What's your day job?

[Bob]

Neurosurgeon by day, concert pianist by night.


What do you do for the bulk of your earning a living?

Teacher?  Student?   Stay at home parent?   business, etc....

[eusebius27]

I am a high school biology/science/geography/social studies teacher during the day.

Then piano teacher and accompanist on the side.

[ted]

I am IT manager/programmer for a manufacturing company in Auckland. I'm getting tired of computers and fixing up a crisis every five minutes though, so it won't take much to persuade me to retire soon. I just have to persuade my wife to wind down her overseas trips so I can sit on my backside and play the piano all day - well - almost, I do have other interests.

[BoliverAllmon]

I am a music minister of a  my church.

[nipohc]

thats interesting, I know alot of teachers of science/computer studies who play piano or have something to do with music. They're the supportive ones at music evening concerts minding the kids, playing the cello in orchestra, or help backstage with equipment I am totally devoted to music, playing, teaching, learning. My three day-job/occupations

[shasta]

Scientist at a university/hospital

[alzado]

Now retired.

Formerly, a curriculum developer for the U.S. Army.

[pianonut]

soloist, accompanist, (play for church as well), seamstress, gardener, child-care - some of these things i don't get paid for - but it's still a job!  does that count?

next job: bosendorfer saleswoman.  i suppose they sell themselves.  and, the need for lots of salespeople is probably nil.  ok.  must look in a year (as three year old turns four and can go to school pt).

custom pillows, bedspreads, curtains, chair covers, couch covers, dresses, children's clothes, etc.  give me an order and a price you want to pay w/ picture.  have done speciality items (birdcage covers).  if you want special fabric, mail it to me:

susan kossey
431 kennedy road
collegeville, pa  19426  kosseys@comcast.net

also, i have done transposing for my hubby, but my notehead writing skills use more of the 'sketch' idea and are rarely filled in.  i tend to like to use single line slash and fill it in whenever.

if you want a composition for a loved one, or something composed for any occasion - send me the words and i'll write the music.

all charges - negotiable.

oh. and if you live in pennsylvania and i can make it to your location without getting lost - i play solo works (1 hour - 2 hours) for weddings/funerals (husband sings, too) for about $100. per hour.

i'm not that great of a gardener, but i can get impatients to grow like wildflowers here.  will plant flats of impatients wherever you want them for minimal charge.

anything else?  hmm. well, i'll save that for ludwig's castle (the concerto performance).

[BoliverAllmon]

so you have alot of free time on your hands LOL

[Nana_Ama]

Neurosurgeon by day, concert pianist by night.


What do you do for the bulk of your earning a living?

Teacher? Student? Stay at home parent? business, etc....

Whoa!  You're a neurosurgeon!!!  I want to do that!!!  Any advice (I'm 16 right now so any advice would be helpful to me.)

Anyway...I'm a highschool student and I am trying to get a job at my church. 
I volunteer at the hospital... if that counts.

[BoliverAllmon]

I think you might be disappointed when you get his answer.

boliver

[thalbergmad]

Printer by day

Mass Murderer by night.

[xvimbi]

Whoa!  You're a neurosurgeon!!!  I want to do that!!!  Any advice (I'm 16 right now so any advice would be helpful to me.)

Anyway...I'm a highschool student and I am trying to get a job at my church. 
I volunteer at the hospital... if that counts.

I think he is pulling your leg... and everybody else's

In any case, if you want to become a neurosurgeon, you will need to go to Medical School.

[BoliverAllmon]

hopefully you don't live around me. LOL

[gorbee natcase]

joiner by day/ sex god by night lol

[Bob]

No, I'm not a neurosurgeon, although I do alter the minds of children. (I teach)

That was just an example.  I didn't think everyone here was a concert pianist or full time piano teacher.  I am wondering if we have a few doctors though.  "Is there a doctor in the house?"


If I were a neurosurgeon.... I'd pay someone to find all the answers and bring them to me in bite size pieces....

I doubt neurosurgeon and concerto pianist go together.  No one could do that, I don't think.

[BoliverAllmon]

No, I'm not a neurosurgeon, although I do alter the minds of children. (I teach)

That was just an example.  I didn't think everyone here was a concert pianist or full time piano teacher.  I am wondering if we have a few doctors though.  "Is there a doctor in the house?"


If I were a neurosurgeon.... I'd pay someone to find all the answers and bring them to me in bite size pieces....

I doubt neurosurgeon and concerto pianist go together.  No one could do that, I don't think.

I did hear of someone once who was a piano performance major and some higher level math major. Apparently graduated both just fine. So who knows maybe someday someone will do them both.

[xvimbi]

I did hear of someone once who was a piano performance major and some higher level math major. Apparently graduated both just fine. So who knows maybe someday someone will do them both.

