Dr. Waddles, I Presume: Brandon Waddles on How to Become a Music Director (Episode 107)

You learned how to make music. Nobody taught you how to make a living making music.

Dr. Brandon Waddles has a résumé that crosses every line music school likes to draw. His choral compositions and arrangements have been performed by ensembles around the world, from the Morehouse College and University of Michigan Glee Clubs to the Slovenian Philharmonic Choir. He has transcribed Black gospel music for hymnals, edited a compendium of works by the late gospel composer Thomas Whitfield, and served as music director for Ledisi, including her Nina & Me concert series. Nomad worked with him on that show.

In Episode 107 of The Career Musician, they talk about what it takes to become a music director, why versatility beats staying in one box, and why the best musicians listen more than they play. Find his work at brandonwaddles.com.

The great zigzag path

Brandon grew up in Detroit in a musical family. His father, a classically trained pianist, brought him along to music theater gigs, jazz dates and some of the city's historic Black churches. The lesson he took from that: anything and everything is possible in music.

His career has been what he calls the great zigzag path. Every time he thought he knew where he was headed, something fell through and led him somewhere better. The Ledisi gig came near the end of his doctorate, when he was looking for university jobs and couldn't land one. A friend on her team needed someone who could play and read, and who knew R&B, jazz and classical. That was him.

He pushes back hard on teaching students they have to stick to one thing. Most singers in a vocal program won't end up at the opera, he said, so why aren't schools teaching about successful careers in background vocals, neo-soul or indie music? That is Diversify or Die, taught from the front of a classroom.

Learn it the hard way, once

His jazz education started at church. His father was on the Hammond, looked back at him and nodded at the empty keyboard. Brandon didn't know the songs and got plenty of ugly looks. He made a fool of himself that day and promised himself he never would again. Then he learned to comp in jazz band, staying sparse and out of the way.

That is Luck = preparation + opportunity in its rawest form. Sometimes the opportunity shows up before the preparation does, and the embarrassment becomes the motivation.

A music director is a communicator first

Nomad praised how Brandon ran the Ledisi rehearsals. Brandon described the job as being the communicator, the mediator and sometimes the therapist between the artist, management and a band of players from very different backgrounds. On a symphony date, he's at the piano connecting with the band, the background singers, the orchestra conductor and the artist all at once. The artist shouldn't have to think about measure 15. That's his job.

"You can be a... poor technician in terms of pattern and flow and all of that, but if you're able to communicate, you can get almost anything done."

Dr. Brandon Waddles, 28:07

Most of that, he said, happens in rehearsal. Be direct and consistent about what each signal means, so that on stage one look is enough.

Watch what you post

Brandon issued a warning every player needs to hear. Artists at a high level are careful about who is in their circle of trust, and their musicians should be in it. He has seen people lose jobs without ever knowing why. He has also seen talented singers never get the call because an artist checked their social media and didn't like what they found.

He even stopped himself from joking in class about a famous singer's technique. You might be less than two degrees of separation from that person, and it only takes a second for a screenshot to travel. Low maintenance / no drama applies online too. Everything you do is an audition.

Listen more than you play

Brandon's favorite moments in the Ledisi set live in the space between notes, what he calls the lonely notes. One lesson from Ledisi: don't worry about what's out there. Be concerned with what you are creating together in the moment.

"If we spent more time listening than we did playing... not only how much more we would learn, but how much more we'd create."

Dr. Brandon Waddles, 37:26

His advice for young musicians: listen to everything, love everything, and keep searching for yourself in the music. He sees as much value in Schubert and Debussy as in Andraé Crouch and Thomas Whitfield. It's all about human connection.

The takeaway

For Brandon, there are no failures, only zigzags that led somewhere better. Success is giving all of yourself to your art, being human in it, and knowing you touched someone, even if you never meet them. Don't look for validation from everybody. If you are working toward your first music director gig or your next audition, prepare with the free Audition Secrets guide.

Get the gig. Keep the gig. Build the career.

Watch on YouTube or find every episode on the TCM Podcast page.