How to afford a yearlong sabbatical in Paris?

thedbassist · #1 08-18-2008, 05:31 PM

Hi, I'm planning on going to Paris for most likely a year to study with Rabbath and Thierry Barbe after this school year. Besides saving up money, how would I be able to financially support myself? Paying rent, utilities, living expenses. If anybody who has lived in Paris(or suburbs) could help, that would be great. Thanks.

Uncletoad · #2 08-18-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedbassist

Hi, I'm planning on going to Paris for most likely a year to study with Rabbath and Thierry Barbe after this school year. Besides saving up money, how would I be able to financially support myself? Paying rent, utilities, living expenses. If anybody who has lived in Paris(or suburbs) could help, that would be great. Thanks.

I'm no help, I've never been, but you MUST do it no matter what it costs.

MingusAmongUs · #3 08-18-2008, 05:58 PM

I know folks who have supported themselves abroad by teaching English. Not sure if that's something that's in demand in Paris. You could also be a bike messenger, if you have a few loose marbles. that's something every city needs.

D.Don · #4 08-18-2008, 06:18 PM

First of all, you need to speak french, at least a lil bit. Then there's lots of jobs on bars and such here if you're not picky with working hours .. You should totally find a flat-share with someone here ("COLOCATION CHAMBRE" in french) or else it'll get way too costy for ya.

Most often having a good english is beneficial, but a basic "conversation level" french is a must.

Here's the website for the "anglophone" community magazine in paris/france:

http://www.fusac.fr/en/

D.Don

PaulCannon · #5 08-18-2008, 06:48 PM

I know a few people who have done that. One of them went as a Fulbright scholar. You should investigate that and any other grants you might be eligible for.

Jason Sypher · #6 08-26-2008, 05:15 AM

Cite Des Arts is a program that allows artists to live in Paris, study and work. You have to make a proposal of course, and I'm not sure of the deadlines but you might look into it.

here is a link:
http://www.citedesartsparis.net/

PocketGroove82 · #7 08-26-2008, 07:13 AM

One of my x-wife's friends has a way to afford traveling all over europe every 2 years. He'd go live it up for a year overseas and max his credit cards, then he would spend one year in the states as an "entertainer" at an establishment called "Swinging Richards". Effectively paying off his cards.

True Story.

MingusAmongUs · #8 08-26-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PocketGroove82

One of my x-wife's friends has a way to afford traveling all over europe every 2 years. He'd go live it up for a year overseas and max his credit cards, then he would spend one year in the states as an "entertainer" at an establishment called "Swinging Richards". Effectively paying off his cards.

True Story.

Heh.
Does this have anything to do with the fact that she's your ex?

PocketGroove82 · #9 08-26-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MingusAmongUs

Heh.
Does this have anything to do with the fact that she's your ex?

Loooong story bro. lol.

LouisF · #10 08-27-2008, 10:08 PM

If you have your own house or apartment, there are several home exchange services that would place you in someone's house and you in theirs. With the EU etc (I have dual US/EU citizenship) it's much harder to work on a tourist or student visa now. But as Uncle Toad says, you gotta do it.

Any fund-raising possibilities on the US end before you go?

Louis

JavierBass · #11 08-27-2008, 11:06 PM

No I disagree. Right now it be kinda tough trying to make a living in Paris. And all the work would take alot away from time that could be spent practicing and wokring on musicianship. If I were you, I would leave the Rabbath stuff till later, go to college first and focus on your orchestral studies cuz that's what's important. Very few people can pull off the bass soloist thing, I mean trying to just find a spot in an orchestra is difficult nowadays. So being realistic, it would be better to go to music school with someone like Hal Robinson or Tim Cobb and work on orchestral stuff and study with Rabbath once you done with college and have a better handle on what the music in the real world. Just my advice, and what I would do if I were in your shoes. But if you really really really want to study with Rabbath and you dedicated enough to undertake a different than the norm music career, then go for it by all means possible. If you have jazz chops maybe you can get some gigs in Paris. France is big on jazz and I have a few friends there right now doing the Nantes Jazz Festival.

Uncletoad · #12 08-28-2008, 06:05 AM

There is nothing practical about living in Paris and studying with Rabbath. It would be hard and distracting. Most likely it will be a struggle and end up being nowhere near as romantic as it seems. It wouldn't be a career move or a way to get a gig as a soloist or a section person or anything else.

