If music is not your profession, why not?

[Karl Henning]

I wouldn't be able to pay the rent.

I may be at an advantage, living in a society where being able to earn one's living by composition, and by composition alone, has throughout this nation's history been the exception.  What are the principal lessons?

• There is, in fact, no correlation (direct or inverse) between whether I can earn my living as a composer, and the quality of my work.
• Some motivation other than monetary success is required for me to pursue my work.  If instead, my motivation is the desire to do the best work I am capable of, then this actually may prove an artistic advantage.

[Gurn Blanston]

I was 57 years old when I first realized that my real interest, what I could perhaps do at a professional level one day, was music history. By then, my commitments to other things were so deep that getting a formal education and moving in that direction were, yes, possible on an idealized basis, but definitely not on a practical one. So I taught myself how to read and write and started a blog instead.

[Rinaldo]

• There is, in fact, no correlation (direct or inverse) between whether I can earn my living as a composer, and the quality of my work.
• Some motivation other than monetary success is required for me to pursue my work.  If instead, my motivation is the desire to do the best work I am capable of, then this actually may prove an artistic advantage.

Oh, absolutely! I do make music and it's simply music that doesn't pay (or pay nearly enough to cover my bills) so I do it alongside my profession (journalism).

[Ken B]

More good music is a great problem for the world to have;  and if you write bad music, you are no competition of mine 

Would that Pierre Boulez had had your attitude.

[Karl Henning]

Would that Pierre Boulez had had your attitude.

I do try to wear my superiority to Boulez lightly.

[Wendell_E]

2. 

[vandermolen]

Very simple. Unlike my brother who is a very talented musician who plays the organ in his local church and has composed some wonderful music (which he shows no interest in publicising) I have no musical talent whatsoever - although I love classical music. I have, however,  conducted all the great symphony orchestras of the world (Berlin Phil playing Honneger's 'Liturgique' Symphony, Boston SO in Copland, Leningrad PO in Shostakovich, LPO/LSO in Vaughan Williams, Helsinki PO in Sibelius, Czech PO in Suk, Novak and Martinu etc) on my CD player. 

[some guy]

Honegger, por favor.

[Mirror Image]

Very simple. Unlike my brother who is a very talented musician who plays the organ in his local church and has composed some wonderful music (which he shows no interest in publicising) I have no musical talent whatsoever - although I love classical music. I have, however,  conducted all the great symphony orchestras of the world (Berlin Phil playing Honneger's 'Liturgique' Symphony, Boston SO in Copland, Leningrad PO in Shostakovich, LPO/LSO in Vaughan Williams, Helsinki PO in Sibelius, Czech PO in Suk, Novak and Martinu etc) on my CD player. 

Hah!

[Pat B]

I got a relatively late start, I liked practicing more than my parents liked me practicing, and I wasn't interested in a long-term switch to viola. When I took a violin for non-majors class at Rice, my teacher expressed some surprise that I hadn't majored in music, which made me a bit sad. Ultimately, though, I was probably destined to go into technology, and music seems like an often-frustrating career.

I played rock drums in my 20s and 30s, but not at a pay-the-bills level.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I wouldn't be able to pay the rent.

All the lecturers in composition I know seem to be living very comfortably and some prefer to dine in the more expensive restaurants near campus.

[Mirror Image]

All the lecturers in composition I know seem to be living very comfortably and some prefer to dine in the more expensive restaurants near campus.

Yes, but do remember that these lecturers are people that are in demand. They're asked to come speak and I'm sure are paid rather handsomely for the gig.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Yes, but do remember that these lecturers are people that are in demand. They're asked to come speak and I'm sure are paid rather handsomely for the gig.

I am sure they have rather more permanent jobs being coordinators of various subjects they lecture in......

[Mirror Image]

I am sure they have rather more permanent jobs being coordinators of various subjects they lecture in......

Yes, but that still doesn't change how in demand they are or else there would be no reason for them to be there.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Yes, but that still doesn't change how in demand they are or else there would be no reason for them to be there.

Touché, my friend.

Composers I know (most here tend to be composers alongside teaching privately and at conservatoires as well as performing) almost never have full time jobs purely as composers because of the sheer length of time it would take to build up the kind of reputation where one can make $60 000 or more throughout a year of writing music. Thankfully there happen to be an extraordinary number of fields within music where one can also earn money. A combination of composing plus perhaps doing some arranging and orchestrating, teaching music privately, perhaps performing regularly in an ensemble could result in a nice yearly income.

[Mirror Image]

Touché, my friend.

Composers I know (most here tend to be composers alongside teaching privately and at conservatoires as well as performing) almost never have full time jobs purely as composers because of the sheer length of time it would take to build up the kind of reputation where one can make $60 000 or more throughout a year of writing music. Thankfully there happen to be an extraordinary number of fields within music where one can also earn money. A combination of composing plus perhaps doing some arranging and orchestrating, teaching music privately, perhaps performing regularly in an ensemble could result in a nice yearly income.

Absolutely. Even our buddy Karl Henning has a day job. Some composers are rather fortunate to have new works commissioned throughout the year and live off those commissions while others have to split their time between having a day job and composing on the side. Even still, Karl has huge oeuvre list and it's amazing that he's found the time to compose at all given his busy work schedule and day-to-day obligations.

[Androcles]

Listening to classical music and occasionally playing it largely to myself is a hobby that occupies a little corner of my life where I can relax and be myself. I would hate to have to be 'professional' about it - i.e. forced to perform/compose/analyse what other people want to hear in order to make money. I wouldn't enjoy it any more.