It's Supply and Demand Stupid!

Seltzer, George, American Music Teacher

Musicians are supposed to have an affinity for mathematics. If this is so, how do we explain the huge imbalance between the few job opportunities in our symphony and opera orchestras and the thousands of music majors that graduate each year from more than 500 accredited schools of music?

Do the Math

In a typical year, there are only 250-350 vacancies in orchestras paying a living wage. In the same year, approximately 7,000 new music major graduates will be aspiring for these jobs. This outpouring has been going on for decades. Obviously, there are far more performers than there are opportunities to make music.

Compounding the problem created by this intense competition is the fact that these young musicians are very good. Technique has been projected to previously unheard of perfection. These young musicians play louder and faster, read music with greater fluency and …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: It's Supply and Demand Stupid!. Contributors: Seltzer, George - Author. Magazine title: American Music Teacher. Volume: 51. Issue: 3 Publication date: December 2001. Page number: 28+. © 2009 Music Teachers National Association, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.