suggesting that I could do extension music (highest of three levels in my countries schooling) if I wanted
I don't think making it as a world famous concert pianist is on the cards at all. Over time, I'm realizing just how massively difficult it is to attain that skill level. As a beginner, it is almost unfathomably difficult. Even all of those people who learned Fantaisie Impromptu in 1-2 years are nowhere close to actually making it as a concert pianist of that variety.
If you like it, that's great, but as lostinidlewonder says, doing it as a career involves a million things other than just playing your favorite music, and it's best to be cognizant of that.
I'm currently a 17 yr old in high school and getting to the stage where I will need to decide what I want to do after school. My current position is that I will go to uni and study something in science. I do pretty well in school and enjoy a wide range of things (both in and out of school) such as science, maths, music (piano mostly), sport, gym, even a bit of writing sometimes.I have never really considered that having a career in music could be an option for me. I have played piano for about 9 years and getting to the stage where I can play some decently difficult music. I have always considered myself as good at piano, but not amazing, certainly not good enough to perform professionally. Recently my school music teacher (who went to high school at a fairly prestigious Conservatorium and is an incredibly skilled and experienced pianist) has been very positive about my playing, suggesting that I could do extension music (highest of three levels in my countries schooling) if I wanted. I am far from the child prodigy playing entire piano concertos from age ten, but I am realising that I have gained a good level of musicianship and I am able to play with good controlled expression, which makes up for some of the pure technical skill I lack.For reference I am currently learning pieces such as Rach prelude in G minor, Grieg's opus 7 piano sonata (1st movement) and Clair de Lune for my leaving school exams next year. I also play some jazz and blues stuff.It would be a dream come true to one day play with an orchestra, though quite possibly unrealistic for me. This has never been something I have really thought to be an optionDoes anyone have some advice about careers in music, both performing and not performing? How do I know if it's for me or if I'll ever be good enough? What other options would there be aside from performance? How do I get into performing publicly? I love music. Playing, listening, writing, all of it, but I just don't know if a career in it is for me, or if I should just keep it simply as a hobby.I know its a lot and most of it doesn't have a definitive answer, but any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
A music career, based on what my friends on colleagues are doing, usually tends to involve some type of mix of the following:- Practicing and performing solo repertoire in recitals or events, public and/or private. Either repertoire you choose, or that's requested by the client- Practicing and performing chamber repertoire with friends and colleagues, dito- Learning parts quickly and accurately to do session recordings- Learning or reading music to accompany ballet/dance classes, or rehearsals for singers or solo instruments- Teaching students of all levels and ambitions, but mostly beginner/intermediate- Organizing concerts/festivals/performances for yourself/colleagues- Networking, being an entrepreneur, finding gigs
...and then the rest is what city you live in, your personality, and connections you have in whatever discipline you go for.
I’ve come across way more people who tell me they hate their 9-5 and they wish they pursued a career in music than the other way around. So just go for it you can always switch majors later
But I also think that one simply won't make it as a true artist if they put music "to the side".How many master musicians do we know do music "as a hobby"? They are very few.
I certainly wouldn't underestimate how challenging these factors are especially connections and network. Windows of opportunity to make these are not always there and without the right business manner or being a likeable person, you just will never make good ones.
Well, I think that's obviously true. But it may not be the right question. If you want to reach the peak of musical ability you have to spend your whole life devoted to it, although the converse is not true -spending your whole life devoted to music is no guarantee that you'll reach the peak of musical artistry. But there's an awful lot of joy and meaning that can come from playing music even well below the peak of musical ability. Most people, even professional musicians will not make the heights.
It's great to hear that you have a passion for music and are considering it as a potential career option. It's important to explore your interests and talents to figure out what you want to do in the future.To start, it's important to note that pursuing a career in music can be challenging and requires a lot of dedication, hard work, and perseverance. However, it can also be incredibly rewarding if you have a true passion for it. One option for pursuing a career in music is to become a performer, either as a solo artist or as part of an ensemble or orchestra. To do this, you will need to continue to develop your skills and technique as a pianist, and also work on developing your stage presence and ability to connect with an audience. It's important to perform in public as much as possible, such as at local venues, community events, or even on social media platforms.Another option is to pursue a career in music education, either as a private music teacher, school music teacher, or college professor. This would allow you to share your passion for music with others and help them develop their own skills and love for music.There are also many other career paths in the music industry, such as music production, sound engineering, music therapy, music journalism, and music business. These fields require a variety of skills and interests, such as technology, communication, creativity, and business acumen.To determine if a career in music is right for you, it's important to do some research and talk to professionals in the industry. You may also want to consider pursuing a degree in music or a related field to gain a more in-depth understanding of the industry and develop your skills.Ultimately, it's important to follow your passion and do what makes you happy. If music is something that brings you joy and fulfillment, then it may be worth exploring as a potential career option. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors!
This sounds AI generated hmm...
Forcing people to work a boring job which will eat up most of his time for honing musical skills results in lots of missed opportunities. What if Mozart stuck to his old job and followed the advice of his father? We would never have had the chance to know his truly timeless works...
If you go back to the OP, you'll see we are not necessarily talking about a boring job, nor are we talking about a person who aspires to be the next Mozart. It's not a shot at becoming Rubenstein versus a life spent sitting at a desk processing small loan applications and playing Chopsticks on the weekends. It's somebody weighing a modest career in music versus an interesting career in science with music as a serious hobby. Neither option is bad, it's just a question of the OP figuring out what they want.And if you want to imagine extremes....."Albert, Albert, follow your passion. You have real talent on the violin; if you had more time to practice you could be the next Joachim. Why are you wasting your life in a piddling bureaucratic job in the patent office?"
I'm currently a 17 yr old in high school...good at piano, but not amazing, certainly not good enough to perform professionally...I am far from the child prodigy playing entire piano concertos from age ten, but I am realising that I have gained a good level of musicianship and I am able to play with good controlled expression, which makes up for some of the pure technical skill I lack......Does anyone have some advice about careers in music, both performing and not performing? How do I know if it's for me or if I'll ever be good enough? What other options would there be aside from performance? How do I get into performing publicly? I love music. Playing, listening, writing, all of it, but I just don't know if a career in it is for me, or if I should just keep it simply as a hobby...I know its a lot and most of it doesn't have a definitive answer, but any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.