12 Ways to Make Money as a Musician in 2024 

Practicing in front of people regularly will help with you with performing/auditioning in front of people. Do it for free on Tonic: tonicmusic.app/practice-together Good luck! 🙌🏼

Answer: Be Ray Chen

"Before I won all my competitions." Not Ray casually flexing his talent and hard work at us 🤣.

The most important thing is to not be snobby about the work you do. You can make a lot of money as a musician playing pop songs over a track at a wedding or in Times Square, but not a lot of people are willing to do that. You have to start small, you’re not going to immediately go play in the Berlin philharmonic right after college, especially if you don’t know the style they play in. You have to be willing to play things you don’t want to play and teach students who don’t want to learn, but it’s all worth it because you are doing what you love. I love ray Chens advice here and there are so many opportunities for musicians than what people give us credit for.

I was going to be a musician but then I came to my senses and spent the next 42 years as an Engineer. Now approaching retirement, I plan to play more music until my hands fall off or until I get arthtitis. I use the Tonic App.

13. Play flight of the bumblebee as fast as you can and go on bbc

Your effort in sharing your ideas in helping musicians earn more is much appreciated. Your concern for others like this video shows you have a kind heart.

Ray is a good speaker, he can be a good events host… he speaks clearly, can pull off some humor

The information you share here is very clear and useful, as well as fun. Thank you for giving that advice to musicians who have talent, but as you say, they can't always audition or compete in competitions. You're great. Infinite blessings 🙏

I, too, understand being terrible at everything but violin😉 I wanted to share my perspective living in a semi-rural area. 1. Concert Soloist: if I was one, I’m sure I could travel and tour; I’m a violin teacher and wedding violinist/performer and Mom! Which means I’m also a wife, chauffeur, nanny, babysitter, teacher, scullery maid, cook, baker, and candlestick maker! And so on and so forth. It would be a little bit harder to get started doing that where I live (currently Mississippi gal); I could probably explore Memphis, Birmingham, and other big cities in the South since there is the Memphis Symphony, a symphony in Birmingham, and 3 or more symphonies in Mississippi, and see if I get success that way or if I can network enough to collaborate or audition with bigger/more well-known symphonies/musicians. 2. Chamber Musician 😩😩😩 I’ve been trying to get the few classical musician friends and colleagues I know in Mississippi to join a chamber music group with me, which honestly is my favorite musical form. 😍 almost every day I miss chamber music and I’m so sad for taking it for granted when I was in college. So far it hasn’t worked out, since my colleagues are another mom of 4 who is too busy, and a doctor of music who I’ve worked with for years who stays busy with his Suzuki studio on weekdays and his wife, daughter, and grandbaby. I knew a violist that used to live in Tennessee and was close enough for us to meet some, but we were never able to and then he moved out of state. The area where I live has mainly marching and concert band programs in schools, but not as many orchestras or string orchestras😥 but that just gave me the idea to contact those teachers and offer to start or join a chamber music group with those students🤩 3. Orchestral Musician: there’s no orchestra in the semi-rural town I live in, but I’ve been able to audition for 2 different symphonies/orchestras in other cities, and there are 2 or more other ones in Mississippi that I could audition for and sustainably join because distance and time don’t prevent me, but being a mom, I would want to be able to bring my husband and children to some or all of the performances to give them access to culture/fun activities/vacation/tourism opportunities. The older they get the easier this would be; I remember how hard it was to find babysitters or arrange my schedule with my husband’s work schedule or my families’ schedules for childcare when they were younger, but that is only going to get easier. I’ll be back, gotta fix said children brunch and I’ll talk about being a Suzuki teacher🙋🏻‍♀️and the other items on Ray’s list. 🤎🎻

Thank you for this video! I remember being very disheartened when my parents told me I can't do anything in the arts because I'll starve... I wish I had this video to show them then that there are many different avenues to maintain a liveable life and future. Whether it's music, visual arts, theater, or anything else you're being discouraged from doing, if you REALLY want it, you'll definitely go get it!!!

Rehearsing on Tonic as my band prepares to open for Godsmack in July. I could use as much encouragement on there as possible.

Thanks for posting this!👍👍 I absolutely love practicing with Tonic!

