At such a time of uncertainty for so many people, this spring is turning out to be a time of stability and comforting routine for me. Weekdays start with a double espresso and an hour of writing in the mornings, followed by breakfast, email, and errands. I've got several writing projects on deck, including articles for the NATS Journal of Singing and ORMTA Notes next month. In the afternoon I'll take a short nap, walk for about an hour, then teach for the full afternoon and evening. Saturdays I teach for the entire day and Sundays are always free.
It was great to hear from so many of you regarding unexpected aches and pains from online teaching. Thanks for responding and your solutions are being strongly considered. Most of all I try to keep moving throughout the day, and it helps that spring is coming early this year.
It's sometimes difficult to get a full picture of exactly what kinds of employment pianists have in the field, how much they make, and whether it's on a temporary or permanent basis. This was one of the reasons that I started the Collaborative Piano Blog in the first place. In the world of higher education, there are several different types of employment for collaborative pianists, including freelance work, staff accompanists, adjunct/sessional faculty, professor of practice, and tenure-track professor positions at the top of the hierarchy. But as to the percentage of each type of position within the entire industry and how much they pay, that information is not known and from what I've heard, that line of inquiry is strongly discouraged in academia.
A new independent compensation survey by Mary Trotter and John Gilmour aims to change all that, and over the next few months they'll be collecting data on the different types of positions available in the US and how much they pay in each state. The information will also be cross-referenced by race and gender. If you work as a collaborative pianist at an American university, college, or conservatory, I highly recommend that you fill out the form to add the data on your position to the project. All information is anonymous and confidential.
Here are some interesting articles that you might find meaningful:
- Fat-Shaming. Bullying. Is Anyone Protecting Our Young Singers? - Opera singers have been bullied for their weight for decades, perhaps centuries. Zach Finkelstein's in-depth look at this issue will resonate with many.
- The Artist is Dead, Long Live the Artist! - The rigours of a singing career can take its toll on even those who are successful, and Joe Gaines tells the story of his transition from opera to software development. Part II looks at Joe's lessons from the other side.
- The Future of Remote Work is the Opposite of Lonely - Anne Helen Petersen on how the future of remote work can actually be not that bad if we learn how to work efficiently and use it as "an accessory to the rest of our lives."
- The Big Lessons of the Last Year - You've probably seen a ton of these types of articles, but Morgan Housel's takeaways deal with small risks that multiply, underestimation of how people adapt, and how the most important agent of change is something that you never considered.
What are the unexpected blessings of life during the pandemic that you've discovered? Hit reply and tell me your story.
One more thing: in the coming weeks I'll be compiling my annual list of top blogs, and this year there will be 21 of them. If you have any suggestions, contact me any time!
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The Tiny Delights pictured above have already sold, but there are many in Wendy's series that are still available at our online store.