Meet Charyn Harris | Adjunct Professor of Music Industry Studies Creator of Music Industry 360 & ‘The Soul Shed

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charyn Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charyn, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
In wanting to become a professional musician/keyboardist, I found that even after college, I just didn’t know as much as I thought I did. I could intellectualize how to play, but I clearly had not mastered my craft as much as I thought I had. That’s something that you actually can’t learn in school; it only comes with experience. With a college degree, I was confident about my knowledge of theory and harmony, but I was not confident about my playing. I also knew that I wasn’t alone. When I started teaching music, I focused on teaching musicianship. There are finer points that musicians need to get under their belt. I eventually took a break from teaching and started to work in tour and artist management. That’s when the lightbulb went on for me.

People were always fascinated by my multiple layers of unique experience. I am also able to encapsulate my knowledge and distill what is most valuable. That quality pretty much became my signature in teaching. I then started teaching as an Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Studies. I was able to bring my real life experience to the classroom, which added yet another layer to developing my skill set and allowed me to provide my students with a purely bespoke experience.

I also saw a huge demand for the knowledge that I had as a musician show transitioned into the music business. It’s a very unique perspective. This inspired me to launch Music Industry 360, which provides a robust curriculum in Music Industry Studies and ‘Tha Soul Shed which is a performance workshop space that allows aspiring and established performers to define and refine their onstage presence

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

The music industry is almost a free for all. You never know who is going to make it and who is not. I’ve been fortunate that I learned to march to the beat of my own drum and forgo most of the pressure that can consume any aspiring creative. I’ve become pretty good at listening to my soul. After about 15 years as a touring musician, I decided I wanted to make a change. I honestly didn’t feel fulfilled and I realized that performing on big stages was not my passion. I tried my hand at teaching piano lessons and voice and even though I was great at it, I couldn’t find my passion there either. Once I focused on building bands and teaching musicianship, I found total fulfillment. I was able to tap into try real-life experience as a musician and share it with my students. Pretty soon, they were writing music, recording their projects and in demand as musicians throughout Los Angeles.

What sets me a part is what I bring to the table. I’m not sure that many people expect the breadth of experience that I have built over the years. I also have a heightened sensitivity when it comes to teaching and connecting with my students and clients. I multi-task a little too well though, LOL. I’m still excited about teaching and supporting musicians and even those who want to learn about business side of the music industry. I love seeing people succeed.

I look at my journey as a big adventure. Sometimes I didn’t even plan properly, which I admit to my students since I’m always telling them to plan. I didn’t always understand where my drive was coming from or where I was going with it. I just I wanted to be involved in music somehow.

I started learning a few different instruments in elementary school and started taking piano lessons in middle school. I was pretty focused and decided to go to college to study music. I had played classical music mostly until went to Berklee College of Music in Boston. That place really blew my mind. When I returned to Mt. Vernon, New York where I grew up, I started playing in Top 40 bands and wedding bands. A few jazz bands, even.  I just loved it and I felt like I belonged in that world. I had friends that were diving into other areas. Al B. Sure! Heavy D and the Boyz, Jeff Redd and several others were hanging out in Brooklyn with Andre Harrell of Uptown Records. This was a totally different vibe than Berklee, which was mostly jazz. It was honestly a little confusing because I couldn’t figure out which lane to fall into.

I worked really hard to develop my playing. I had a ton of disappointments. I was fired from jobs but I would wake up to a new day and start all over again until I got to where I wanted to go. One thing I learned from learning music was that if you quit, you never get to hear the whole song. I refused to quit. It was also one of the few possessions I had in my life that was purely mine. There were times where I would cry out of being disappointed or hurt, but I just had to work through it. If I stayed stuck in one place, I’d never get to the other side.

I learned a lot about myself, my work ethic, my capacity and what was important to me. I needed to align myself with my passion. I think a lot of us think that way. I also wanted to figure out how to make living from what I was most interested in. I sacrificed a lot and even took on work in other sectors to support my art and creativity. I also had to learn balance.

As I moved into music management, I learned even more. I had to learn how to deal with personalities much differently than in my role as a musician. Dealing with talent can be a delicate balancing act and as a manager, there are a lot of expectations. Tour management can even be more challenging since you’re responsible for so many people and have to commandeer a huge production. I learned how to sharpen my instinct when it comes to people skills. I also learned how to take better care of myself.

Once I created Music Industry 360, I saw an opportunity to provide useful information not only on the industry, but balance personal growth and dealing with a variety of personalities that we most often encounter. During the pandemic, I wrote a book called “The Art of War for Creatives.” I felt it was important to share all of the details that no one tells you when it comes to dealing with people and in the process, deepening knowledge about who we are internally. One thing that is important about my brand is the foundation of self reflection and honesty in order to help others become their complete and authentic selves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

If I were planning a week long trip, it would start out with a spa day filled with two-hour massages. I love Beverly Hot Springs since it’s the only natural spring in the Los Angeles area after the hot spring, I would aim for dinner in Koreatown.

Day 2 would start with manis/pedis at my favorite spot on Ventura Blvd. Then, we would go to the westside and do a little shopping. We’d hit Eataly’s rooftop restaurant for dinner and drinks, then back to the valley where I live to chill.

Day 3: We take it easy, nd start the day on the walking path from the NoHo Arts district and heading into Burbank. Then, it’s a quick trip to Porto’s to indulge. I’m a lover of all things around live music and I would definitely plan for a show at Hollywood Bowl along with dinner and will bring a bottle go vino, of course.

Day 4 is a beach day, but on the way, we’d hit Dupers which has the best buttermilk pancakes ever! I love the beach so my happy place is anyplace near the water.. Point Dume is probably my favorite spot to catch the sun and the waves. Before heading back, we’d catch a bite at Malibu Seafood while watching the sun set.

Day 5 is a chill day. Sleep in and watch old movies, but another massage may be in order along with a quick ride to Silverlake to check out the Farmer’s Market.

On Day 6 we get dressed up and catch High Tea at the Peninsula Hotel followed by a walk through Beverly Hills. Dinner at Crustacean’s, then if we still have energy, we’d hit a rooftop bar where the DJ is spinning giving us a vibe. Pure fun!

Day 7 – I’m tired and not about to go anywhere! I love my bestie, but I am calling a car and sending her on her way. Then, I’ll have a masseuse come over so I can gracefully recover.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this to my daughter, Londyn Harris-Elzein. Because of her, I have learned how to stretch in ways I never thought I could imagine. Everyday, I am a better person and mother because her.

Website: https://musicindustry360.com

Instagram: @charynharris @musicindustry360 @thasoulshed

Linkedin: @charynharris

Twitter: @charynharris

Youtube: Music Industry 360

Image Credits
Image Credit: Lextography