The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12
REMUNERATIvE SONG.
The Average Woman Vocalist Has
Many Ways of Making Money.
Brooklyn Eagle

Brooklyn Eagle.
Does the profession of vocalist pay In
the case of the average woman singer? is
question that number of young women.
endowed with good voices, are asking these
days. They hesitate before spending
money in fees to high-priced singing
teachers, for the number of young women
good singers, too. many of them-in the
field is already large. and the army is
steadily increasing. There are many more
opportunities for the professional singer Of
average ability to earn money nowadays
than there were some few years ago.
Take. for example. the concerts in the de-
partment stores. Who would have imag-
ined five years ago that singer would
have chance to make money in this way?
Excellent singers appear at these concerts,
singing has been lately introduced in the
city parks programmes for the concerts
given at stated periods during the summer
season. and women are chosen for SolostS
as often as masculine singers.
Another opportunity for the woman sing
er is presented in formal luncheons given
by wealthy society women A vocal quar-
tet Is frequently engaged to render a spe-
cial programme. The singers are stationed
in an anteroom, light portieres separating
the apartments, or else a portion of the
~~O---
room.
Before the asprant for a place in
church choir has become qualified for the
| position Of soloist there are opportunities
| for her to obtain little money by singing
| in certain church choruses where the Choir
| listers are paid small sum. All chorus
cholrs are not paid ones, but the large
| churches usually remunerate their chorus
| singers. Another chance for the woman
singer is In a choir where in addition to the
soprano OF the quartet an additional So
good
chorus leader.
Wedding receptions occasionally offer a
woman singer chance to earn a fee and
home chistenings likewise. while there is
scarcely gathering of any prominence &C.
curing either in a house, hall or church at
which solo singing is not feature of the
programme. From the graduation exercises
| or a class of trained nurses to a Dorcas
| society tea the services of the trained sing
| er are in demand. Not always, 1t must be
admitted, are the singers compensated for
| their services at gatherings of this charac-
| ter, but reward sometimes comes in the way
| OF future engagements and remuneration
growing out OF the volunteer service. The
| demand for singers at funeral services is a
| pronounced one. and women share in a fair
| degree the return from this demand, the
customary fee for such service being from
S. upward At house services unaccom-
panied singing is the general custom, and
| the vocalists powers are here taxed some
what more than in ordinary singing.
| The house musicale presents excellent OPP
| portunities for singer, not so much, per-
| haps. in the display of her vocal ability as
in the remuneration, for the fee is in many
| cases a substantial one.
| The church soloist, however, is the one
| who. If so fortunate as to secure a position
in prominent church, has the "surest
thing" Her work is we'll defined, and al
| though 1T is exacting, and in order to obtain
| her position she must use not only her voice
but her wits and that magic thing called
| influence. still, once obtained, a choir po-
sition is the best thing an average vocalist
can obtain. Some church sopranos of note
| have been paid what appear to be very high
| salaries, but they are not numerous. Con-
| cert singers are not always successes as
| church soloists, and some well-trained sing
| ers OF average talent will often give more
satisfaction in church choir than a soloist
| with a voice available to the concert plat
| form. Sopranos command higher prices than
| altos l.. choir. they take a leading part.
| Five hundred dollars a year is a moderate
price for a soprano in the average church.
| In a smaller church half that sum is paid.
| and even less is given where the church has
| a small appropriation for its choir.
| Altos are well paid, however. the sum
| varying with the prestige and capabilities
| of the singer. The choir singer can aug
| ment her income by giving a benefit con-
| cert or recitals I'm the church.
| There is money to be made in teaching
| singing. The popular practice of running
| after teacher with name extends to the
pupils and presently good and earnest
| prominent teacher can swell her income
| materially by teaching. and very good rates
are obtained by competent instructors.
The number of singing teachers has in
/ creased in recent years as well as the num-
Der of professional singers. and there has
| been a change in the method OF teaching.
These days when so many voices are
made there is more encouragement for
| the average singer to look for success in
| the professional field than ever before. BY
| the term made. In regard to the voice. is
/ meant that development, which in reality is
the building Of II from the very founda-
ton. and not taking, as was the case In the
| earlier days. a beautiful vocal organ and
| smoothing II into still more perfect shape
| Although the field would seem TO be
crowded those in a position to know claim
that the woman vocalist stands a good
| chance of earning livelihood In this coun-
| try and in England. according to a writer
| in a recent issue of leading weekly, the
| prospects are even better.