Klarinet Archive - Posting 000410.txt from 1999/05

From: David Blumberg <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] re: Music Ed vs. Performance
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 10:41:38 -0400

Someone wrote:
Music Ed. vs. Performance
Message-ID: <a9eceebb.246866e9@-----.com>
I would only change to Performance if you really, truly enjoy playing. If
you are bored in the Wind Ensemble or Orchestra, just think that as a
performance major that is what the rest of your life will be like. I
switched because I am not really a people person and I could stand to play my
clarinet 24 hours a day. My teacher told me that if you are going to be a
performance major just remember that only 3% of them actually end up playing
for a living.

-------------------------------------------------

The figure is more like 1% for musicians who end up performing for a
living. Other interesting careers that many performance degrees end up with
are Computer Programer, Music Store Clerk, Music Teacher, Plumber,
day-time delivery for Dominos Pizza, etc. etc....
Sometimes the senior teachers are only reserved for the performance majors.
I've know of students who were dropped by their teacher because of
switching from Performance to ED. Unfortunate, but true.

"Each year, more than 13,000 (thirteen thousand) hopefuls graduate with
performance degrees, but annually, fewer than 150 (one hundred fifty)
symphony jobs come open". That is from page A14 of the July 7, 1998 Wall
St. Journal. Written by Gwendolyn Freed, editor of Chamber Music Magazine,
Minneapolis. Are those numbers sobering enough??

David Blumberg
playit@-----.com
http://www.mytempo.com
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