Are there any summer jobs out there a freshman music major can apply for?
I am looking for a summer performing job. I have been looking around at different cruise ship jobs but they are all for jazz players. (I am a classical clarinet player.) I know enough piano that I could work at be a cocktail pianist, but it would be much more practical to work on my main instrument. Any suggestions? I live on the East Coast, by the way.
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11 Answers
My cousins dance class in Albuquerque uses a pianist.
Cocktail pianist usually is someone older, rather than learning, someone who has passed the hump in their career and wants something regular.
Your location has a lot to do with your opportunities. There are a growing number of places which are using music in healing. Mental patients, elderly, autistic persons, lots of people have been helped through the use of music. As @YARNLADY mentioned, dance classes can be a place to look.
I once went to a mall where I participated in a contest, and a pianist played during the awards.
Any casting agencies in your area? Maybe they know of some soundtrack work you can do, for commercials or other recordings.
Try session orchestras for classical pieces. Outside that, opportunities for summer jobs for classical musicians are limited. My younger son went to the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts and Berkelee College of Music as a violist. He played 1st chair at Carnegie Hall in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States. But he never landed a paying gig on the viola. Hate to rain on this parade, but them’s the facts.
http://www.kidscamps.com/art/music.html You could try applying to places like this. They might put you in charge of corralling kids during lunch, or helping a choral master control the class, but it’s music, and still would work on a resume.
You could try your local music shops. My music major buddy works at one, doing mostly instrument rentals, and also tutors part-time in the back rooms there.
Summer camps like musically talented people.
Boston UniversityTanglewood Institute has a collection of terrific summer programs at Tanglewood for young musicians; you may be a year too old but it is worth checking out. There is a wonderful youth orchestra in addition to dozens of other opportunities…in Lenox, Mass.
http://www.bu.edu/cfa/tanglewood/about/
1. Summer Camps (music camps)
2. Amusement Parks (e.g.Cedar Point, Disney, etc.) – if you don’t mind playing your clarinet in their marching band
3. You could work for a musical instrument store (I did & worked in instrument repair at about your age..)
4. If you have patience and like to teach music you could put an ad out on Craigslist for Piano or Clarinet lessons.
Working at a music store sounds like a good idea. When I first started looking for jobs, I realized that being specific really hindered my opportunities. Being open gave me a better chance at getting a job, but that’s just because I only really needed it for the money. So if you absolutely want a job revolving around music, a competitive industry, then keep that in mind.
I am also studying at a college now. My school has a website where they put together a list of a ton of internships available, paid and unpaid. You could check to see if your school has the same.
If money isn’t the issue, there are plenty of things you can do for and not for pay. One of my friends voluntarily played piano at a nursing home once a week and apparently she was a hit there. If you can do basic improv, it works out great because you can take requests. I played for a parish I was a part of when I was in high school. I volunteered, but sometimes a parish will pay you as well.
Worst case scenario, you can be like me right now on winter break. I didn’t find anything to do, so I’m working on a book of piano arrangements. It’s for me only since I’m mostly doing it for fun and to make myself feel professional. Good Luck!
I love the teaching idea if you are suited for it.
teaching lessons, working band camps, working for music professor
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