<p>Does anybody here have a senior or recent graduate with a music degree? What kinds of jobs are music majors able to get these days? Is anybody successfully working in the music industry?</p>
<p>One of my daughter's former teachers graduated two years ago and is now the principal bass of the Grand Rapids Symphony. He also teaches at Central Michigan University.</p>
<p>Awesome success story BassDad! I think that would be my son's dream life (on his own instrument, though!) Do you have any idea what his terminal degree was? Did he move up from a lower level symphony?</p>
<p>His only degree is a BM from Curtis. Before taking the jobs in Michigan, he subbed for the Philly orchestra and played in a couple of lesser-known groups there. He was also a finalist for the principal bass job with the San Francisco Symphony, so I think he may move on to bigger and better things in the coming years.</p>
<p>Any idea what playing for a small regional orchestra like the Grand Rapids Symphony pays? I was shocked to hear from a friend that played for a small group like that it barely covered expenses. But he was not the principal and their pay is better. Not sure if he was being modest, but I have heard talk of under $20K a year for small symphonies. Certainly not enough for a family to live on as ones only job. Probably why he is teaching at University as well. Three jobs to pay the bills seems the norm for performers/professor/private teacher.</p>
<p>Here's a look at some orchestra salaries:
<a href="http://orchestrafacts.org/facts.htm%5B/url%5D">http://orchestrafacts.org/facts.htm</a></p>
<p>Don't look there, though, if you're worrying about your kid getting a job. It's not reassuring.</p>
<p>If I read that correctly it only takes into account the 52 largest orchestras. Groups like Grand Rapids are not included and likely pay significantly less than the minimums in that article.</p>
<p>Don't know what Grand Rapids pays, but here is a recent classified ad from Boise:</p>
<p>One-year vacancy for the Principal Flute position with the Boise Philharmonic. This is a salaried position at $18,100 (123 services), with a medical/dental insurance plan available. This position would also involve playing in the Wind Quintet, Encore chamber concerts, and for the Ballet Idaho and Opera Idaho orchestras. Auditions will be Saturday, May 6, starting at 10 AM. Contact Marilyn Goerrich, Personnel Manager, for a time: <a href="mailto:margoe22@yahoo.com">margoe22@yahoo.com</a> and/or <a href="mailto:marilyn@boisephilharmonic.org">marilyn@boisephilharmonic.org</a>, and also attach a one-page playing resume.</p>
<p>Spokane has also had some recent openings. All positions are for 156 services and include a payment of 4% of salary to a pension fund, plus 50% coverage of a health insurance plan</p>
<p>4th chair viola $13,582.92</p>
<p>Assistant principal second violin $14,678.04</p>
<p>Pay 250K and 4-6 years of your life and then hope to get "lucky" and win the audition for a job that pays 13,582.92? Something wrong there.</p>
<p>Here are some current ones from the Arkansas Symphony:</p>
<p>Second Violin / Arts Partner Quartet position $27073.63 (full-time 247 services)</p>
<p>Section Violin, Viola and Cello players - part time $67.92 per 2.5 hour rehearsal, $86.73 per 2.5 hour concert, estimated earnings of $7500</p>
<p>Section Double Bass - part time, same rates as above but estimated earnings of $5500 because not involved in as many concerts</p>
<p>Here's one from Tuscon:</p>
<p>Principal Horn</p>
<pre><code>* Salaried position: $23,980.50 (219 total services including 55 ensemble services with the wind quintet) plus $196.80 Electronic Media Guarantee
* Health Insurance (70% paid)
* Retirement contribution matched up to 2% by the TSO
* Instrument Insurance paid for first $20,000 of value
</code></pre>
<p>Honolulu has several openings with the following terms (a little outdated):</p>
<p>Base salary for 2005-2006 Season: $804/wk for 30 weeks, plus benefits Per-service guarantee for 2005-2006 Season: $100.50/svc for 84 services, plus benefits Position scale guaranteed by CBA: 25% for Principal, 10% for Associate Principal 2006-2007 salaries to be negotiated by collective bargaining.</p>
<p>Sorry to be dense, but what is "total services"? Is that the number of times the musician has to show up for rehearsal or performance?</p>
<p>OMGosh, that is so depressing.</p>
<p>Why not skip music school altogether; in fact, skip college too, and become a plumber, since they earn five times a musician's salary. Garbage men are better paid too.</p>
<p>I really had absolutely no idea that those salaries were so utterly pitiful.</p>
<p>Well...maybe that is not actually my son's dream job after all. His dream life included things like a house, car and family. Nice things once in a while. Maybe only the top 10 or 12 orchestras make the big money. Would those mentioned above be considered semi-professional? Do those musicians usually hold other jobs to supplement their income?</p>
<p>My son has played in a small regional symphony for three years. They get $30 each time they show up -- for rehersals and performances. The principals make $60 or $70 or something. That's for two rehersals a week and three performances (5 or 6 concert series a year). Barely pays the gas, but for a 16 year old it's been a terrific experience. That is just a notch above playing in a community orchestra for free, just for the fun of it. But some of his orchestra compatriots are Julliard and Eastman graduates, and there are many more women than men in this symphony (which shows that especially for women, who maybe only have to work part-time, music is a great profession). All of the principals teach privately. We pay $50/hr. for violin lessons here. My son's violin teacher, a Russian immigrant, turns away students and teaches from 8 in the morning until 8 at night. She just recently bought a beautiful nice new home, even though she's only lived in the states for 6 years. Some of them also hold adjunct teaching jobs at the local university (part-time), and also hold down teaching jobs in the public schools. There are ample opportunities for outside gigs, i.e. chamber groups or musicals. In fact, my son is trying to prepare a senior recital and neither he nor his friend (a cellist) can find a pianist in the area who is willing to perform a Brahms Sonata.. (too difficult, they say). For pianists, there are always accompanying jobs. So, as it's true that the big-time orchestra positions are out of reach for most graduates, or jobs in L.A. with the recording industry, you can carve a life out for yourself and make a living, and get paid for doing something you love to do and are passionate about. On a bit of a sadder note...years ago my best friend's Dad and future husband were both professional musicians (trumpet and woodwinds) at Harrah's at Lake Tahoe. They had a nice lifestyle for a long time -- but they worked 5 or 6 nights a week, got to bed at 3 a.m. and both of their marriages eventually failed.</p>
<p>This is really what the kids need to read. It's like most of the arts...tons of hard work and no money. You have to be at the very top of your profession to win an orchestra audition and get paid 20K. You can be the crummiest of lawyers from the crummiest of law schools and get paid close to six figures. I'm trying to tell my kid this...</p>
<p>I think that in the interest of honesty, most music teachers tell their students this also :).</p>
<p>My son's trumpet teachers are incredibly encouraging for him to go into music...it's like a foregone conclusion. None...and I mean none...have mentioned the downsides (or the salary). A couple of his teachers did suggest double majoring, but more as an aside, because my son is academically extremely strong. My other son's violin teacher (whose daughter is a professional cellist and who has made dozens of professional musicians does tell her students not to go into music because of the salary concerns...and she has incredibly talented students who certainly could if they wanted). I think it really depends on the teacher...
I think kids don't realize all of the ups and downs of most professions when they are starting out...and I wish there was a way to tell them before they make decisions that will impact their lives in a significant way.</p>