

A model was created in order to assist classical musicians with the process of creating their own musical niches, build an audience following and experience financial gain. This blueprint involved creating a number of arrangements for the piano four- hand medium that were then self-recorded, self- marketed and self-distributed. An introduction to the repertoire commences the discussion. Next, the methods employed to self-record, self-market and self-distribute this compilation are presented. The discussion focuses only on techniques that pertain to musicians who do not have the support of a record label or a music publisher. Methods of self- recording and ways through which a professional- looking album can be self manufactured for minimal costs are also discussed. A discussion of self- marketing methods follows. This includes the use of web pages, Internet radio stations and social net-working websites. The methods of self distribution discussed include independent Internet sites, self distribution via a personal webpage featuring both the sale of CDs as well as digital downloads and methods of digital distribution.