What level of playing should I be at?

July 22, 2012 at 04:01 PM · Based on your description, you're at level four point five. To be a concert violinist, perhaps strive for level five point two at your current age and years of playing. Good luck!

July 22, 2012 at 05:06 PM · The term "concert violinist" has different meaning than just "professional violinist." Concert, to most people, means a violinist that performs as a soloist and recitalist. One, for example, doesn't usually refer to a section orchestral player as a "concert" violinist.

Instead of thinking in levels that may mean something in one country but not another (I have no idea what a 4.5 is), it's helpful to look around and see what those headed for the concert stage are playing at your age.

If you were to go to concerts at such places as Meadowmount or Encore, you'd see students in the 12-16 age range that are playing major Romantic concerti such as Sibelius and Prokofiev, playing them from memory and well. They are also likely playing entire Bach sonatas from memory, and the major showpieces such as Carmen Fantasy. They learn quickly, and retain large-scale works in their memory.

If you really wish to be a "concert" violinist, you'd probably have to be at this level, and to have a fully-developed technique by 16.

July 22, 2012 at 06:30 PM · Forget it. Just try and become a good teacher. Or maybe a computer programmer ...

July 22, 2012 at 07:47 PM · Maybe play for your own enjoyment or in a small orchestra instead?

Unfortunately, it's unlikely. 10 or 11 is too late. (I have it worse, I started at 12)

I'm not saying that it's not possible, it's just extremely unlikely even with hard work. A lot of factors go into play for this subject at our age (I'm assuming you're 14 or 15, right?)

July 22, 2012 at 08:00 PM · Perhaps a soloist with the eminent Minus-One Philharmonic Orchestra would be attainable!

July 22, 2012 at 09:35 PM ·

July 22, 2012 at 09:47 PM ·

July 22, 2012 at 09:57 PM · Hi Danica,

getting an orchestra job is very difficult, so you have to be very dedicated in your practicing to get there and to be lucky as well. You could become a psychologist or psychiatrist and still be able to join an orchestra. Being a doctor could allow you to have a great collection of fine instruments...difficult question...

July 23, 2012 at 03:15 AM · if you have talent, you can do whatever you want, you are still young. a guy i know started when he was almost 17, from scratch, and now he's a very good young violinist, has played concerts with top orchestras in america and europe, and plays as a soloist and chamber musician at the highest level music festivals/mastercourses in the world.

so, if you have the love and the work ethic, you can achieve your dreams.

-find a good teacher

-learn how to practice correctly, and invent your own ways to practice

-train yourself to be very analytical

-do what works, and get it from wherever you can

-and always find inspiration from live concerts and especially recordings of the great musicians throughout history.

June 23, 2014 at 09:36 AM · I may have the most untwistable wrist in history, and I'm not a wizard at co-ordination either (otherwise I'd be able to play Brahms's 10th organ chorale prelude), so any serious ambitions I myself might have had along such lines would have been doomed. However, I have on occasion been able to hold an audience's attention and, therefore, would presume to give you an extra tip or two:

Don't neglect your general musicianship, either. Playing around on a keyboard need not be a waste of time, and singing, simultaneously aiming to reproduce your expression on the violin, need not be so either.

June 23, 2014 at 10:56 AM · John - what were you replying to? Were the original posts just erased?