Posted by Art on August 17, 2000 at 08:32:11:
In Reply to: Can you make a living? posted by Pete on August 16, 2000 at 23:15:14:
When we were kids my brother and I wore out a copy of "Amsden's Celebrated Practice Duets", published by C.L.Barnhouse very early in the twentieth century. In the preface of the original edition (sadly missing from the newer edition)was a wonderful list of "Do's and Don'ts" such a "...if you MUST smoke, do it moderately and shun liquor an cigarets as you would a rattlesnake." Near the end of the list was this one: "Don't fail to learn a trade in addition to your music; you can drop it at will should you find yourself adapted to make music your entire profession, while you will find it difficult to learn a trade after you are well past the amateur age." I took that advice to heart and taught high school physics for 35 years while playing semi-professionally, and never regretted that decision. I am still enjoying the tuba and earning some money on it, while most of my friends who "went pro" are burned out.