Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
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Double Bass Advice about going back to school for music
- Thread starter musicman1586
- Start date
That remains to be seen but I know one thing. If I were completing a PhD or Masters in anything, I would expect that writing English in paragraphs would be a prerequisite.
Look, maybe it's time to stop dreaming and start applying for jobs working in the industry. You will find out if you like the work, or not. At this point, could the academic thing be a crutch for you in avoiding the "real world"?
Problem with jobs, as with most other things, is that you won't know what can really happen until you fully commit to it. And fully committing to something means that there will be opportunity costs elsewhere. This also goes for all the side jobs the OP is thinking about. I think he's romanticising the idea that being an accountant for a symphony means he'll be directly involved with music when in reality he'll be stuck behind a desk for the majority of his day. If you're going to be a promoter, guess what? Many music teachers I know who start out as professional players often complain that they have no time to practice - they're too busy teaching!
At 30 years of age, you have to make some hard decisions they won't be without consequences of some sort. Academia, music, music performance - all of those fields generally suck when it comes to making a comfortable living unless you got all your ducks in a row.
If it were me, I'd finish out the degree I started with and go from there. More time in school also means more tuition to pay. Best way to achieve these desires so late in life? Marry rich. Either that or realize that the only real impediment as to how far you can go with the instrument is up to how much suffering can you stomach - Ed's quote from Steve Swallow. In that regard, I'm a wimp. Hats all to all those living the dream.
At 30 years of age, you have to make some hard decisions they won't be without consequences of some sort. Academia, music, music performance - all of those fields generally suck when it comes to making a comfortable living unless you got all your ducks in a row.
If it were me, I'd finish out the degree I started with and go from there. More time in school also means more tuition to pay. Best way to achieve these desires so late in life? Marry rich. Either that or realize that the only real impediment as to how far you can go with the instrument is up to how much suffering can you stomach - Ed's quote from Steve Swallow. In that regard, I'm a wimp. Hats all to all those living the dream.
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
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- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
- Jan 24, 2002
- 2,117
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- NS Design / AER Endorsing Artist
Just finished reading that series, and I'm very impressed. I almost feel like this should be required reading. I'm a little disappointed with the pessimistic tone, but it's understandable given his experiences. His dissection of adjunct university jobs is spot on, and the cost-benefit analysis of commuting to gigs is a real eye opener.
I think his argument in Part IV about the shrinking number of jobs is specious. While it's true that an orchestra like the Chicago Symphony with its multimillion dollar budget doesn't spring up overnight, there are plenty of smaller orchestras all over the country forming all the time and plenty of more established regional orchestras gradually moving toward higher wages and better contracts. The Grand Rapids Symphony, for instance, became an ICSOM member just last year.
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
And, Paul, you haveta admit, many are experiencing what Louisville and Minnesota went/are going through.
I dont' play music for a living but for the playing I do, there's lots of driving involved. Typically about an hour each way - even just to rehearse.
I was invited to play at a major venue last month and that one demanded 3-4 hours of driving round trip. I had to turn it down because of that and the schedule at which the rehearsals were to occur (also would be similar amounts of driving). By the time you figured in the fuel costs vs. what the gig paid I think it would've just broke even. That doesn't account for all the other costs (dry cleaning, food, etc).
I don't see how guys who only play for a living around here do it - even on wedding gigs and what not. There's a guy I know who does play for a living, but he secured another source of income from a previous life (founder of a startup).
I was invited to play at a major venue last month and that one demanded 3-4 hours of driving round trip. I had to turn it down because of that and the schedule at which the rehearsals were to occur (also would be similar amounts of driving). By the time you figured in the fuel costs vs. what the gig paid I think it would've just broke even. That doesn't account for all the other costs (dry cleaning, food, etc).
I don't see how guys who only play for a living around here do it - even on wedding gigs and what not. There's a guy I know who does play for a living, but he secured another source of income from a previous life (founder of a startup).
- Jan 24, 2002
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- 950
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- NS Design / AER Endorsing Artist
Not really, no. Those are both extreme examples of nasty labor disputes which, in my opinion, were manufactured crises invented by management to lower wages. Neither orchestra was facing a significant financial problem, but the boards felt otherwise.
Aside from those and a similar dispute with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, I'm not aware of an overarching trend with American orchestras in this direction. Most orchestras are doing just fine, and many saw record ticket sales last year.
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
If you're interested in composing, (as you mentioned you are) there is lots of work and I think it is reasonable to expect that trend to continue for the foreseeable future. Movies, TV, video games, advertising, etc. all need music. It won't necessarily satisfy all your artistic goals, but that is why they pay you. And, no commuting expenses.
I'm glad I got my degree. Most of the paying composing work I do does not directly relate to what I learned in school, though. So, you could get a performance degree and it wouldn't make much of a difference if you want to go for composition as a career. I do work as a bassist, but most of my income comes from composing.
I'm glad I got my degree. Most of the paying composing work I do does not directly relate to what I learned in school, though. So, you could get a performance degree and it wouldn't make much of a difference if you want to go for composition as a career. I do work as a bassist, but most of my income comes from composing.
Came home from the gig, couldn't sleep so I read this thread. Wow!
Now I'm really tired. Small point of interest. There are a number of actual working musicians on this site as well as some very bright people who may do other things for a living but are great players and have loads to contribute. Nice that almost everyone has been respectful and helpful.
To the OP, opinions are like
wait scratch that. My 2 cents.Get out of school for awhile and visit the real world. After some real world experience, you will be better able to realistically assess your options for work in the music business.
Excluding high end symphony jobs, it's all about how well you can either play or write. Sooooo, leave "Ivory Tower Land" and get in the game...or not.
I'm wrapping up a PhD in music theory here and I can tell you that I and many of my colleagues working on terminal degrees in music history/theory/composition are dismayed at the prospects in academia at the moment. The entire field of higher education has been changing over the past decade or more as institutions have begun to lean more towards assistant or adjunct positions in favor of tenure tracks. Couple that trend with the fact that you essentially have to wait for people to die for music positions to open (especially in theory) and you have a rather bleak outlook for the aspiring music academic.
That said, I didn't go into this to get a job. I did it to become a better musician and to learn as much about music as I possibly could. I love academia too and it's my first choice, but if the jobs aren't there then I will find another path at least while I continue the search. The gigging will always be there regardless of if I'm in academia or not.
At this point audio programming has become my Plan B and I've devised a dissertation topic that draws on that.
Dave
That said, I didn't go into this to get a job. I did it to become a better musician and to learn as much about music as I possibly could. I love academia too and it's my first choice, but if the jobs aren't there then I will find another path at least while I continue the search. The gigging will always be there regardless of if I'm in academia or not.
At this point audio programming has become my Plan B and I've devised a dissertation topic that draws on that.
Dave
