It’s an undeniable fact that overall, community music ensembles give good, but less-than-stellar performances. Most of us community band members do not make a living performing music, even though many of us maintain a professional mindset and can play quite well.
We listen to professional musicians perform in venues from famous concert halls and jazz clubs to little-known village greens and high school auditoriums, and even check out YouTube videos. These experts inspire us to improve our own game, expanding our skill set and our musical knowledge. In the meantime, though, some of us who go out for music-related jobs hit our heads on the glass ceiling erected by society’s expectations.
Qualifications
Some community musicians have a music degree; some don’t. It seems that the non-degree players who are otherwise high-quality musicians still have very little chance to compete for jobs in the music world. That is, if they follow the traditional “apply-and-hope-to-get-an-audition” process. Whether in a professional or amateur capacity, a paying job is a paying job.
Why do some job providers assume you are unqualified because you don’t have a music degree? Sure, formal training provides great knowledge of music performance, history, styles, composers, and pedagogy (teaching practices), among other subjects. However, those in charge of hiring musicians for long-term positions usually seem to ignore anything that has happened after graduation. Life experience be damned. No music degree? Sorry, you don’t meet our minimum requirements. Try Chick-Fil-A.
Forget that the applicant may have toured internationally in a jazz band or orchestra, or had an arrangement performed at the National Cathedral, or was coached by a world-renowned quintet, or conducted numerous small ensembles, or has simply been a freelance musician for a few decades. Real life experiences like this don’t seem to matter unless the applicant has a diploma (or some other official document showing an earned pedigree) confirming that they know what they actually know.
It reminds me of one of my favorite lines from the movie A Few Good Men, spoken by Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise): “It doesn’t matter what I know, it only matters what I can prove.” Bachelor degrees in music seem to represent the minimal proof employers want.
Respect for Educators
I’m not belittling folks with music degrees, especially those who have gone into the education field. I have enormous respect for dedicated music (and other performing arts) teachers, despite the lack of financial or administrative support, depending on the school district. Also, certainly conductors of orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands, and other ensembles need specific knowledge to lead their rehearsals efficiently.
But does this specialized knowledge have to come from a formal education? Can an experienced musician run organized, effective, and enjoyable rehearsals, consistently creating performances that the players and the audience appreciate, all without a music degree? My answer is yes, if they have the dedication to learn the craft.
Bottom Line
Whether conducting or playing, what does it really take? I remember the simplistic, yet wise words of a former mentor: “Can you play the gig?” Meaning if you have the chops (ability) to sound good or otherwise do the job well, then you should be accepted with very few further qualifying questions.
Many talented folks have made a name for themselves, but it was likely because they connected directly with the public (e.g. made a series of YouTube videos, or performed locally, or otherwise showed what they can do without having to apply for a job). Kudos to them. Maybe that’s the way to go? The wave of the future for musicians – advertise on your own and simply go play your ass off? Perhaps.
Those who have been there, I would love to hear your stories!