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Question: I need brutal honesty please,how do i find and qualify for a chair in a symphony!?
I am 37, I played viola from the ageof 11 to 17, and even won command performances in CA state regional school contests!.But that was a long time ago, I realize that I will need to dedicate several years of daily practice, and a little sweat and blood to get to a level I feel comfortable with before I even begin to try to audition, and even if I never get paid to play, I will happily do it free,because I truely do love it !. That being said,what is the most deserving path to a symphony chair!? Ultimatly, of course I'd love to be a paid musician, but I want a realistic idea of the prosses and to avoid a "bad teacher"!.also I'd like advise on self practice, and how to find a group of people my age to practice with who have similar goals!. Any real info would be really appreciated!.Thanks!p!.s- I have taught my self a large portion of the Harry Potter score(not perfected yet) and I don't hurt peoples ears but I still consider my self a beginner at sight reading tempo bowing etc,, being realisticWww@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Okay, Mamianka is right that its probably too late for professional orchestras!. I have a degree and I’d still have to go through hell to get a seat!. However, doesn’t mean its impossible!. Let’s start with getting you back to par!.

1) Find a good teacher!. Ask for resumes, talk to students, go to your local university and ask the professor for lessons!. You can audition your teachers!. I WOULD audition them!. You don’t want someone wishy washy!. You need someone to kick your butt into gear and who cares about your growth as a musician!.
2) Practice wise, you need to work up to at least 2 or 3 hours a day!. More if you want to go pro!. But if its something you just want in your life, 2 to 3 should be okay!. For now, I wouldn’t practice more than an hour, or three half hour sessions a day because you DON’T want to hurt yourself!. You do that, and you can kiss it all goodbye!. It may not be a long time, but good, concentrated practice goes a long way!. That’s what I’m doing right now!. Divide it into half hour sessions all with warm ups and cool downs!.
3) There are most likely local groups/orchestras you can join!. Community orchestras!. You can either a!. meet people there to form chamber ensembles with or b!. put out an add on craigslist or ask your teacher once you find one to help you set one up!. Honestly, you don’t need people your age!. You could have younger people (my age, 23) or older (63) who are all around your level, or better (which would be great ‘cause that would push you) who would bring their life experiences to the group!. A music library will have an assortment of wonderful music for you to choose from!.

It sounds like you love music!. So I don’t think having it in your life is an impossibility!. In fact, you can very much incorporate it into your life even if you’re NOT ‘professional’!. Once you get back into the swing of things (might be a couple of years), you can make a string quartet or some kind of trio, quartet, etc and gig! That’s lots of fun and lots of cash! Its also exposure!.

Good luck!

~LisaWww@QuestionHome@Com

i think, you have the great passion for music!. in practicing, i think you should have a schedule for playing of viola!. !.!.Play it everyday!. Find more techniques!. Make the world wide web your resource for information!. Then, practice again!. Learn from some good experts!. Have a little self-confidence!.!. Be proud that you can play good music!. Then, you will find yourself in a chair in a symphony!. And, you're now also a musician!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Contacts contacts contacts!.

A good patron!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There are orchestras at MANY levels!. See if your community has a volunteer group - sometimes a college-community orchestra!. See how you fit in!. You will need lessons - LOTS os lessons - and have to learn all the orchestral excerpts that are standrd audition material at orchestrat audions!. These come in collected volumes!. If you have any aspirations of PROFESSIONAL orchestra playing- then it is highly likely that you are too late!. Professional orchestral musicinas almost ALL have degrees in their instrumental area ( or at least a conservatory performer's certificate)!. Then they study further, and start making th audition rounds, working their way up to the highest level they can!. If they make it to one of the FEW full-time, big-name orchestra, thenthey stay FOREVER - thrity, forty years is not remarkable!.

You may qwish to play duest and trios for fun with collegaues - and there are even chamber music CRUISES you can take!. Some colleges will match up amatuers with similar-level players -and there are ven summer camps fro people like you!. So there WILL be places for you to play - but chances are, not for money!. Good luck - your passion about this is palpable!.Www@QuestionHome@Com