<p>My wife has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Ed. She tried to make a go of it as a private teacher and freelance performer for a couple of years, then decided to go back to school to learn about computers. She now has a day gig in mid-level management at an insurance company, but also teaches flute one night a week at a small local college and can afford to take only the playing gigs that interest her. She feels that she would rather have music be a source of relaxation than a source of stress, and this arrangement has worked for her over the years. When she retires from the insurance job, she may well ramp up the teaching and performing, but will not need to scramble to earn a living from those activities.</p>