Mark Taimanov was a top-class chess professional and a concert pianist at the same time.

[BoliverAllmon]

Mark Taimanov was a top-class chess professional and a concert pianist at the same time.

lucky him. Thos are two of hobbies, though I am not top-class in either one of them.

[Bob]

I've heard of the math and chess stuff.

I don't think I'd want my neurosurgeon focusing too much on anything but his work though.

[BoliverAllmon]

I've heard of the math and chess stuff.

I don't think I'd want my neurosurgeon focusing too much on anything but his work though.

ah why not?

[wintervind]

how bout a nite job?
Pianist by day, Bartender by night

[Jacey1973]

Er well... I was a music student until i graduated last week.

Now i am unemployed, practise piano all day and in the process of applying to do a masters degree in piano performance. Also hoping to start piano teaching in September, waiting for an interview.  Could be worse.

[ako]

I used to be a project/product manager for a VoIP company. Quit that a couple of months ago to become a math teacher. I tutor high school students and teach piano to kids from church on the side.

[Bob]

ah why not?

I would want my neurosurgeon to be the best they can be at that.  I think they would be splitting their ability if they focused on both surgery and piano.  Both areas take effort.  If they enjoy piano as a break from medicine, great and I'd probably want that one since they like music and spend their free time using their brain.  If they are seriously going after piano and medicine, then they're probably a little nutty to begin with.  To do both as a profession seriously takes a huge committment.  I don't think one person can master these two fields, being capable of making a living in both areas -- a praticing neurosugeon AND concert level pianist?  That person would have to be a genius, not to mention all the extra stuff they would have to do to create either situation -- career building things in each area.  Sounds pretty impossible to me.

[Nana_Ama]

I do piano as a hobby.  I don't plan on majoring or even minoring in it because I know I don't have enough skill.  Anyway,  I bet someone could be a very decent pianist and a nuerosurgeon at the same time.  Especially if they had great teachers and started at a young age.  I doubt they could be professional though, but that's what amateur competitions are for!  

[Nana_Ama]

I would want my neurosurgeon to be the best they can be at that.  I think they would be splitting their ability if they focused on both surgery and piano.  Both areas take effort.  If they enjoy piano as a break from medicine, great and I'd probably want that one since they like music and spend their free time using their brain.  If they are seriously going after piano and medicine, then they're probably a little nutty to begin with.  To do both as a profession seriously takes a huge committment.  I don't think one person can master these two fields, being capable of making a living in both areas -- a praticing neurosugeon AND concert level pianist?  That person would have to be a genius, not to mention all the extra stuff they would have to do to create either situation -- career building things in each area.  Sounds pretty impossible to me.

yeah... doing both professionally is really difficult. Especially since medical school takes such a long time and both require a lot of physical stanima!

[Tash]

uni art student for the next 14 weeks. and then i ditch it and go on to study music education. i am a bum and don't have a real job, i am funded by my parents. though i will do commissioned artworks if anyone wants one, provided it's not an animal or a landscape...

[shasta]

Clinton F. Miller, MD, neurosurgeon and concert pianist:
https://www.titanicrecords.com/Ti230.html

[BoliverAllmon]

I would want my neurosurgeon to be the best they can be at that.  I think they would be splitting their ability if they focused on both surgery and piano.  Both areas take effort.  If they enjoy piano as a break from medicine, great and I'd probably want that one since they like music and spend their free time using their brain.  If they are seriously going after piano and medicine, then they're probably a little nutty to begin with.  To do both as a profession seriously takes a huge committment.  I don't think one person can master these two fields, being capable of making a living in both areas -- a praticing neurosugeon AND concert level pianist?  That person would have to be a genius, not to mention all the extra stuff they would have to do to create either situation -- career building things in each area.  Sounds pretty impossible to me.

Oh I know. I was being sarcastic.

[yamagal]

I would want my neurosurgeon to be the best they can be at that.  I think they would be splitting their ability if they focused on both surgery and piano.  Both areas take effort.  If they enjoy piano as a break from medicine, great and I'd probably want that one since they like music and spend their free time using their brain.

I used to work in a busy neurosurgeon's office.  The doc really liked Chopin and used to have us play recordings of it for the patients in the waiting room.   

My "day job" - I'm a homeschooling mom of 5, ages 6 mo. to 13.  Keeps me busy - I have to squeeze in piano practice here and there as able - in 15 to 20 min. chunks rather than hour-long sessions.  At this rate it's gonna take me a loooong time to improve.   

[BoliverAllmon]

if you focus hard during those 15 min. you would be surprised how much you can improve.

[Bob]

Clinton F. Miller, MD, neurosurgeon and concert pianist:
https://www.titanicrecords.com/Ti230.html

Now that is interesting.  I don't think I'd want him operating on me though.

