4 jobs I've gotten with a music degree

[@DrQuizzler]

OMG. This video should be required viewing for anyone either in music school or considering majoring in music. Creative arts degrees especially, should include updated real-world market value statistics and classes and labs in how to find work. Students should be given the tools while in school, to revisit the question of whether the potential ROI makes sense for them individually, early and often. It sounds like you found a good post-degree footing.

[@alysehokamp]

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!

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

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.

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

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.

[@RussellKeatsRivas]

I’m finishing grad music school with cello and when I applied to the church piano job last fall, I could not tell you how much that helped me with another opportunity to play. Next goal is to teach myself organ! You’re inspiring! Thanks!

[@alysehokamp]

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...

[@Wedelinecasimir]

Love this because this is real life! Be open and stay passionate, you’ll get there 💛

[@LionmightOfficial]

Glad to hear similar life stories. I also stopped doing gigs because it's a diminishing return especially as one advances in age. The time wasted traveling and preparing, plus the small pay is not worth it anymore. I missed so many important life moments because of trying to go after the gig hustle. Lesson learned.

[@Sakura-zu4rz]

I love the kind and generous heartwarming atmosphere that you create, your kind, easygoing, warm vibe. ❤I like the essence how you live on. I need to be true to myself and find a job I am passionate about. I want to find a way to live as who I really am.

[@alysehokamp]

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!

[@armsfullofronan]

Love this Alyse!!

[@alysehokamp]

Thanks Ronan! It's a pandemic era video that somehow has gotten way more views than the others on my channel...

[@TheMusicalNotesOfficial]

Great to hear similar experiences from another artist! Teaching and other jobs that help supplement any income without burning any musician out is wonderful! I plan on teaching more, but I am building up my composition and KZbin careers to have a well rounded music based career as a whole. More schools should address the various career paths a music career can take people, and how to best network with other musicians, and I am so happy you talked about this!

[@rickpat-x9u]

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.

[@rickpat-x9u]

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

[@alysehokamp]

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!

[@artoriapendragonartoriapen7587]

music is not only a called a talent for someone who like it Music also good with teaching lesson music is most people misunderstand when someone practice music instruments its just they want to be popular and artist these is not true its true many audition need people who could really play music instrument school teacher are very important To educate young generation about knowledge like math science and any subject that could be a good career Music are also a good career music teacher orchestra performer and many more music can be consider a skills that are really hard to master it require a lot of training from a to z for so many years are need to be taken to master it music also could be consider an important knowledge it start on paganini day the legend music ikon in history

[@kenanstrutchen4423]

This is VERY inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

[@alysehokamp]

You're welcome, I hope it was helpful!

[@PerryWagle]

In my youth, decades ago, my Computer Science department was generally keen on admitting Music majors into its Masters program because they tended to do really well. Might still hold?

[@Kargbo-Reffell_Music]

There are some parallels between reading and write music, and reading and writing code.

[@chuckminzenberger7590]

wonderful post!! doing anything you can to make money is part of an arts career, especially at the beginning. One thing you didn't mention is, why not form your own group? even a duet . . . flute and guitar is very nice/mobile, and if you are any good tons of gigs open up, cafes, weddings, corporate parties. Just find partners you like to hang with anyway, its fun.

[@alysehokamp]

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

[@AMARINS]

It’s so cool that you taught yourself to play the organ! 🎉

[@alysehokamp]

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.

[@AMARINS]

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

[@alysehokamp]

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

[@rickpat-x9u]

@@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.

[@genloke98]

U are amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[@alysehokamp]

Thanks for watching!

[@emery1057]

Church musician is probably the most accurate best job for any musician. Only downside is you have to find a place that pays best and is a good place for growth spiritually.

[@alysehokamp]

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.

[@kaiigu]

Hi ! I was wondering, in order to teach an instrument do you need to have some sort of degree on the instrument you’re teaching or just the uni degree ?

[@alysehokamp]

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...

[@FloraCordero]

Thank you for this valuable information! Where do you find jobs? Is there a website you like or do you go in person?

[@alysehokamp]

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 :)

[@FloraCordero]

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

[@rosenorton7597]

I’m in year 12 doing a lot of this stuff, I’m a classical singer, you don’t need a music degree for any of this.

[@alysehokamp]

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.

[@Jawreallydrums15]

This helped me a lot thank you

[@alysehokamp]

Glad it was helpful. Good luck!

[@usaintltrade]

🌹

[@TimsplayMusic]

I love this video

[@alysehokamp]

Thank you!

[@davidphilipjackson1955]

❤

[@elielite6971]

I am at the age of 24, should I continue striving for my music degree (Guitar) or give up?

[@Pr0d3gi]

give up

[@elielite6971]

@@Pr0d3gi got it 😞

[@violaisreallycool]

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.

[@alysehokamp]

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.

[@michaelrollo6518]

I have a question what did you miner in collage and did you ever think about expanding your teaching career just asking or giving you an idea

[@alysehokamp]

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!

[@kecojune6857]

❤️❤️

[@lesamourai5]

I can't barely hear you with full volume.

[@n0tmxiaxx]

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

[@mr.starfish4965]

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

[@sanchezproductions87]

Im at a crossroads with music/audio. Have you ever messed around with gaming or film scoring? Or sound design of any kind?

[@alysehokamp]

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

[@noriskky]

Watch in 1.5x

[@Joshua-u1r]

St.petersberg ..Russia needs you

[@nilammaske987]

Which country u are from

[@alysehokamp]

Correct!

[@cloudrouju526]

This video reassures me to stop letting my 9 year old daughter to devote 3 hours every day practicing piano. Music has the highest cost/pay out ratio as a career. 3 hours every days is a LOT for a 9 year old.

[@alysehokamp]

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.