Thank you for starting this conversation! I'm currently on a path to prove to my musician friends that you can make a living being a musician! I think I would've dive deeper with the performing route though. I've learned over the last few years is that, it's not just who you know or auditions. Yes practice helps! But treat your performances as a "product" and understand how to run a business. You have to market your own music like selling a product in a store. Clients don't know what you offer unless you put it out there!!! I honestly could keep going on this subject! Don't give up fellow musicians and creatives! You got this!

Thank you Ray, I've been playing and performing violin since I was 4 and it's nice to hear tips like these, I'm currently working on some of them and hope to earn something doing my own music, I own a recording studio and I've been recording other peoples music for soo long, finally I've reached a point where I can afford to be working on my own projects some of the time and that is a great feeling! I did get to work on music all this time which I think is important for any musician and owning a studio I acquired all the gear and a space to do my own music, I'd say the best way to do anything is to get started : ) Thanks again for all the advice, truly inspirational Ray.

I play in community orchestra, write and record my own music, record as a session musician, teach, and am trying to build on RU-vid - it is a hard road but just like with violin if you keep improving daily you will eventually get where you want to get - thanks Ray!

As a drummer i think I should consider taking all these paths as its a rare but growing instrument. I think the first path is social media and conservatory and then i could take orchestral auditions in jazz big bands or freelance gigs.

as a law student trying to make content around my compositions I really needed this, thank you 🙏

The educational system is failing our young musicians. The burden of student loan debt is becoming increasingly monstrous, with many graduates struggling to find work in the music industry. The music industry is changing at a rapid pace, and it is no longer sufficient for artists to simply be good at their trade. In order to survive in this ever-changing world, musicians must also have the ability to market themselves effectively. Musicians must learn to think and behave like entrepreneurs. They must learn how to market themselves and create opportunities for themselves. This means taking control of their own careers, and not relying on the traditional paths of the past. They must be able to understand the music market and how it works, and they must be able to find ways to stand out in it. An entrepreneurial mindset is vital for the survival of young musicians in today's music industry. It's not just about being good at your craft, it's about being able to make a living out of it. Musicians need to think outside the box, take risks and be creative. They need to be self-motivated and take the initiative. They need to be able to create their own opportunities and make the most of them.

Thank you for sharing so many options!

That’s actually very helpful! Thanks!

Ray really spilling the tea here 🍵 Thank you for sharing your views on the many options. Super interesting!

Needed this bc I graduated this year and I want a career in music

Nicely done... ❤. Thanks. 🎉

THANK YOU for this video ❤

Perfect for wit, and the best analytical skills!! Professor Ray😆🎻👑✨It's elegant and luxurious, but it feels like a glimpse into a new world😮

Love the content Ray!

You are a very great violinist. Great video.

Thank you!

Thank you for everything ❤

Thanks for sharing

Great summary! ❤

Thank you! Very helpful! All that remains is to learn how to play! 😄

Another band to check out for sure, time for three super cool

Great vídeo and words !

Thanks for advising me

Yes

Ray Chen sir says only practice makes man perfect 👍🏻 After so many days sir is back on RU-vid🙏🏻

I love how Jasmine Choi's face was the flute player example lol

I listened to an A.I generated "song" once on a music channel and I can say I have written stuff better than it before (not with lyrics but still). And according to the channel it was coming from the very BEST music generator out there. I can't believe this is being viewed as a worthy replacement for real musicians and artists.

love your playing, saw you at disney hall, love your content and i'm a fan... just wanted to say that the background music makes your speaking challenging to process, it's a bit of an undesirable sensory overload, perhaps consider eliminating it? i want to really listen to your points :)

What’s the name of the concerto playing in the background? I recognize the finale but I never learned that one and wanted to learn in high school. Kabalevsky?

Cover artist gang, les go!!!

nice coffee setup btw Ray

Ray Chen You Are my HERO. (And no, I’m not a musician).

Nice

Bonjour M. Ray Chen !! 😊 J'ai une question pour toi qui pourrait peut-être faire un tuto. J'aimerais savoir ce que signifie les noms des chansons dans la musique classique. ex :Sonate pour piano no 1 op. 11... Opus et autre chose que je ne connais pas et qui m'intéresserait de comprendre. 🤩 J'aime tes tuto et ton énergie. J'adore t'écouter et te voir jouer du violon. 🥰🥰🥰

Ray hi good to see u again ^^

I will ALWAYS make money as a musician. 🙏

Could you make a video on how a high school/college student could make a few extra bucks? I know you can preform at parties and stuff but could you have a video and tell us how to get those gigs?

