10 Ways to Make Money in Classical Music

With the global economy in a major slump, orchestras closing their doors, classical music radio stations shutting down, and music education being slashed in the public school system, classical music may seem to be on its way out. Is it even possible to make money in classical music? Before you shut your violin case for the last time, sell your piano, burn your music scores, or quit the choir, check out how YOU can make money in classical music.

Music Gigs
The most obvious way to make money as a classical musician is to book music gigs. What is a music gig? It can be anything from having your string quartet hired to play a series of weddings and bar mitzvahs to playing in the pit of a Broadway show or being the leading act a major music festival. Music gigs usually run by word-of-mouth. For example, if your ensemble does an amazing job at the local Christmas cantata, that church may recommend your group to other churches that need your talent.

Selling Music Albums
It has never been easier for independent classical music artists and ensembles to publish CDs. Instead of waiting for the elusive record deal, classical musicians can take the initiative and sell their own albums of live and recorded performances. Many classical composers have found that selling their own music albums not only eliminates the middle man, but also gives them a larger share of the royalties. Only downside? You need to market your own album.

Working as a Music Director
Many of the greats like Bach found that paying the bills required working as a music director. This does not mean you have to become a local high school band director, but you may want to get a church gig or a gig at a community center as the music director. Pay for this position varies based on experience and the size of the venue.

Teaching Music
You can opt to to become a private teaching, sharing your knowledge of percussion , piano, voice, violin, composition, etc. with the next generation, or you can go full in and get a degree in music education to teach at the secondary and/or university levels.

Being a Solo Performer
If you are not tied down to family or a steady job and are extremely talented, you may want to begin your own solo tour. Decide where your music would have an audience, set up some music gigs, publicize your concerts, sell albums and music merchandise at the concerts, and use the contacts you gain there to begin the next tour.

Creating a Music Ensemble
If you are a composer or musician who can't find a professional classical group to work with, then start your own. Book gigs and concerts, record and sell your own album, and write and publish original music for your ensemble.

Writing about Classical Music
The internet provides literally hundreds, even thousands, of writing opportunities for music professionals. Even if your specialty is classical music, you may find that your keen musical ear can be useful for commercial music websites, band ezines, or popular music education blogs.

Networking
Whether you decide to network through music conventions, concerts, gigs, or social networking sites like MySpace, never underestimate the power of networking. The jazzer that you shared coffee with after the last Christmas cantata gig may be person who recommends you for the big music gig downtown with the professional orchestra.

Professional Organizations
If you are fortunate enough to live in a big city with large big budget professional orchestras, ballet companies, and opera houses, you may be able to eek a living through a steady professional gig. I suggest contacting musicians who already are involved in the professional ensemble and finding out about audition requirements for your instrument or voice, how often and when openings occur, and other specifics, like whether the ensemble has blind auditions.

Concerts
Just like a band often earns more many when it performs live through the selling of tickets, gaining more music fans, selling merchandise, and selling albums, you or your classical ensemble should focus on concerts. Concerts are a little bit different than gigs, where someone else pays you. With concerts, you organize a venue, ticket prices, technical specs, etc. This is where someone with music business savvy can come in really handy, as well as an audiovisual technician.

On Perseverance
In any case, whether you decide to write a composition for your new music ensemble, travel the globe as a solo musician, sell albums online, or work a regular gig as a church choral director, there are many options available to the classical musician if you just expand your horizons. You may not be rolling in dough, but you will enjoy a fulfilling life accomplishing great things with your life's passion - music. And that is worth more than all the money in the world.