[bernhard]

Piano (and recorder) teacher.

[BoliverAllmon]

Piano (and recorder) teacher.

WOW I didn't know that. LOL

[jhon]

It's a sad reality that there's virtually no money in classical music and that most classical musicians struggle to earn a living - and a life!  This is a fact espesically in this modern era where classical enthusiasts are already diminishing which simply causes lack of opportunities in classical musicianship. It seems also that a performing career (literally, being a concert pianist) isn't that stable for concertizing just bloom once in a blue moon; on the other hand, teaching appears to set off more security.  But, by and large, a classical music career could bring you into fame, but not actually into riches.

So, those who have full-time day jobs, can you stand being away from the piano and work 8-9 hours a day?  And how are you still able to practice when you're so tired when you arrive at home?  This is actually my case.  Since I have a work in morning to afternoon, I use and maximize all the night time to play - from sunset until midnight, straight (with a 15-minute dinner as my only break)!  And I feel tirede to the max the moment I already lie in bed to sleep.  Then tomorrow, it's all these again. 

I quote this axiom for the main board of Piano Society:

Music is a talent, but it's a loan, just for a little while in life...the talent belongs to the people and if you don't play, if you go for the money, you're going to lose your talent. (Art Blakey)

I agree with this but it's really should not be about choosing between money and music.  Just imagine, how can we still play if we are sick that we don't eat 'cause we don't have money to buy food? 

I just envy those who has been born like Mozart who just "chilled out" in entertaining royalties and monarchs without the problem of what's he's going to eat!

JHON
starving pianist

[jeremyjchilds]

I don't think it's hard to make mioney in music....well I guess it would be if you want to be a classical performer strictly, but most "professional" pianists also teach on the side, so I think that teaching is a necessary part of being a musician in order to have some kind of a budget.

I budget around my teaching income, and tune a few pianos in the morning, I love it.

[Bob]

Oh sure.  It's easy to make money in music.     yeah, and that' why I charge $200 per hour for teaching. 

There is a definite trade off -- money v talent.  It's what you put your time into.

[bernhard]

WOW I didn't know that. LOL

Always happy to inform.

[rafant]

Financial Adviser, specialist in retirement and life policies. Starting in floriculture as a business too.

[pianonut]

what's the difference between floriculture and horticulture?  just curious.  am thinking it's flora - flowers  and horta is plants?  anyway, sounds good.

[Bouter Boogie]

Still going to high school I wish I already finished it, though! But still have one year to go, *YaY* After that I wanna study conservatory AND European Law School

[c18cont]

Love all these keen answers...And some very exciting occupations

I have found that Mathematics and Music are very much related...I have a major in performance and a minor in math, and also in ethics, and astronomy...and extra course work of all kinds...(I wished a career as a student...but couldn't hold out... )

I taught high school and college choral music, and directed both chorus and orchestra, but retired early. I continue to a limited degree in a small church...

In Fact, I know at least one known composer on the "piano forums" in general...but it is not likely any others know of him. He is a personal friend from my college days, but is VERY quiet on the forums...I mention this as interesting, as I would think there may well be a number of well ranked professionals on board, who simply don't want it to be known...

I do enjoy the forum, but find it a bit overwhelming at times, as I am pretty old, and not up to date at all...

Regards, to the group...John Cont

[raffyplayspiano]

i just finished my bacherlors degree, and im doing a summer session until i begin my masters program in the fall. 
i also play the piano at a church every sunday for an hour.
thats it, how sad...

raffy

[c18cont]

Well raffy,

Your future is ahead...I have left mine, but might point out I did get a lot done, and I was 27 when I rec. my second undergrad ..in music ed...My first was perform. BA...so I was actually behind a good bit....I should have been 23 or 24, had I gone straight through..but I married, and we had a child, all before I went back....then a grad degree mostly at nite...

John

[sharon_f]

 

[sharon_f]

     Sorry for the double post.

[pianonut]

i would be really happy to practice a lot and get paid for it.  (practice piano)  that's where cruise liners come in.  or, that garden (what's it called) oh yes, longwood gardens.  people get paid to just play music while people peruse the gardens.  seriously, i think i'm going for it this year.

[drjames]

I really am a doctor.  Pediatrician. Playing piano has been my number one hobby since I was seventeen, (I started late). I have a digital piano in my office so I can play during lunch and occasionally between patients. Try it. You'll like it.  Jim.

[Jacey1973]

I really am a doctor.  Pediatrician. Playing piano has been my number one hobby since I was seventeen, (I started late). I have a digital piano in my office so I can play during lunch and occasionally between patients. Try it. You'll like it.  Jim.

"I think i need a doctor"