Ray is generous to mention twist

Orra, genial, vey!

i've just graduated with a bachelors degree in violin performance and i have to say life is tough, really isn't easy to find work at all...

Wow. I've never seen anyone spill this kind of tea before. Bottom line still...aspire to be like Ray Chen.

Each branch of the US military has a musician job. Funnily enough since it's military, it's one of the most stable careers for someone who wants to continue doing music as a career.

Why did you number them 1 through 12? How about C, C#, ..., B?

You didn’t mention professional busker. Guitarist John Butler said he went to the Fremantle Markets, played for a couple of hours, and made 90 buxcks... and said dude, this is awesome... I don't have to work anymore.

Now can you make a video about wining competitions please?🙏🙏

Session musicians are the epitome of being MERCENARY. You MUST produce or youre done !!

When will trombone be added to tonic?

Does Ray respond to comments ? 👀🎻

I am a pharmacy student but this is so helpful 😂❤ not for me 😢😂😂

❤

If you want to become a soloist, being good looking does help. It is a lot easier to gain followings on social media if you are young and attractive

I'd love to be a chamber musician. Glad to hear I just need to be accepted into a conservatory for that, because that's just 1 impossibility instead of multiple... :D XD I guess, I'll be a biologist after all... (which is also very cool)

l am going to your concert in kaohsiung 113 .6.2

We have Ray Chen bait before GTA VI 🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥

Les gooo

If you are a pianist, there is an option to become a freelance collaborative pianist / staff pianist for schools. I’ve been working part time at university for 18 years.

Every like= me running Don Juan excerpt

As much as I would kill to quit my desk job and become a full time musician, the market is too unstable and biased. Unless you write the next big pop song played on repeat on every radio station, the income will be hard to come by. I have friends in the industry who went broke during the pandemic and had to get labor intensive jobs to survive.

Let's be real no one will ever pay too listen to AI, when I go busking or play a piece more emotion and soul is put into it. AI can't put emotion into anything and that is why it is obsolete

When all else fails.... PRACTICE !!

Probably only 3 real options, free lance, violin teacher, and orchestra musician, you can do 3, but if you cant, you can do freelance and teach, that works good for real money, i think.

Money removes the fun in art 😢❤❤🎉🎉🎉

Hey guy, are you going to make a desktop version of tonic? I'm not a nerd with a smell phone you nerds.

step one: find random pianists on public pianos recording themselves

Ray Chen Are you Chinese?

Here a musician win in two hours what a normal worker win in a week. But the Merch here its play covers.

Ok so at 0:06,If Ray dosent make money as a musician,how does he have a 10mil dollar violin?

Passion is important but you have to make money from it.

that one parent that makes their kid pretend to be poor outside of the local target to get extra money...💀

Thanks for sharing! But let’s be honest, all Ray knows is how to be a Concert Violinist… this video is so misleading for the average musician just about to graduate uni.

Coems🤑

Answer: advertise for tonic

First: be good at playing the instrument you prefer.

ling ling can be all of them at the same time

Because of A.I I have decided against ever having kids until something is done about it, which probably nothing ever will and it will just get worse. I don't want any future children of mine to grow up in a world where A.I makes all the music and art, not them, and where the only love, relationships and intimacy they will ever get is from robots, not humans. I want to have kids so I can turn them into something like musicians, artists and composers. And I wouldn't want them to be as lonely and isolated as I was.

Step 1: Become doctor

AI 😜

Answer: Extort your neighbors with the THREAT that you will PRACTICE unless they pay you $200/wk.

You forgot the 13th way: Get a full time job.

what in the hell law is that in the united states. that is not a law that sounds typical to me

Forget about the public school teaching jobs. The pay is like minimum wage but you need to out tons of extra time in it. Plus no one appreciates includes the kids! Not worth it. Don’t recommend

Session musicians are the epitome of being MERCENARY. You MUST produce or youre done !!

Session musicians are the epitome of being MERCENARY. You MUST produce or youre done !!