I.
Musical
Concerns
Auditioning well is the fastest way to
get started. Most of my opportunities have resulted from doing well at
auditions, either directly or indirectly.
That said, there is no substitute for
excellent ensemble skills. Over the long term, excellent ensemble skills will
help you build a freelance career even if you have difficulty auditioning as
well as you are capable of playing. No matter how well you audition, you will
not get more calls if you do not:
o
Listen and blend well.
o
Play with intonation that is both independently
strong and flexible.
o
Play with rhythm that is both independently
strong and flexible.
o
Catch on quickly to play with a style that is
appropriate to the repertoire and ensemble.
o
Play with a flexible palette of tone color.
§
Hint: focus is always more important than size
of sound.
Know
your role in the ensemble. If you are hired to play a principal chair, be a clear,
respectful leader and pay close attention to the other principals. If you are
hired to play in a section, always defer to the principal, even if you think
you are a stronger player. If there’s a clear moment for you to shine, go for
it 150%; the rest of the time it is your job to make everybody else sound good
and feel comfortable.
My overall advice is to play chamber
music, play chamber music, and then play more chamber music. Form a standing
group and go for it, rehearsing a lot, performing as often as you can, going to
chamber music competitions, etc. You learn so much about ensemble playing from
this, but also about interpersonal relations – how to talk to each other, how
to give criticism without hurting feelings, etc. These skills are essential to
every musician.
II.
Extra-Musical
Concerns
Make it a habit now to keep an
accurate calendar. Keep everything about your schedule in it, as far into the
future as you know. Have it with you 100% of the time. Double-booking yourself
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Make it a habit now to respond to phone
messages, texts, and especially emails in a timely manner. 24 hours is the
absolute longest anybody should have to wait for you to respond to an email,
and that timeframe is shrinking all the time.
Make it a habit now to smile and greet
people, even – especially – janitors, waitstaff, and other people who can’t
advance your career. Strive to be a genuinely friendly person. If you tend to
be shy and this doesn’t come naturally to you, then you will have to work a
little harder at it, but don’t go so far that it feels insincere. Insincerity
is always obvious.
