The End of the Traditional Classical Musician

As the music industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that the traditional music career is rarely the life classical musicians are living. With some exceptions, gone are the days where you could rely on a single job to fulfill your career goals while earning a livable wage. Musicians luckily have numerous venues to create their own income streams and build a diverse portfolio of work, so it’s time to say goodbye to the traditional classical musician model and embrace a new era. It’s time to design your own career!

You can design your own music career by diversifying your sources of performance income. Think about designing an online performance brand, collaborating with contemporary/early music ensembles, performing or composing for film, television, or video games, sharing music online, or hosting live streams. By embracing these opportunities, you can increase your financial stability and have more control over your career path.

Create work that aligns with your values and purpose. As a musician, you are passionate about creating and sharing music, but it runs deeper than that. Get clear on what your musical purpose is, so you can pursue creative opportunities like developing educational programs, working as a music therapist, or engaging in music activism. You can feel more connected to your work and make a difference.

Combine your skills and purpose to manifest a new music business that creates true impact. Whether you are a performer, educator, composer, conductor, or arranger, you have the skills and expertise to create your own products or services and sell them directly to your audience. This could include selling tickets to your concerts, offering online lessons or coaching, or creating and selling your own music. By building your own business and brand, you can have more control over your income and work, and be more responsive to the needs and interests of your audience.

I share more resources on career design and management in the online community Wednesdays at 1pm CST: