Career questions tagged pianist


Would it be necessary to double major, or are there other options?
My current career plan is this: my primary income comes from private piano/voice lessons. Then I also want to be a freelance opera singer, and freelance repetiteur, while also doing solo recitals. I probably want to do two operas a year at most (and I most likely wouldn't do two every year), and then when I don't have an opera gig, try to get a gig as a repetiteur. Obviously, those gigs are by auditions, opera especially, so if I didn't have either or didn't choose to have either at that time, then I would like to tour as a soloist for piano/voice or both. In any given year, one could have more emphasis than the other (one year i have one opera and one repetituer, the next I have one repetiteur and tour recitals). I hope that makes sense. Now, with all of that information, is it necessary to double major or dual emphasis in piano performance and voice performance? I would like to have equal emphasis in both, since I basically just want to do both almost equally. Is there another option? Could I cater my college schedule to just include emphasis in both? How could I do that? Can I have dual emphasis? Please explain! Thank you!

Opera Singer?
How exactly does being a freelance opera singer work? How do you get jobs? How many hours a day does an opera singer work during a performance season? Is being an opera singer possible as somewhat of a part-time or a "every once in a while" kind of job? I am also thinking about repetiteur work, private teaching, and solo performing, etc. if that helps answer how well these could work together...

Should I consider a career as a college/university/conservatory professor?
After some consideration, I have wondered if perhaps a music professor would suit me? What does being a music professor include (lifestyle, work-life). Could I teach multiple instruments (specifically piano and voice)? What degree requirements would I need to have? How does one become a professor, and specifically how do I become a professor of multiple instruments? Is performance a part of the job? How often would I perform each instrument (voice and piano)? Thank you!

Help! I have too many (performing arts) career interests!!?
I am a very ambitious person when it comes to what I want to do as far as my career goals. But, I have so many interests and things I want to do, that I just don't know how to either pick one (or a few), or just somehow try a bit of everything or something. Currently, I am interested in singing, acting, playing piano (solo, orchestral, accompaniment), and teaching piano/voice. I know opera combines singing and acting, so that might be an option, although I don't know how that would look with piano/piano teaching. I also think it would be really cool to be on Broadway! I could also go down the path of just focusing on teaching, and I think being a piano professor eventually would also be very interesting to me. I also could just choose between singing/acting, or piano, but that seems IMPOSSIBLE. I could never choose and abandon one of them, but I just don't know how I can make them work together. I think my main problem is that I don't know how I want my life to look like, so that's why I find it so hard to choose. If I don't do all of them, I feel like I'm abandoning opportunity in that field. Honestly, I just want to know how I could do it all if that's even possible.

Orchestral Pianist?
What are the ins and outs of being an orchestral pianist. I know most are part time or are touring/a soloist for a season or something, but I am very interested in learning more. Be as exhaustive as you can.

Could I take private vocal lessons as a piano performance major?
I want to major in piano performance, but I would also really like to get some lessons in voice and choral conducting. Is it possible to take vocal lessons from a voice professor as a piano performance major?

Should I major in music therapy with a piano performance minor, or major in music therapy and then get a masters in piano performance from a more prestigious school?
My future career goal is to primarily be a music therapist and private music instructor, but I would also like to be a professional concert pianist, perhaps touring every summer or every other summer with a few gigs throughout the year. Technically, the only degree I need is a music therapy degree, but would a minor be necessary? Or possibly I could just major in music therapy and then maybe get a piano performance masters if I decide afterwards that I need one? Also then what college should I go to? I have met with a professional opera singer from the Met, and he emphasized connections in college and how important it is to have a recognized teacher, but I am having trouble deciding.

how can i become a singer?
i'm a 14 years old girl that leaves in LA i'd love to become a singer, but i need a specific path with specific day to day plans and what singing comp should i do etc...

As a high schooler, how do I advertise and find students to teach piano?
I am a 16 year old junior in high school, and I am hoping to gain experience teaching private piano lessons. I have been playing piano since I was 4 years old, and feel that I am at a high enough level that I can teach students to a proficient level. I am going to major in music performance in college, so getting into teaching music would be useful for my future.

As a pianist, how much practice time should I put in on pieces for other people vs. My own lesson rep?
I'm a music education freshman and have picked up some accompanying jobs. I'm just wondering, in general, how much time should be spent on those pieces? #music #music-education #piano #pianist