EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Antoinette Follett

Antoinette Follett has more than 15 years in the publishing and marketing communications field. An expert in the field of the benefits of making music, at Bentley-Hall, Inc., where she is president, she has overseen marketing and communications projects for a number of companies in the music industry including Yamaha, Roland, and the American Federation of Musicians.

Follett is managing editor of the AFM's International Musician magazine and editor-in-chief of Making Music, a lifestyle magazine for amateur musicians. Her expertise in marketing and music has led Bentley-Hall to work with the Percussion Marketing Council, the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, and RADD, the entertainment industry's voice for road safety. Follett also presents marketing seminars for the AFM and NAMM, the International Music Products Association. She has a valuable perspective on active music making, based upon the trends she observes and the news she reports.

As Editor-in-Chief of Making Music magazine, Follett says readers use many terms to refer to themselves—amateur musicians, recreational musicians, vocational players, intrepid beginners and hobbyists. “As I meet more of our readers, I’m finding that all have a deep love of music,” she notes. “Some tell me they’ve played for years; others are learning new instruments; and others, like me are picking up where they left off.”

Her musical biography will be familiar to many music hobbyists. Follett started out as a young girl taking piano lessons for many years and playing clarinet in high school. When she went to off college, she left the piano behind and didn’t think twice about high school band. As she built her career, music became less a part of her life. Then, without realizing it, she stopped playing altogether.

When her son was born, Follett wanted him to have music in his life, so she began to play again and soon found she enjoyed their piano “sessions” as much as he did. Follett enjoys making music, but doesn’t think of herself as a “musician.” That’s not to diminish the joy or benefits she gets from making music … she simply loves to play songs at the piano. And now, unlike when she was younger, she looks forward to practice!