We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brian Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brian below.
Brian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
The kindest thing ever done for me comes from the kindest person I have ever known was Dr. Kay Pace, Choir Director and Educator for the ages. She is the type of person to split her last dollar with you. I was always the type of student to be shy, and uninterested at times, but Dr. Pace always poured into her students with every class! Whether it was in choir, music theory, or just passing in the hallway she was such a positive role model as a fellow black musician and carried herself with pride and humility all at once. When I needed money for an audition, she provided. When I outgrew the tuxedo I had as an underclassmen, she bought me a new one. When I struggled to handle all my emotions, she cried with me. Most of all, she always encouraged myself and countless other peers before and after to try your very hardest. I will always say that I owe all that I am to the Clayton County Fine Arts Magnet Program, but undoubtedly it starts and ends with Dr. Pace!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I actually come from a family with a musical background. My parents were both instrumentalists and marching band members at an HBCU. My grandfather Dr. Joel Jones served as Music Professor at Alabama State University for years and is still active as a Music Director and Keyboardist for productions on and off Broadway. Despite all this, my family never pushed me into music although they did encourage it. This approach is why I didn’t get serious about music until high school, where I was fortunate enough to be in an environment that made me naturally evolve into a serious music student. All my experiences up to this point had been nothing short of daily joy and growth. This is what would develop into my core educational philosophy: learning should be fun! Today, this shows in the programs and events with our business, Tones Collective LLC where our focus is promoting arts to young creatives across various mediums. Our collaborations include workshops for students to further their development as individuals, partnering with educators to incorporate art into their lessons, leading summer camps, teaching private lessons and more. We look to serve as positive role models as well as examples of the many different routes you can take by following your passion!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I think every artist has a story of when they worked a side job while trying to bankroll their careers. For me, I had been in a number of industries from food service, to hospitality, even a brief stint working for the government. The job satisfaction varied from location to location but anytime I could immerse myself in music or art I was exponentially happier then when I was just working to live. The biggest change in teaching private piano and voice lessons where I could not only make my own hours but also be paid a decent hourly wage. It was like a dream come true in some ways!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
The best thing our society can do is to not only have spaces for creatives, but also allow them the room to advocate for themselves and speak on their experiences. I believe many people don’t have a full understanding of what it takes in modern society to thrive in your craft. You need basic marketing skills, a steady and consistent stream of content, along with the entrepreneurial spirit to get paid at a level commensurate with the time and effort put into a project. At times, it can be exhausting, but we all share a common vision of sharing our art with the world around us and hopefully make it a little brighter. One thing I always tell people is “Just because we make it look easy, does not mean that it always is!”
Contact Info:
- Website: TonesCollective.com
- Instagram: @TonesCollectiveLLC
- Facebook: Tones Collective LLC
- Other: patreon.com/tonescollective
Image Credits
Adrian Rayoka