Klarinet Archive - Posting 000119.txt from 1993/11

From: Dave Gomberg <GOMBERG@-----.BITNET>
Subj: Re: Real World Prospects
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 09:57:57 -0500

More on what Jeff said, you must really love music to pursue it.

My daughter is a serious clarinetist. She took a performance major
at Northwestern under Marcellus and was his first ever freshman student.
She makes the finals of most auditions she goes to, even the Met.

Now the bad news. She plays in a small town orch for $7K per year.
She makes another $2-3K teaching. Are you willing to take two jobs,
then live below the poverty line for the sake of music? You had better
be. That is reality. There are maybe 100 classical clarinet jobs that
pay you well enough to buy a new VW after 10 years on the job. Maybe
200. But that is tops. You will not be able to buy a house unless
you score, and you probably won't.

Now she will not give up on trying to get one of those 100 jobs. And
as long as she doesn't want to give up, she SHOULD keep on trying.
But it is tough.

Dave Gomberg, role model for those who don't ask much in their fantasy lives.
GOMBERG@-----.EDU fax-> (415)731-7797