Do violinists make decent money?

[Jazz12]

DS (15) is a bright child. Academically strong and a very passionate violinist.

DH and I have always encouraged him to do well in STEM subjects. We’ve gently steered him in that direction since early childhood. He enjoys computer science, is a decent programmer and also likes biology. He wants to get into Tech (DH and I are in this field), he is also considering Medicine. However, I know he is very passionate about violin.

I understand it’ll be amazing to find a career you enjoy. It’s also equally important to make decent money to afford a good quality of life. House prices, bills everything is out of reach for many people (at least where I live) now. Unfortunately, only some fields pay well.

Do violinists earn well?

Just wanted to hear some perspectives before I talk to DS about it.

That was in response to @NewToWoo ’s post!

People do make money playing the violin. Professional orchestras have incredibly high standards but do pay a regular salary. Soloists can commands good money. You say passionate - is he exceptional? By that age it should be obvious whether he has that level of talent. Plenty of others are jobbing musicians playing in smaller orchestras and ensembles, but most teach to provide a more regular income

As far as I know, only the five BBC orchestras are salaried, the rest only pay you when you play. Most of the musicians I know do some teaching- private, school or conservatoire, as well as education work. They have super organised diaries. Dd wants to be a professional in an orchestra but knows she will need to do other things too. I don't want to squash her dreams. She can do other things after trying how far she can get with a music career if necessary but unlikely you can get back into music at a high enough level if you stop practicing intensely for a few years to do a different job. That said, many unis will have great orchestras with players from many faculties, not just music, so there is usually plenty of choice for continuing to play.

Those suggesting teaching at £40/hr are forgetting that that is max ~25 hours per week, term time only and self employed. So absolute maximum £39k and that is with 50 students which is a lot plus travel time, admin etc.

It can be soul destroying teaching music to uninterested kids who only do violin because their parents make them. You might be able to pick and choose your students once you get a reputation.

Also, many of the pro musicians I know don’t have particularly successful personal lives. They are either married/in LTRs with other musicians which is fine until children come along, or need a very understanding partner to put up with the weird hours, practice and travel.

Thank you @littlepeas . I have been doing this but worried that it was over the top!

@ProMusician I’ve found your comments really informative, thank you for the insight. My child is at a conservative and all that you said applies although some more by luck than anything else! He’s been in orchestras since he was 10 and I completely agree about the skills you pick up there, it’s ingrained now. The networking resonates too-part of the reason for his conservatoire choice is geography and potential for work there. The world of his instrument is pretty small and even at 18 he knows a lot of them from things he’s done as a kid.

He’s not at a conservative, he’s at a conservatoire ffs

Thanks all for your inputs.

Two guys in the city where I live spent a couple of years busking in front of the cathedral and earned enough to buy their mum a house! That would be something he could try out right now. Covent Garden in London is a good testing ground.

DD's violin teacher charges £50 per half hour and she is so busy we had to audition before she agreed to take DD on. She used to play in an orchestra.

DD2's piano teacher is cheaper at £60 per hour.

I thought they all earned well.

Is he already grade 8, playing in good regional youth orchestras and part of the junior school of a big conservatoire? If not, he wont be the calibre of a pro player.

You can make very good money teaching 1-2-1 in private schools. About 50000 a year, for 30 weeks work. You have 22 other weeks to do whatever you like. It can be a fab career, if you really want to pursue it. Great work life balance.

I’m a professional violinist. I have a salaried job and I freelance on top.

I earn between 40-50k a year. My earnings are unlikely to go up sadly!

also I’m in London so cost of living is high. Luckily I bought my house a while ago when prices weren’t silly.

I would say it’s extremely competitive. To get a job in an orchestra can take a very long time and there’s a lot of luck involved.

For example,in my orch we may have 150 people apply for one position. We will audition maybe 30-40 of the applicants then trial maybe 8 people at the most. The trial can last up to two years (average) and then someone will be chosen.

Obviously there are other ways to make a living and there are more freelancers than contracted players. I wouldn’t recommend it tbh,it’s tough and the profession has changed a lot in the last 20 years.

Depends which orchestra you’re in. Some tour far more than others.