During the course of the 16th century for the underpaid musicians blank provided a good source of supplementary income

I am not too sure whether there were some options, but there is something I have heard about: giving classes or teaching.

Very often when you read about the lives of the musicians, you hear them teaching the rich and often being flustrated at having to do it; since the rich are not onlways talented. But they need to do it to close their budget.

Monophony.  hope this ! : )