MUSIC INTO WORDS - Feb' 2ND 2016

Last night’s event at the Senate House sparked great conversation and debate on writing about classical music.  Frances Wilson, pianist, classical music reviewer and blogger, chaired the event whilst making an invaluable contribution to the Q & A session at the end. (She also made sure the event ran smoothly.) I spoke as a panellist alongside Simon Brackenborough (founder and editor of Corymbus.co.uk), Jessica Duchen (music journalist at the Independent) and classical music blogger) and Imogen Tilden (commissioning music editor at the Guardian).

Simon, Jessica and I gave brief talks to set the tone of the event by sharing our own experience of writing about music, and it was interesting to discover that our inspirations began very early on.

Simon enthusiastically explained the ideas behind his blog with particular focus on making connections between classical music and its contextual links to politics, art and literature. He also made a comparison between classical music experts and passionate medievalists online. Apparently the medievalists’ social network is vast (or perhaps there is no comparison?), and the classical music world is lagging behind. Maybe there is a lesson to learn here; that social media can shape and drive more voices for writing about classical music.

He also brought up the point about bloggers not being paid for what they write about. This only stresses why we bloggers continue to do what we do - for the love of blogging and writing about what we are passionate about. 

Another point raised, which I also discussed in my talk, was that bloggers are not bogged down to anyone’s editorial policy and we have the freedom to write as we please, and set our own rules. He also highlighted the most obvious thing, which we sometimes forget, in that music is a powerful force in our lives  - it ‘grounds’ us and is, perhaps, another significant reason why we should talk, write and blog more about it.

In my presentation, I glanced over the newspaper and print landscape and how they spend more time writing about concerts and operas by ‘the big names’, leaving behind new and up-and-coming artists and small-scale productions. For whatever reason(s), these major tabloids may have for not covering them, I argued that this was where bloggers could fill the void. 

Glossing over my background in classical music (or lack of), it brought me onto my point about not using technical jargon or music terminology in my blog - deliberately. I simply don’t understand it, plus my blog is geared towards engaging new audiences to opera or classical music. Bombarding them with specialists language would put them off. 

I also spoke about why I wrote honest reviews in my blog (both positive and negative) even if I am offered a complimentary ticket to see a performance. There’s this misconception that bloggers have special relationship with PRs and performers and that they are promised free tickets to write a positive review of their show. For me, that’s entirely false. Then, I voiced how the characteristics of blogging are very similar to journalism in that they still need to have the knowledge, the ability to research and skills to build a consistent voice – in essence, blogging was a bit of a training ground for future journalists. 

Moving onto Jessica, she spoke about how her background as a journalist and the driving forces behind her writing which stemmed from her desire to ‘capture and preserve the miraculous effect’ of music. Speaking as a professional music journalist, she felt incredibly lucky to be where she was, doing what she does, like interviewing her favourite musicians.

Moving onto her blogging experience, she addressed the impact the internet has had on music writer’s reach and that sharing passion and knowledge on classical music was making a huge impact. She also listed some interesting features of blogging including how personal, informal, immediate and spontaneous it was, as part of our culture of ‘instant gratification’. She also made an insightful point about the pernicious idea that classical music was elitist and that it was down to bloggers to change the discourse. 

Attending the #MusicIntoWords discussion event about classical music pic.twitter.com/UrEXIcu63m

— Christian Hoskins (@aquilanebula) February 2, 2016

(Photo by Christian Hoskins)

Tilden briefly spoke about her position in the Guardian and illuminated the limitations and pressures of writing about music compared to the past, such as considering of the word count, the set number of articles and reviews they're allowed to publish - mostly online - and other various financial cuts.  

.@MaryGNguyen now talking about blogging on opera! #musicintowords pic.twitter.com/H8sfbVgtrx

— Music Into Words (@musintowords) February 2, 2016

There were some interesting questions asked by the audience in the Q & A session:

• What effect does academics have in writing and blogging about classical music? 
• Whether classical music bloggers should branch out and blog about other genres or stick in their bubble? 
• Who is the imaginary reader that bloggers write for? 
• Compared to San Francisco (where an audience member observed the lack of reviews after attending a classical music concert), why and how do other countries or cities blog and write about classical music concerts? 
• Do blogger wish they had a subeditor?

There were many more questions asked and I'm afraid that I can't remember all of them, but please feel free to note them down below.

My coverage of last night's @musintowords #musicintowords @CrossEyedPiano @sbrackenborough https://t.co/te8V9xtZbj pic.twitter.com/eqrN0tUpzW

— Mary Grace Nguyen (@MaryGNguyen) February 3, 2016

The Music into Words event was the first of its kind. It aims to bridge the gap by allowing curious and avid classical music lovers to come together and discuss important questions about the art form and its industry. More Music into Words events are soon to come - watch this space!

This lively Q & A session and its inquisitive audience helped drive an ongoing dialogue that will continue to fascinate people.

I'd like to thank Frances, Simon, Mark Berry (who was expected to speak but had to pull out last moment), Tilden, Jessica, Senate House and the audience for making the event completely worthwhile.  Keep on blogging, keep on writing and keep on loving classical music!

Oh, please join the Music into Words Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter.

Ben Falk - Entertainment journalist and visiting lecturer at Birkbeck University on his passion for Hollywood movies and the moment he almost spilled a drink on Natalie Portman

Why did you decide to get into entertainment journalism? 

I fell into entertainment journalism mainly because my dad was actually a film critic and I remember quite early on going to film previews like going for my 10^th or 11^th birthday to Howard the Duck preview screening. I seemed to love movies and it transformed from there and that’s where I got into the whole showbiz spiel.

Why did you write the books you wrote such ‘The Rise and Fall of Robert Downing JR’ or your most recent book, ‘The Wonders of Brian Cox?’

