Many people question the marketability of a degree in jazz from a university. Will graduates make money? Will they have opportunities? What will the opportunities be?
Concerned parents and students want to know that they can find success after earning a jazz degree. I feel strongly that studying jazz opens doors to many possibilities.
The question of marketability is complex so my answer comes in several parts:
1. What is the marketability of ANY college degree regardless of major? My brother David is an accountant and had an accounting colleague switch from a successful accounting career to being a plumber in order to have a higher income. Does any college degree insure success? NO.
2. What are the student’s goals? A university is not a trade school and everyone has different goals to measure their own success. There is no one single path and regardless of major, a student needs to work hard. No degree program guarantees a full path to success.
3. A degree in music teaches a student valuable lessons in time management and creative thinking skills. Also music students learn how to self evaluate and learn to achieve short term and long term goals. Side note—there are now TWO Nobel Prize winners who attribute their success to their bassoon playing.
All of this said, I do think it is possible for people with music and/or jazz degrees to have careers. This first post will be all of the non-musical things that I would advise young players to do to situate themselves best for a musical career:
KNOW HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE
-Be kind and respectful to everyone—and that includes musicians who are younger and less experienced than you.
-Don’t bully other musicians if you think you are the best musician on stage because there is always someone who has more skills than you have.
-Do not make brash judgements to people about what music you like or do not like because you might hinder your own future interests.
-If you commit to a gig or a rehearsal, show up. Don’t back out. Not only show up and honor your commitment, but play your best and put in your full effort. If you blow off people then they won’t call you and they won’t tell their friends to call you.
-Be kind in rehearsals and gigs. If someone plays something that you think is wrong, be diplomatic in how you address it with them.
-Answer calls and texts as soon as possible and call back about a gig even if you are not available to play.
-If you have a gig and you are assembling a band, do not call/text musicians asking. “are you available to play” without providing the full details including time, location, and compensation.
HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS
The things that friendships give you-
-actual friendships
-an even greater network of friends of friends
-people who might refer you for opportunities
-people who might actually come to your gigs
BE RESPONSIBLE
-Learn music ahead of time for a rehearsal or gig
-Have the right equipment when you show up and make sure it works correctly before you arrive
-Show up on time, which in reality means showing up early
-Have printed sheet music with you if you need it
STAY OPEN-MINDED
When you are in school learn everything you can. If you are a saxophonists, this might mean having some classical flute/clarinet knowledge. If you are a bass player, this might mean knowing how to get an appropriate funk or reggae electric bass sound. It might mean knowing improvisational playing styles beyond the typical hard bop mainstream sound that so many people learn in school. This might mean being open to listening to hip hop, Latin or Afrobeat music or other music coming from the African diaspora. Most importantly, it might mean not refusing to engage with a style of music or performance practice. Keep the ears and the mind open!
Why should we be open-minded?
-If you are a young musician, allow yourself to change your opinions about music later in life.
-Students - you don’t know how your decisions about music making will change if you become a freelance artist.
Part 2 will investigate what musical things that students need to do to succeed with a degree in Jazz and Commercial Music.