Minstrel or Merchant

As many students enter high school, I’m sure that many of us consider the question that looms over us. This question, that grows more prevalent, is what occupation do we wish to pursue as adults? As college is just over the next ridge, many of us are narrowing down our choices to just a few possibilities. After pondering the question, I have narrowed my outlook down to just two choices, each with great qualities. If pressed to make a choice today, I would decide between urban planning and pursuing a career as a professional violinist.

To start off, the job hours of a musician compared to an urban planner are drastically different. While a musician’s work schedule is subject to the rehearsals and performances, an urban planner’s work schedule confined to a forty hour work week with days from nine to five. A violinist’s schedule can very flexible and could change throughout the year. Also, an instrumentalist may find more work at certain times of the year, such as during holidays, and during preparation for concerts with concertos or other difficult repertoire. In contrast, an urban planner can expect to work regular hours with occasional irregularities to conduct research or to make community presentations.

On a different note, a violinist and an urban planner usually make wages comparable to an average American. According to an article from work.chron.com a violinist’s salary can range from $28,000 to $115,000 dollars a year. A violinist in a major symphony can expect substantially more, with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra being handsomely compensated for $144,040 and the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra following closely behind at $143,260 a year. Furthermore, violinists can substitute their income by teaching...

... middle of paper ...

...iolinist and an urban planner differ greatly. Most of the work done by musicians is completed in practice rooms and concert venues. In contrast, an urban planner’s job is mostly confined to an office fashioning plans and designs or drafting policy and excursions around the city.

The great philosopher Confucius once said “choose a career that your love and you will never work a day in your life.” These words are certainly true, but as college approaches, students find themselves pondering the question of how to “never work a day in their lives.” With college fast approaching, I must consider how, as Confucius puts it, to “never work a day in my life.” After considering the question my decision would have to be between becoming an urban planner or a professional violinist. Whether poet or proletarian, merchant or minstrel, both careers would offer great satisfaction.