It is a good test for a journalist to write a book because we are used to writing 400 or 1200 word pieces. This gave me an excuse to delve into something deeper and try to write something well thought which I think is a real skill.

Did you get to meet Brian Cox or Robert Downing Jr.?

Oh no! They were unauthorised biographies. You don’t need to have permission to do them as such. Brian Cox, I interviewed before I did the book. I was actually commissioned to write the Brian Cox book. As for Robert Downing Jr., he is such an interesting guy and I love his movies. I thought it would be a great story to tell.

You’ve covered the Oscars, Emmy’s and Golden Globes at Hollywood. How glamorous is it really?

Yeah it is. I wish I can say otherwise but there are elements of it that aren’t like the fact that the Oscars’ red carpet starts around 3 or 4pm in the afternoon Hollywood time. So you have to be there at midday and sit out in the sun for quite a long time in a tuxedo…it’s quite hot and there’s a lot of waiting around. Seeing all these people walk past is incredible however, especially when you get to go backstage and experience it from the auditorium.

And would you go back?

Yeah, I would love to do it again. Blagging your way into a party is always fun. I remember almost spilling a drink on Natalie Portman once and going to… what was it called? Oh, Elton John’s Oscar party. Free champagne obviously and I did some work for the red carpet so we got to see Elton John and John Legend sing ‘Rocket Man’ duet and I think Prince and Pamela Anderson. So it is glamorous in that way but obviously you have worked the whole day so by 10 o’clock that night you’re absolutely exhausted in a really good way, on a high.

You’ve also produced for the likes of Channel 4 and Sky. Is this something separate to your journalism career or have you used producing shows and pod casts as another form of entertainment journalism?

Producers are journalists or at least they should be. I was doing segments for TV shows and working on breakfast shows choosing content, editorialising the content, making it feel journalistic, compelling and executing it. So I was writing scripts, reviews and raddling talent. It is absolutely journalistic.

We tend to have negative pre-conceptions of working at a newspaper as stressful and chaotic. Was this the case when you were at the Sun newspaper?

I was actually a freelancer there. Hmm, not really, however, when I worked at the press association office, it is hard work and now it seems harder since I left. The turn over of content is huge.

What made you decide to take on teaching? And why, Birkbeck University?

When I started out in Journalism I was aware of how important it was to have someone giving you shots. I learnt on the job really and I would practice on my own but no one particularly other than my dad, I suppose, helped me. Someone taking you under their wing is important. So every journalist needs someone to say, ‘this is how you do it,’ but everyone is busy these days and it happens less and less. You need to be in multi-media. You need to be able to shoot and edit, work with different mediums and be a positive force in some way to make people think that journalism is an enjoyable thing to be part of.

In terms of Birkbeck, I like the flexibility in that it is during the night and there are good, nice people. There is no particular reason as when you are a freelancer, you take any job and that’s how you treat it as.

So you write books, produce, have a television pod casts, write articles for big media names and teach - how do you manage your time? 

I write fast so I write quickly as I get going. I decompartmentalize a lot and figure out what I am doing. Be prepared to work weekends and nights that’s why it is important to enjoy and be passionate about what you want to do.

Do you have a diary or check list?

No. I write lists, lots and lots of lists that I tick off on that yellow ‘things to do’ pad.

What is your greatest and most memorable moment in your career so far?

(Laughs) That is a really hard question. The greatest moment is writing a book. Writing a book, finishing a book, having it in your hands and seeing it there in a shop is pretty amazing. The Robert Downing Jr. one was by myself and it was really hard work.

Some of the people I have met are fun that’s part of memorable things. Like going on a junket to New York to meet Julia Roberts. One of the great things about journalism is the comradery. There will be a group of us going to the junket and we would do stuff together. I remember my friend, Colin, and I flew first class to New York and it was totally awesome. We went to a junket in Athens and it was someone’s birthday out there. We went out there for work but we were by the pool and Vinnie Jones was learning his lines for his next film in the hot tub. We also went out for someone’s birthday and visited the Acropolis. And was thinking what a great job this is. I mean I love talking about films and talking to movie stars like Angelina Jolie, who I also interviewed there. It’s running to the Oscars and covering it. I had to get to a party but because it’s Oscars night Hollywood is blocked and there are so many limos around that you can’t get anywhere. It is gridlock and I had to file my copy from the back stage still in a tuxedo. I sent my copy back home and then I ran down to try and find a cab to get to this party. It is things like that that is a weird thing to do for a job but it is cool.

Where do you think Journalism is going?

I am comparatively old. I am 37 and there is a whole raft of people that are two generations of journalists below me that are doing things that are really innovative but I think that ultimately there are still readers that still want to read papers and magazines. So I think print is not going anywhere but how we treat print maybe different and more like a luxury item. I know a lot of magazines and media conglomerates are spending money on tablet journalism so soon we will read our paper on tablet. But journalism is not going to change. We still need to find stories, hold people to account, review records, or whatever you want. The things journalists do on a day to day won’t change but new journalists will be able to do a lot more. I think the journalists coming through now will, hopefully or certainly the people I teach.

Any advice for amateur journalists who want to make a mark in the world?

Remember that journalism is a craft and you can’t get good at it straight away. Writing my opinions is not what journalism is. It is not just about saying what you think. Realising that quickly is already important. You have to practice and it takes people a long time to get really good at it. You have to love the media and you have to love reading. You have to cover yourself with media until you become part of the media you want to be in. You have to love reading the papers and be part of the magazine. Just be a part of it and just enjoy reading, watching and also understanding what you are good at and what you are not good at. Also finding a niche quite early on and I don’t mean something that you can only do but having a focus from the get go is really useful.