It's a way to start to get a life.

If the opportunity presents itself I say take it.

Bruce Lindfield · #13 08-28-2008, 06:14 AM

I think at age 18 - as you say this is a life-changing experience and one decision that can only be made by the person in question!

**Damon Rondeau** · #14 08-28-2008, 07:57 AM

The time to take what might seem to be a crazy risk is exactly when you're 18. You go do that year in Paris studying with folks like that and I guarantee it will change your life. Maybe good, maybe not, but definitely transforming. Maybe it's a rare opportunity, too. College doors are open all the time but a passed-over rare opportunity is the sort of thing you can regret you whole life long.

If there's any way at all you can make it happen, I'm with Toad: do it! At 18 you've got eons of time left to do the college thing.

Bruce Lindfield · #15 08-28-2008, 08:08 AM

That's what I was trying to say - when I was 18, I was hitchiking round Europe and ended up places with no money and no way of getting any - I survived, but there is no way I would be prepared to be so uncomfortable now - but when you are 18 you do things for the experience - even if you are diagnosed as suffering from malnutrition, as I was when I got home!!

PaulCannon · #16 08-28-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JavierBass

If I were you, I would leave the Rabbath stuff till later, go to college first...

Not to tempt fate, but Rabbath will likely not be teaching much longer. I really hope he's still teaching in four years, but nothing is certain. This was supposedly his last year coming to Domaine Forget, and he doesn't travel as much as he used to.

thedbassist, have you talked to François about any of this?

Clay_Bass · #17 08-30-2008, 09:00 AM

I would talk to student financial aid institutions like sallie mae etc. You'd be at a conservatory so its a somewhat college setting, there are plenty of students studying internationally who recieve financial aid to do so. You should also talk to the people at the conservatory about scholarships, let it be known you can't really afford it, and most institutions will be willing to put some of the scholarship money in your hands.

Don't listen to the person who says not to go. I have not studied with Rabbath, but I have studied with Nicholas Walker, who recieved two degrees from the institute both on scholarship, and he has never talked about Rabbath without mentioning how amazing of a teacher he is. And the bit about Rabbath's technique only being for solo playing is rediculous. Nick is an amazing section player, as well as a soloist and jazz player, and Hal uses Rabbath's method as well. One of the beautiful things I've found through studying(only for a short while) Rabbath's method with Nick is that it was never you must do this or that as with some other method teachers. The Rabbath teachers seem to be very open to helping you use this technique to build your own playing style. If you want to be an orchestral player and use the laboire pin, go right ahead they'll help you make it work. Same goes for jazz, classical soloist, folk musician, whatever.

Contact every institution you can about scholarships, talk to teachers, search online, talk to the people at the conservatory, whatever it takes to make it happen.

PaulCannon · #18 08-30-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay_Bass

I would talk to student financial aid institutions like sallie mae etc. You'd be at a conservatory so its a somewhat college setting.

Rabbath is not associated with any conservatories. He teaches privately.

thedbassist · #19 08-30-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

Not to tempt fate, but Rabbath will likely not be teaching much longer. I really hope he's still teaching in four years, but nothing is certain. This was supposedly his last year coming to Domaine Forget, and he doesn't travel as much as he used to.

thedbassist, have you talked to François about any of this?

I haven't, but I've researched to see if I could do it and I don't think I can(financially). I was talking about it with my teacher-who is a friend of Francois- and he thinks that Rabbath would teach me, but the logistics of staying even half a year seem impossible, especially since I'm getting a new bass soon and all that debt is too much for a musician.

Also Paul, the reason I want to study with Rabbath so soon is because I know that he's getting older and more tired.

thedbassist · #20 08-31-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Cite Des Arts is a program that allows artists to live in Paris, study and work. You have to make a proposal of course, and I'm not sure of the deadlines but you might look into it.

here is a link:
http://www.citedesartsparis.net/

Thanks a lot Jason, I didn't see that post until today. I'll definitely try that out and try to keep the dream alive, they even give french lessons. That's great, now I think I might be able to do this.
Btw, I haven't contacted Francois because I wanted to make sure it was possible for me to study with him before I asked to.