Could you live only from music?

[ionutz]

I am asking this question because I think that as an average pianists it is quite difficult to survive from the money I earn from doing this. What do you think?

[lenny]

being a concert pianist is a pretty rare thing, but there are still plenty jobs in music.

work teaching, accompanying, etc.

really any decent musician can make some kind of a living doing something music related.

[Bartolomeo]

Outside of a small pool of celebreties, nobody makes a decent living solely as a performing classical pianist in solo/recital/concert sorts of settings.

There are people who mostly teach at a college or university who also play recitals.  They do OK for themselves and their families.

There are church musicians, who direct and accompany choirs and provide service music, who make some money, but not a lot.  There are considerable nonmusical responsibilities in these jobs.

There are people who mostly give private lessons, and some of them concertize a little bit, or work as accompanists or part-time church musicians.

And then there are those pianists who work in jazz or pop idioms, and play club dates, weddings, and private parties as part of a trio or larger group.  The money can be reasonably good at times, from what I understand.

I make most of my money from other pursuits unrelated to music, which limits the time I have for piano.  On the other hand, I have much greater artistic freedom, and I can pick and choose my gigs.

[anda]

read this:

https://www.rtsi.ch/trasm/argerich/welcome.cfm?lng=1&ids=491&idc=998
https://www.rtsi.ch/trasm/argerich/welcome.cfm?lng=1&ids=491&idc=3034

[pianowelsh]

I have never tried eating music although when my student grant is delayed I have often considered but I certainly don't think you could live only on music for  very long you would probably die of malnutrition or something!

[krenske]

Yes you are right.
Eating music is not good, long term.
However if you are truly dedicated, I find it is good to eat a score, as the final part of "invibing" it before a concert. There's no point in eating the staples though.
You try sitting down in a music-school cafeteria, and assembling a rachmaninov sandwich, or a chopin lasagne. The lengthy stares and snide remarks you inspire will betray the jealousy of other musicians, who hadnt thought of doing this.

[pianowelsh]

Im with you krense - maybe we should do lunch sometime?