4 jobs I've gotten with a music degree 

Totally. On the one hand, I understand that everything can't be taught in school, but on the ohter, some practical financial and business skills are super practical!

Keep it simple. If you can't get a music degree and do what you want then you're not free. So let's stop telling ourselves that we are free. Freedom isn't being in some financial bondage having to sacrifice your time. Hell most are practically working for free. 15 an hour is the new poor after all the prices rises. What a joke. But where's the uproar? Man y'all are pretty easily fooled if you falsely believe that you're free.

Clearly slavery never ended. It just got way more sophisticated. Now all out deception is the only thing that gets you out of bed and you don't even know it. You're lost at sea in the high waters of the river banks who control the flow of the current or currency which is really YOU.

Yes! It's such a great job for a performer. Nothing like having to perform every week (especially on an instrument that is unfamiliar!!) to hone your skills. Organ has been so interesting! I'm definitely not a virtuosic organist, but I think I've gotten hired a couple of times just because I was willing to play it...

Thanks Sakura! I also think it's a journey, and it's okay to do some things that you don't necessarily love but can still learn something from and appreciate the experience. It also made me REALLY appreciate doing some things that I love now!

You're welcome, I hope it was helpful!

My sister-in-law had piano & organ degree from Tennessee & she was church organist for years. She also played with local bars as a "pick up" piano & keyboard player after posting her name w/ local club acts. *HER BIGGEST SUCCESS WAS NON-MUSIC THOUGH.... BEING A VETERAN PIANO PLAYER, SHE HAD A TYPING SPEED OF 100+ WPM. SHE WAS AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO START.* Like Alyse, she had some finance knowledge from personal planning & fiancial "futures" taught by her father... She started working in a company's as Exec Secty in purchasing and materials management, then became Asst Budget Dir. for a larger corporation & still plays occasionally for local bar bands as keyboard player.

Also "Fur Alyse", like my sister-in-law being an "extra" keyboardist for bar bands.... Alyse needs to check out the CELTIC MUSIC bands around, HAVING A FLUTE-PICCOLO-PENNY WHISTLE BACKGROUND IS A BIG DEAL IN CELTIC MUSIC

Glad you enjoyed it! It's always a balance to maintain artistic integrity and financial security, and at different stages of life, one may be more important than the other. But yes, figuring out how to keep going without burning out is crucial for a long term career in music!

Thanks for watching!

Hi Chuck! Thanks so much. I made this video quite some time ago. My husband is a guitarist, and we have played gigs together. I just never really got to the point of it being a reliable source of income, which is why I didn't include that. I actually now have a very cool (if I do say so myself) flute band called The Pan-Tones, which I started last year. Check it out! alysehokamp.com/pan-tones

Glad it was helpful. Good luck!

Hi Kate! It really depends. If you can find some students to teach privately in your own space, you don't need anything except the knowledge in your brain. A lot of businesses that provide private lessons have a requirement for a degree, but it really varies from place to place. Anyway, a degree does not necessarily make a good teacher...

Hi! When I was living in LA, a lot of (legit) businesses use Craigslist, so I checked that regularly when I was looking for a job. I also used the usual google/indeed searches, but didn't have as much success there. I just moved (back) to Texas, and the best thing I did was reconnect with people and told them what I've been doing and that I was moving back. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of people recommend me personally for teaching jobs, so that's really nice. For non-music jobs, I usually just apply to businesses I like. I tend to go directly to their website and send them an email, because sometimes they might be hiring even though they haven't advertised in the usual channels. If I reply to an ad on Indeed (or similar), I like to also send them a message through their website to make sure they see my resume/application. I'm not sure exactly how it looks from their end, but I seem to get more responses when I email directly. Then I will sometimes also visit/call the business and ask about my application. It is just so much harder for them to ignore you that way :)

@@alysehokamp I appreciate you so much for this thoughtful advice! New subscriber here! Looking forward to more videos!

Thank you!

Thanks! It was/is a long and slow process. Stressful at first! I'm by no means a virtuoso, but I can play some hymns, which is all most churches really need.

@@alysehokamp that’s really cool! I bet your brain grew hahaha ✅💪

@@AMARINS Definitely feels like a major brain stretch to play organ!

@@alysehokamp Alyse, you need to check out the CELTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL (Irish or Scottish-themed) bands around you, HAVING A FLUTE-PICCOLO-PENNY WHISTLE BACKGROUND IS A BIG DEAL IN CELTIC MUSIC. My sister-in-law had piano & organ degree from Tennessee & she was church organist for years. She also played with local bars as a "pick up" piano & keyboard player after posting her name w/ local club acts. *HER BIGGEST SUCCESS WAS NON-MUSIC THOUGH.... BEING A VETERAN PIANO PLAYER, SHE HAD A TYPING SPEED OF 100+ WPM. SHE WAS AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO START.* She had some finance knowledge from personal planning & fiancial "futures" taught by her father... She started working as Exec Secty for one company, and then became Asst Budget Dir. for a larger corporation. She still plays occasionally for local bar bands as keyboard player.

Hi Michael, I minored in music theory and Japanese. Last year I actually did that and found myself very stressed and overwhelmed, with not enough time to practice. I learned that a teaching career is not for me, but I love having it be a part of what I do!

It's been really great to perform weekly for over a decade now. I've definitely accumulated a lot of performance experience over that time! Also, a rare steady gig for a performer.

No, I haven't... It's not really something I'm interested in, I guess.

Good for you! You definitely don't need a music degree for these jobs, or any job really. I just wanted to put some ideas out there for music majors that they might not have considered.

give up

@@Pr0d3gi got it 😞

It all depends on your situation. If it’s your undying passion in life, you are confident you can survive and thrive in the music industry, and you are skilled among your contemporaries, you can make it!! Of course luck and time is very important in music, but as a guitarist many gigs and students exist (who wouldn’t want to learn guitar?!?) and if you are well known/respected then you can make a good living.

I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner- but I really can't answer this for you. The answer is somewhere inside of you- if you stay with the question, the answer will come to you.

might be something wrong with your device or ears because im at like 30% and i can hear her well

My volume is just above the icon and I can hear her just fine.

Correct!

You're right, it's certainly not the most efficient way to earn a living. Let's just say that in my experience, most people that pursue a music performing career for the long term aren't doing it for the money.