Now that we have recovered from the last post pertaining to many different areas in which one can make a living in music, it is time to focus our attention on two of the most common was to support yourself.
Establishing and sustaining yourself in these musical areas-
Teaching
Teaching can take many forms such as a(n)…..
• classroom music teacher in an elementary/ middle and high school
• a professor at a university
• instructor in a music store
• free-lance teacher in a school system
• online instructor on the internet
• teacher in your own studio
• visiting lecturer at high schools and colleges
Most of these positions require a formal education in your selected field of teaching and some are only requiring you to have a reasonable knowledge of the subject you are teaching.
Teaching in the school systems requires the appropriate degree or degrees and this of course requires many years of formal study. Classroom teaching requires a certain type of person and I never had the desire to teach in the public school arena. I remember attending a fourth grade music class as an observer and escaped that ordeal by dropping my double majors of music education and performance. I have the greatest respect for public school teachers for they have the patience to work with this level of student; I didn’t at that time in my life.
I place public school teachers at the same level as doctors and law enforcement individuals for these are the people who are making changes in people’s lives. If you have the desire to enter the teaching field as a music teacher, by all means go for it and be the very best you can be for the classroom teachers are the most important contacts outside the home our children will ever know.
Some teaching positions do not require the appropriate degree and are governed by your experience and current performance. For many years universities would hire a gifted teacher/performer and justify his/her qualifications by pointing to the persons accomplishments. This action at the university/college level is called Doctorial Equivalency. Doctorial Equivalency refers to the justification that a terminal degree can be replaced by the individual’s performance in the music field. I mentioned that this used to be the case years ago but this practice has become a seldom used practice for today every person aspiring to enter the teaching field at the college or university level is expected to not only perform at a very high level but has also completed the terminal degree (Doctorate).
I have known monster players with huge lists of accomplishments and seldom do they ever get a teaching job at the college/university level. I have also seen many performers who are marginal musicians being hired only because they have completed their doctorate. The reason for this change is that administrators do not have to justify a person’s ability if they have a doctorate where the same person without the degree would require the administrators to justify their evaluation of the candidate. With this in mind, be forewarned that if your goal is to teach at a college or university, you will need to have completed the doctoral degree in order to be hired.
Now we need to talk about the availability of jobs today at universities and colleges. When I was hired to teach at the University of Northern Iowa in 1960, I was hired over the phone without an interview. This seldom happens any more. The circumstances were very unusual for UNI had started classes and there was a desperate need for one additional brass instrument teacher. At that time, several of the instructors at UNI had graduated from the University of North Texas and had close contacts with that school. Mr. John Haynie was called for a recommendation and at that time only two students were seeking employment and I was one of the two. Mr. Haynie felt that I would be a good fit at UNI and on a Friday afternoon the head of the department, Mr. Myron Russel offered me the position over the phone and I accepted. This is not the way jobs are filled anymore. I was very fortunate and I taught there for the next 30 years.
Performance
Musical performances can take many forms such as a(n)…..
• Recitalist
• Band/orchestra member
• Performer in a small ensemble (rock/quintet)
• Church organist
• Conductor
• Choir director
• Community musical director
• Armed services performer
• Rock star
• Recording artist
• Performer on radio/TV
• Touring musician
• Clinician
• Studio musician
• Pit musician for shows
• Session musician (recording commercials/CD’s)
• Background vocalists
• Accompanist/rehearsal pianist
• Product demonstrator
The preparation needed to fill these positions is primarily based on your ability and not on your degree which should be a comfort to those who plan to bypass the degree plan. Unfortunately, these positions are also hard to gain because of the sheer number of applicants for each open position. The competition is fierce and most jobs are filled by the “good old boy” system i.e. “I know a guy who would be great for this job” and he/she is hired.
Preparing yourself for these positions means that you have to be an incredible musician, be able to get along with everyone and fit in with the people around you. Many times jobs are lost because of personality issues with your fellow employees. Many performing musicians have a reputation of being self-centered and in many cases lack the self confidence that most people enjoy the “real world”. If you have a tremendous ability on your instrument (vocalists included), have a good personality and work well with others you might have a 50% chance of doing well.
