Essay on the Class Divide in Classical Music

bridgenail
Wed, 11 Sep 2019 22:12:28 +0000

What a great article!! Thanks for sharing.

And I’m sooo glad to have read it AFTER my kid was done with music school bc if my kid were applying, I might be running for the liquor cabinet.

The composer is spot-on to call out many elements of classical music that are simply cruel and arrogant. And if not cruel and arrogant then it has a predatory nature. It’s this constant need to continue to pay more (for classes, festivals, pay-to-sings, low paid gigs, etc.) or else…you’ll never make it. And there definitely is a class divide…in that if you have a lot of money, it’s easier…to keep paying (but not necessarily to hit the big time). I know people without a ton of money but a TON of talent who make it. The difficulty comes in when you realize you’re not the top 5% who’ll make it big (a guesstimate based on no research - it may be larger but probs smaller)…and you’ve invested so much money and time and you may not make it to the big leagues…it really hurts…and of course there are the predatory people/institutions that keep feeding you the dream…for a chunk of change.

STILL, I do think that there are things you can do to avoid her outcome. And there is a “middle class” in performing…that the author does not discuss…maybe bc she can’t afford it (debt) or wouldn’t be happy with it.

So for anyone reading this and feeling a tad sick, here are a few things to consider:

1.) Manage and be willing to adjust expectations.

Very few people make it big in this business…so don’t fool yourself (and if you’ll make it big no one will be asking for $50 to 70K per year in grad school - if you get that offer you’re just paying for the free tuition students). We approached a music degree by deciding how much we would be willing to pay for a solid college education. It’s a Bachelor’s Degree so I was willing to pay a certain amt for that. People pay for a BA in history so why not a BM? Also I have a BA and work in business so I know it’s possible to make a good living with a Bachelor’s. But in deciding that…we paid attention to #2.

2.) Avoid/limit debt!!!

Limiting debt was key to decisions…even when it got in the way of dreams (sorry NYU and NYC - my D was miffed at me in high school). After college, my D has thanked me many times for the fact that she has no debt. I could not stomach debt for a performance degree. How the heck would it be paid back…I didn’t consider the best situation…I considered the middle to the worst…bc that’s where 95% will end up. If you get out of schools with a bachelor’s/master’s with no or manageable debt, you will have the freedom to do some performing. My D’s grad school was less selective bc she saw the writing on the wall and went with a great offer from a school in a city with a less reputation and passed on the great schools that didn’t give enough money. She didn’t think they could turn her into a monster performer in two years…and that’s what would have been needed.

3.) Diversify your talents/interests.
The multi-talented kids seem to do best (in the 95% crew after college). If you are a super star and have a nearly free education…go ahead and specialize! You win. For everyone else, try to have other talents/interests and feel free to pursue them … one summer or one semester. Trust me, the next semester/summer there will still be plenty of opportunities (that you will pay for!).

If you give your all to the music gods…your love may not be reciprocated…and this is often the exact opposite that you hear. For the top 5% of talent, it can work. For everyone else, it could be bitterness (if you define success too narrowly and not consider the “middle class” of performing). So be aware of how hard it is…and live accordingly AND fully.

The middle class of performance is where my D has landed. She was even able to afford an overseas trip with her boyfriend this year (not Europe like she wanted until she checked cost but Mexico City…how fun!). Sure, expectations needed to be adjusted after college. She’ll never be an opera star…and she’s fine with that. She is now a singer actor and it’s working (even hired for a good opera next year). Many of her friends have gone through similar adjustments once they hit the “real world”. I don’t view this as unfair…I just think it’s life. We don’t all get to be rich and famous…even if we get a degree from a fancy school.

I hope this helps in some way…again just my opinion and experience.