Call for applications: 8-month music mentorship program in the US

The eight-month initiative, based in Nashville, Tennessee will this year take 18 students who will be trained by influential mentors. Application and selection is done online and successful students will begin training on 7 January 2017. Successful candidates will be notified by the end of November if they’ve been accepted into the exclusive program.

The program is open to applicants from all countries, musical backgrounds and genres. This could be a good opportunity for up-and-coming music professionals from Africa wanting to improve their careers or business opportunities.

According to the organizers, the program offers promising musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and music businesses an opportunity to launch their careers.

“Successful applicants will benefit from real-world, hands-on training from a broad collection of mentors currently active in the industry,” reads a statement on the organizers’ website.

These instructors range from Grammy-winning songwriters and producers to first-call musicians and career-crafting music business executives, as well as members of both the songwriters and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame.

Respected staff experts include:

• World-renowned session guitarist Guthrie Trapp, whose credits include support for Garth Brooks, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush, among others.
• Versatile drummer Pete Abbott, whose scope of work reaches from Average White Band to session work with legendary producer Phil Ramone to current touring with rising country star Ashley Monroe.
• Former BMI and Sony executive Clay Bradley, whose resume includes support for an extensive list of artists including Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, and George Strait.

Segue 61 is distinct from, but complementary to, other higher education programs.

According to Catawba College’s Music Department Chairman David Fish, the program comes as a bridge to provide future music professionals the finishing touches they need to thrive in the modern music industry, while offering music execs a trusted pool of polished talent ready to hit the ground running.

“Unlike the old A&R model where labels provided a team of experts to nurture an artist’s talent, today’s performers are expected to be more self-sufficient in all aspects of their career,” he said.

Interested applicants should apply here. For more information on this program or to arrange an exclusive interview with Segue 61 Strategic Development Director Bill Armour, contact Jason Myers at [email protected]