How can you make a living out of playing piano?

[bitus]

I noticed a lot of us play piano on different ocasions, or are concert pianists, etc. What are some ways you can make a living out of piano alone?
Myself, i play piano at three different churches: 8am, 11am, 6 pm. However i'm not doing it for the money... for i never ask for it, but there is a need, and the schedule fits perfectly.
Sometimes i play for events, but very rarely, since i have to practice my repertoire during the week, and study for school.
The Bitus.

[bernhard]

1. Teach.
2. Work in a piano shop. (demonstrating)
3. Train as a piano tuner.
4. Perform (weddings, birthdays, parties, etc.)
5. Work with software development (notation, lessons, etc.)
6. Busk. (and sell your home made CDs)
7. Accompany (there is quite a market here specially for exams).
8. Become a personal trainer (you go to the student's house to make sure he practises - pretty much like a personal trainer goes to cliets houses to maeks ure they exercise.

Good luck,
Bernhard.

[thomas_williams]

6. Busk. (and sell your home made CDs)

Busking-- performing as a street musician-- is an interesting idea to me.  Could you tell us more about your experience with it?

[bernhard]

Busking-- performing as a street musician-- is an interesting idea to me.  Could you tell us more about your experience with it?

Actually I have no experience of it, but one of my friends (a recorder player) did some busking on the two weeks before Christmas in Convent Garden (London). He had a CD player with background music (just the accompaniment), and he played everyday from 9am to 6pm for about 15 days. Mostly baroque repertory (Telemann sonatas, Bach sonatas, etc.). He made £6000.  Not bad he? He also sold a lot of his homemade CDs. But he told me that this was exceptional since it was just before Christmas. He said that he would not rely on busking alone.

That's all I know about it.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[minsmusic]

8. Become a personal trainer (you go to the student's house to make sure he practises - pretty much like a personal trainer goes to cliets houses to maeks ure they exercise.

Good luck,
Bernhard.

Bernhard, are you serious about this one?  Are there really personal trainers out there for this?  
Nothing would surprise me.  I've even heard of people hiring others to follow them around to make sure they don't over eat!  I think it's pretty funny.

[bernhard]

Bernhard, are you serious about this one?  Are there really personal trainers out there for this?  
Nothing would surprise me.  I've even heard of people hiring others to follow them around to make sure they don't over eat!  I think it's pretty funny.

I am never solemn, but I am always serious.

Think about it: it would be an ideal way to keep up with your own practice, and you would be makig money out of it. It is not simply an invigilating job: you would sit at the piano and play with the students two octaves higher. S/he would to keep up with you in terms of repetitions and speed (start slowly increase speed). Ideal for things like scales. You would not be teaching (this would be the role of the teacher - although some teaching may creep in), but practising together.

The big question is: Would people be prepared to pay for it? I am sure they exist. It is just a matter of making oneself visible to them.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[minsmusic]

You know that's a good idea for students who would like to become teachers.  I have two sisters who are both at lessons with me - one still in the beginning ranks, one at the beginning of advanced.  It would be IDEAL for the older one to take on this task occassionally, (I wouldn't want her to do it all the time because I encourage my kids to develop their own practise/motivation strategies, with an emphasis on self disciplin) , however, interesting idea I'e never considered.  MMMmmm.  Food for thought.

[lallasvensson]

I have a friend who is a personal trainer in Germany. She checks a little girl s practising every day, but the little girls has her own teacher. So there are definitely people ready for any kinds of weird things instead of taking their responsibility as parents.

[bitus]

But me as a teacher... do I trust that student or how you want to call it? They could easily teach them something i don't agree with. This makes more logic if you think that people who need this kind of "supervisor" are usualy beginers. Plus... a child has to learn to discipline him/her(it? )self.
The Bitus

[ahmedito]

Well... somthing similar occurs with any high level teacher... no? Usually they have assistants who do all the dirty work with the student.... although rarely practicing together...

[TonyG]

Do you REALLY want to tread this path? Sitting in a bar or restaurant watching people have their soup. Working endless Barmitvahs, Weddings, Anniversaries, Christmas Parties - watching the behaviour of the human race from behind a keyboard. Accompanying endless vocalists who  think that time is something people do in prison, and missing out the odd bar here and there! Unless you are an employed concert pianist this could end up being your world. It was mine for many years. Great fulfillment incidentally can come from small jazz combos, but sadly, very little pay.

Had quite an interesting experience way back in 1977. I attended an audition for Summer Seasonal work. Another pianist present was a quite outstanding Chopin "specialist" and made the huge grand piano in the audition venue come alive. I went dressed in a velvet jacket, bow tie etc. and played a selection from West Side Story plus a few popular tunes of the day. I was given a piece to sight read which turned out to be "Annie's Song" in the key of C (I almost fell off the stool laughing at this!). But you know, I got the prestige lounge job for seven months of the year and the other pianist was offered a job at another venue playing whilst horse cine racing tickets and bingo tickets were being sold!! - and he took it!! I think there is a lesson to be learned here you know . . .