Should I consider music as a career?

Question:I am first chair first violin in my orchestra and I'm really good. All my music teachers say I lots of potential.
Should I go into music and be in a professional orchestra?
I want to know a lot about this career.
How much money, how much time, and criteria to get in.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am first chair first violin in my orchestra and I'm really good. All my music teachers say I lots of potential.
Should I go into music and be in a professional orchestra?
I want to know a lot about this career.
How much money, how much time, and criteria to get in.

Symphonic violinist--yes, that's a decent living. The question is, will you love the work?

Are you ready to devote 3 hours a day to practicing for the rest of your life? Even the last-chair second violinist in a good professional orchestra does that.

You'll need to complete a BM and probably an MA degree in music performance from a good (or outstanding) conservatory program. You'll also need to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars--maybe millions--in a couple of top-grade instruments, bows, and accessories.

You'll need to audition impressively, and you'll have to maintain your membership in the musicians' union.

Extra income could come from teaching, from extra-orchestral performing, and from recording (tho' classical recording is becoming a relic, since let's face it, once you have 400 recordings of Beethoven's Ninth, what added value will one more provide?).

Professional symphony work is quite formal. You'll rehearse--strictly by the clock according to contract and union rules--once before presenting a piece to the public. You'll have to maintain the proper symphonic wardrobe--tails, tux, morning jacket, and various degrees of less formal wear. If the symphony tours, you'll learn a whole new set of formalities about packing and declaring your instruments.

The most important thing for success is practice. If you can start putting in two hours or more per day right now, then do it--that's the foundation of your acceptance to conservatory and to your level of success in your career.

In professional orchestras you will be asked to played, given the music and then usually the day before of day of you will get together and play it as an orchestra for the first time. Pay is not much unless you get hired as a soloist. If you think you are really good I would try to get in with the New York orchestra, the only orchestra that is unionized. Or try to get in with a theatre company. Other than that there is only minimal jobs like entertainment on cruise ships and weddings and stuff...jobs are hard to get and most people who do things like weddings have other jobs as well (I get hired out as a flute player at weddings and stuff). Teaching private lessons provides some income but I wouldn't reccomend trying to make a living off of it. Best bet; get your Bachelors of music and B. Ed and become a music teacher

Just believe.

Just believe

Dude. You asked this question twice. What answers did you get on the other one???

JUST BELIEVE