classical music job market in dallas? (Fort Worth, Booker: school district, living, bars)

[Pianist:)]

how is the classical music job market in dallas?thanks

[VonHuffenHausen]

probably not good/ what types of jobs are you looking for exactly? considering UNT adn SMU are here, probably zilch. I did have a friend who occasionally got work playing piano at bars. :-)

[TurtleCreek80]

I have a friend with an undergrad & graduate degree in piano from Juliard...took her nearly 2 years to get hired in DFW area- she's the middle school symphony teacher in an outer-burb school district.

Based on that....probably not too good unless you're world-class.

[ChristieP]

Fort Worth Symphony has recently undergone well-publicized contract negotiations with its musicians, and there are pay cuts and a few job eliminations.

[jelf]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

I have a friend with an undergrad & graduate degree in piano from Juliard...took her nearly 2 years to get hired in DFW area- she's the middle school symphony teacher in an outer-burb school district.

Based on that....probably not too good unless you're world-class.

Sounds like she has a ton of talent, but it wouldn't surprise me if schools preferred someone with more experience with strings rather than the awesome pedigree. Also, I wonder if she was certified in Tx when she got here.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by jelf

Sounds like she has a ton of talent, but it wouldn't surprise me if schools preferred someone with more experience with strings rather than the awesome pedigree. Also, I wonder if she was certified in Tx when she got here.

The bigger roadblock was the limited number of music teacher jobs and the low turnover in those positions. My friend teaches orchestra to grades 6-8 at 4 different middle schools. For her 1 music teacher job and presumably a second band teacher job, there are probably 48 math teachers (4 sections per grade x 3 grades x 4 schools).

Every school - including Booker T and Hockaday- wanted to hire her, but their advice was basically "wait until our teacher retires."

[vorsprung]

It depends on what kind of work you are looking for. If you are willing to teach (either classroom or lessons), do some accompanying, and ensemble work, you may do ok, but I am not a pianist. It really depends on a lot of things. I'm a classically trained musician, also with a degree from a highly respected conservatory. I've been teaching privately and freelancing in the area for the last 8 years. It isn't easy at all, and admittedly I am trying to make some adjustments so my future can be better financially, but you can make a living as a musician here.