Pete Moser

Career Profile Type

Music maker

Name

Pete Moser

Job Title

Artistic Director

Employment Status

Both

Summary

Pete Moser is currently the musical director of More Music in Morecambe (MMM). After starting out in musical theatre, Pete has worked as a community musician for a number of years and continues to mix his work at MMM with other freelance work in the region.

Outline you career history – how you got to this point?

My working life has had a series of major periods of activity. I left college at 17 and travelled round Asia searching for direction. Returning to the UK I worked as a Stage Manager and technician for a year and then took a music A level and entered a 3 year music course at Southampton University. I learnt principally about composition and widened my musical taste and interests.

Leaving university with no direction I stumbled into the world of music theatre and soon started working for Welfare State International, a celebratory arts company based in Cumbria. The next 9 years saw a massive career development with freelance work for many companies as a musician and musical director. It also saw the beginning of a passion for community music work and an initial 3 years residency in Barrow in Furness.

After a sabbatical of 9 months, travelling and researching, along with some touring work for various companies I decided to set up my own thing! This was the development of a long-term project in the town where I lived; Morecambe. For the last 10 years this has formed the focus of my development alongside a continuing range of freelance jobs, from big composition projects and tours to one-man band performances.

Outline your qualifications and/or training

I have O and A levels and a BA Hons in music (none of which have ever directly help me get a job). My training has consistently been ‘on the job’ - learning from shadowing people, whether in budgeting and finance or press and PR, musical direction or percussion. I have worked with a series of inspiring people and taught myself through a great deal of self-discipline.

Describe your job role

I am currently the Artistic Director of a thriving Community Music company at More Music in Morecambe, but I have a split role in my working life. I am the instigator and manager of music projects, a composer, songwriter, arranger, theatre composer and inventor of musical forms. I’m also an instrumental teacher and play a variety of instruments including trumpet, accordion, piano, voice, guitar and one-man band. My teaching extends to training community musicians and writing about CPD.

What are the pros & cons of your job role

The great enjoyment I get from my work is the mixture of tasks that occupy me, the number of different people and places I see, the challenge of solving new problems and the ability to control my own life (i.e. work hard when I want to and have an easier time when I choose). The problems have arisen when I haven’t believed in the work that I have been forced to take, when I have planned badly and overworked, and when people haven’t paid me for months.

What is a typical day for you?

There is no typical day. Or rather every day is typical in being different.
My work involves a mix of sitting at computers writing and emailing, meeting people in a variety of settings, running sessions (with all that involves from loading to leading), travelling by car or train, talking to people on the phone, and practising my instruments and inventing music. There are no regular hours or patterns that last longer than a few weeks or months of a project.

Do you specialise in any areas?

I have specialised in being able to respond to any situation in a creative
way, in being able to work with anyone, anywhere. In a way a decision of non-specialisation. However I have then developed a number of very good tricks/techniques that I feel extremely confident in delivering and that I have personally developed.

For instance nearly 20 years ago when on a tour creating carnival bands in a number of cities, I wanted a way of working where everyone would feel included and equal. I made lots of drumsticks and developed a set of exercises, drumming in a circle on chairs/tables/drums, or whatever we could find. This has now become a basic exercise for me, and one that I use in many situations. A similar process has arisen with song writing for both lyrics and melody.

What age groups do you work with?

3-5 years,6-9 years,13-15 years,16 - 18 years,19 - 25 years,25+

What group sizes do you work with?

One-to-one,2 to 5,5 to 10,10 to 20,20 to 50,50 to 100,over 100

What level of experience do you have in your job role?

Established (over 5 years)

Which area do you work in primarily?

Other

Other

Community music

How would you like to see the sector develop?

I hope for a levelling out of the work so that musicians delivering the
work don’t burn out and lose enthusiasm. I hope for increased cross-community work with agencies, orchestras, individuals and bands all working in synchronicity. I hope for an increased interest in meditative and developed musical forms at the same time as the instant grab of tribal beats and tunes.

Most useful learning experience?

I learnt the trumpet first as a child then the French horn in my teens and gave up both until my mid twenties when I decided the trumpet was the instrument for me. I spent a long winter practising 3 hours a day, building up the strength in my lip muscles - nothing flash or adventurous. A great teacher led me and kept me on track and the simple discipline and muscle strength has helped me keep my playing up to scratch since then.

How long have you been working in this field?

20 years

Why do you do it? - What’s your motivation?

I love the reality of the music-making. It is so often rooted in peoples’ lives; honest and serving a very direct purpose. I love the way that people open up and smile, make friends and connect with something bigger than their own lives. I love the opportunity to write pieces of music that are performed the next day and have a real context. I love working where I live.

What are the challenges of the job?

I work too hard. I don’t give myself enough space. I don’t know when I will stop. There is no end point to this career as a musician and a teacher.

What top tips + pitfalls would you highlight in your job role?

Top Tip: Develop one or two distinct activities that make you unique and recognisable. Decide what you want out of your working life and let that guide you. Always be on time. Don’t be scared to push yourself. Be a bit cheeky but be honest.

Pitfalls
Watch out for taking on too many different things. Plan well. Invoice on time and keep a track of your money.

Which music leaders have inspired you?

There have been many…. This is the tiniest selection:
Luk Mishalle for his composition, sax playing and rhythm.
Boris Howarth – lyricist, poet, theatre musician and songwriter.
Johnny Kalsi – Dhol drummer wth powerful energy.
Bosco D’Olivera – a man with rhythm through his body and superb humour.
Mary Keith – a multi instrumentalist, vocalist and composer.
Steve Lewis – a listener and improvisor.
Katherine Zeserson – a vocalist who understands all of the threads of workshop leading.

What genres do you work with?

Western Classical,Folk,Music Theatre,African/Caribbean

Which element(s) of your training has been most useful to your job role?

My experiences "on the job". I love to mix genres and to play with music in a very free way. Initially brought up with classical music, I opened up in my teens to a wide variety of popular music from British and American bands and performers. Then through travelling (and through the increased accessibility of the music), the world of traditional music from different cultures became a very important influence and enthusiasm. Now I use whatever is right for the situation. I try to use music that I have a direct connection with and that I feel happy sharing. For instance rather than using general African songs in vocal sessions, I will use some Tanzanian songs I learnt whilst working out there.