How Do You Make a Career Outside Or In Conjunction With An Orchestra?
The path to obtaining a job in an orchestra is somewhat straightforward.
First, you nearly always have to attend a great music school, at least at the Master’s degree level. It is true that some undergraduates can go straight into an orchestral position, but it is rare.
Secondly, study with a teacher who either has experience playing in an orchestra OR has had students get placed in an orchestra. Some prominent examples include Richard Aaron, cello professor at the University of Michigan, as well as William VerMeulen at Rice University, a French horn professor with unprecedented success in this industry.
The following is also very important that I tell all of my college consulting students: if you want to play in an orchestra, find a music school with an excellent connection to an orchestra.
Thirdly, audition for as many openings as you can. This might seem obvious, but maybe it is not so.
I do have a recommendation about this I don’t hear often, likely due to its resource-intensity: look for openings in Europe.
Seriously, Europe is a goldmine for classical music. Although it is also competitive like it is in America, there are many, many opportunities for musicians seeking employment.
Obviously, there is much more to it than those three steps, but those are among the most important.
Many musicians wonder how to succeed in a musical world alongside just an orchestra position. How can you succeed either independently of an orchestra job or in conjunction with one?
Thankfully, you live in an unprecedented time period to make a career for yourself as a musician independent of classical orchestras.
Why is it an unprecedented time period?
I think it mostly has to do with the visibility of musicians on the internet, the strange power social media has on influencing careers and people’s perception of musicians, and the general attitude of the music industry, shifting away from older-world ideals of major corporations handing out recording contracts or symphonies providing job positions.
Here are six ideas you can use in order to succeed monetarily as a musician outside of solely getting a job in an orchestra.
6. Be Exceptionally Versatile
In today’s music economy, being versatile is probably the best bet to making money as a musician. The majority of successful musicians I know teach, arrange, compose, and play in an ensemble, or many ensembles.
Sometimes this ensemble is indeed an orchestra, or a chamber group, or a jazz band, or a rock cover group. Many of these musicians also have complementary skills that bring in additional income, like event planning, orchestrating, and engraving, which is the art of copying a handwritten score into a computer.
Thank you for the great insight, sir!
I have just heard a young man playing violin while on holiday. He plays like an angel. What advice could you offer to help him break away from the resort treadmill and make it professionally. He lives in Jamaica
Just imagine… if this was a different world, perhaps one with no computers or tv, perhaps radio even. There just might be a orchestra practically on every corner. Even in this world I bet you a million dollars people dont visit orchestras more because they dont have the money to. Too busy working, too busy paying taxes on top of other taxes and fees and everything else they put upon themselves by voting in idiots into office.
At this point I’m bored and would like to just enter into some kind of orchestra to play the cello for free, heck any kind of compensation would be ok. $30,000 or $3,000 a year, lol! I’ve heard the top 20 orchestras that play a lot, BUT what about the others? I’m just curious. I mean how many are in the USA total. One at least I would guess in every state.
I’ve heard the top 20 orchestras that pay a lot… I meant pay, lol
I’m 46 currently studying grade 8 vibraphone. I would like to join an orchestra.
I am a nursing student but I’m totally interested in the orchestra.. I don’t play an instrument but I think I can learn.. my goal is to work for the walk Disney Concert Hall.. any advice?
I am in high school and am considering a music career. I can play saxophone, baratone,trumpet, piano, and my teach next year want me to learn tuba. I have been trying to find schools that would help my music career and this should help a lot
Joshua, if music is your first love as a vocation then please stick with it. Music was the only thing I ever wanted to do but I was never in the position to stay with it and that has been a decision I have regretted my whole life. Now I am 57 years old, and my heart breaks every time I think out what could have been. I hadn’t any guidance to know what my options where when I was in school so my first advice would be to seek out someone (maybe your high school band director) and get his opinion. Also, you’ll need a good music college to attend. Search for the best that you can afford, work and study hard, and keep trying – but whatever you do, don’t ever give up your dream!!
Thank you for sharing this tips and information about the orchestra. I am a commerce student right now, but I want to learn orchestra because I have lots of interest in music and string instruments. I founding guidance about the orchestra and I see your website. It is helpful to me and gives me a way of how to I have a start.
I’m in 7th grade and considering an orchestral career, but there seem to be LOTS of downsides. Do you think I should stick it out or look for a different employment option?
I’m in the eighth grade i hope to become a symphony orchestra player but I’m not sure which instrument id like to pursue i play cello, violin, piano,percussion, handbells, ukelele and guitar and I’m interested in playing brass in high school… I cannot decide which instrument to pursue or what job in music to have or even how to get started in building a future in music. Advise anyone?
I am a trombone player going to school for music. I have had a few major accomplishments in HS and orchestral experience at the collegiate level. I am very interested in Orchestral music as a career. What are the best first steps for me?
My question is do I have to become a.drum major in order to be in an orchestra or music director?
Hey i am a guitarist and perusing 5th grade and i play rock shows too i want to be an orchestra player can i ? And what should i do for a orchestral musician
I am in 6th grade and I play the flute.
If you don’t eat, sleep, breath, and dream of playing in an orchestra forget it! If you do all these things, practice your ass off for a couple of decades or more (I’m talking a minimum of 8 hours a day), pay the big bucks and study with the best teachers, and practice some more you ain’t gonna make it! Just like in professional athletics only talent, hard work, and a residue of luck will allow a few to ever make it, and politics is always a factor just like in any other industry. Be prepared to face the reality that the odds are against you but keep swimming up stream. Also, be prepared to face the reality that even if you do make the ‘bigs’ that only a very select few will ever make more than your average municipal bus driver.
what advice would you give a 17 year old high school student who has been playing the cello for 4 years and would like to pursue a career specifically in orchestras for film score/movie soundtracks? What should they look for and do before going into university? Is it a stable career financially? what should they do right now?