I want to be a musician.. Help!!!!?
Question by Celtic.Memories: I want to be a musician.. Help!!!!?
I’ve been playing the violin for 4 years but haven’t played in a few months.. I’m planning on majoring in music performance in college. I can’t take Orchestra in school because my school doesn’t offer any fine arts classes(chorus, orchestra, or band). I really want to be a musician but I have a few questions first.
1. How do I get into the music business?
2. Should I major in something else instead of music?
3. If I did make it into the music industry how much should I plan to make a year?
4. If I do something like join the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra should I get another job also?
Also, what tips do you have and does any of this even make since to you.
Best answer:
Answer by CorOfAtl
Here are your answers:
1. Practice, lots 2+ hours a day. More important, find a great teacher to study with, the best in your area. Find a community symphony to play with or other group.
2. If you want to be a musician I think you should study music. College music studies go beyond just playing and this is where you meet your contacts (people who will recommend or hire you for work).
3. Depends on the job you get. If you plan on giging and teaching privately, probably about 30k-50k if you work hard. If you become a member of a major symphony your talking over 60k. The reason the range is so big is because there are very few steady jobs. As a musician, you are your own boss and you have to find work. This can be recruiting students, calling churches to see if they need musicians, starting a band or chamber group and booking them.
4. The Atlanta Symphony is a major orchestra. If you can make it in, you will make a healthy (not extravagant) living. It is a full time job, however many members of the ASO teach lessons and have side projects the play in.
Most likely you will have to take another job until you can find enough sources of income to only do music. Orchestra positions are hard to come by and the competition is fierce.
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