August 2012

Living the Violinist Dream

August 28, 2012 04:03

What were you thinking when you decided to major in music? I bet I can tell you, because like you, I went through the same process. We looked way further into our lives to see ourselves on stage performing good music. Somewhere inside you was the idea of reaching the level of masters like Itzhak Perlman, Rugierro Ricci, Maxim Vengerov, etc.

What where you thinking?

Perhaps you imagined yourself performing with a professional orchestra and collaborating with figures like the ones already mentioned.

I’m sure some of you also thought of working in chamber music with a super quartet—maybe you even considered a soloist career.

Everything seemed really far away, but you committed to do your best to get there. Years passing by—you get a better feeling and understanding of what you are getting yourself into. You are well connected and gigs are coming, things are going…great.

Over the years, learning has been inevitable because you attended live concerts by world-class musicians, master-classes, seminars,etc. You even found out Schoenberg wrote a violin concerto but you can barely hear the opening because you know… Tchaikovsky… ohhhh, Bruch… ohhhhh that’s music.

We violinists are the same worldwide.

Who wouldn’t like to play the Mendelssohn concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic? Common! You know you‘ll love to! :)

Our ambitions are really similar. Every time we play in orchestra and Joshua Bell collaborate with us we go nuts. Perhaps we don’t physically show the emotion but in the end it’s really gratifying. The same thing happens with major figures like Hilary Hahn, Midori or Sarah Chang. They mean success, and if we play with them it means we are good enough to be successful.

That’s why we signed the “I want to be a musician” contract in the first place! Right?

In my case, I’ve been through all of the above and felt/feel the same way you do. Thanks to summer music festivals and tours with the World Orchestra and the YOA, I visited many countries and interacted with other musicians around the globe. I can say that my development as a violinist and musician grew exponentially with every summer. It was not until I took the challenge of getting out there that I got the tools to be a better person/musician.

If I had to recommend a life changing experience to any musician, I would say get out of town and apply to as many festivals as possible. They give you opportunities you couldn’t find elsewhere—and I mean, where else can you party with Joshua Bell and Sarah Chang? (Yes, I have ;) )

Only music festivals!

They will bring you experiences for life, new friends and new musical possibilities. (Read How Music Gave Me Friends for Life and Adventures of a Classical Musicians)

Traveling made me understand the difference between a classical musician in Europe vs. America—the possibilities, and the good and bad things about it.

Once you are out of the usual routine, learning will be more fun, contacts will grow and things will be heading toward a new level.

The only down side of putting it all together is the monetary situation. It can cost between 1 to 5 thousand dollars—the whole operation. The way I dealt with was by applying to scholarships and spending a couple of hours researching. Also getting in contact with musical and non-musical programs and entities in your community will get you a step closer. Is not easy but also not impossible. One time I got 2,000 dollars for a music festival from the corporation of the arts in my city.

There are tons of resources out there for musicians but one must research intensely and consistently to make it happen and of course, save, save, save as much money as you can. You must attack the problem from every possible angle (the problem being the money). All your efforts will be worth 100 times more than what you actually spent working on it.

Here is another resource to help you become a Travel Hacker.

Until next post,

CESAR AVILES

www.tipsforclassicalmusicians.com

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