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How do I engage with music in a meaningful way as a career path?What opportunities exist post-college for a music major (no matter the concentration), and what steps should I take to achieve them?

Asking for a friend! I am currently admitted to ten schools as a music performance major, but am also contemplating a switch to music ed due to what I believe is a higher amount of job security.
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Doran’s Answer

Hi Noah,

I also went to school wanting to be a performance major and got a music ed degree. You can still make money as a performer with a music ed degree. I taught elementary music for two years and also played in a military band before that. Having the music ed degree helped me to get a stable pay check. I didn't perform music to much during that time except to play for my students. For me, it is about having variety. I'm glad I did both teaching and performing.

Sincerely,
Doran
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Elle’s Answer

I was a music teacher for 35 years and many of the opportunities for supporting myself financially came from teaching privately and being a gig artist. I taught, and performed on multiple instruments, and I was an on-call musician--able to fill in with large and small ensembles at any given time. I was also hired to compose and arrange music for groups and soloists. This was an excellent vehicle for extra income as well as helping me create artistically. Volunteer work (performances) often led to students searching me out because I was able to perform for greater audiences who may not have been exposed to my instruments before. Hospice was one of my most favorite ways for me to express sharing my talent, and it was also an excellent tool that I would use while training my students to perform in public. Keep good records for the times you are an independent artist, and don't forget to file a 1099 for your taxes.
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