5 Best Things To Know Before Becoming a Professional Musician

Recently, I had a conversation with a fellow professional musician about music school not preparing music students for the real music world. In some cases, schools prepare students for the music school bubble, but not for the realities beyond! Some universities and conservatories are making efforts to prepare their students to face the challenges and triumphs as a professional musician. Many schools are not and that comes with a great cost to the individual. 

The Individual

Yes- the “individual”, not the musician…not the “student”…not the “violinist”…not the “candidate.” The music world LOVES a good label and likes putting people into boxes, and well, that’s really not that helpful and not what music performance and education is about. While this isn’t unique to the music profession, there are challenges and obstacles professional musicians face. Many of these challenges and label making start in music school and continue well beyond.

5 Things I wish I Knew

1. You are not just one thing 
2. A career in music is more physical than anyone told you
3. The personal/soft skills needed are broader and more important than you realize- it isn’t just about playing well
4. Success may not look like it looks for your teachers, for your colleagues, or for anyone else- it’s unique to you
5. Diversify your income streams- no matter what. This is a sign of strength and flexibility, not weakness.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be unpacking each of these bullet points. Today we focus on #1.

You are Not Just One Thing

I asked a young (14yo) student if he was going to do any sports or do anything movement related  in high school. He said, no, that he played violin and wasn’t an athlete. Oh jeez…I’ve heard this one before. I’ve said that before! Oh, I’m not an athlete, I’m a musician. WRONG. Wrong. You can be both. Actually, you are both. Playing an instrument at a professional level is an extremely physical act, but more on that in the next post on point #2 “this career is more physical than anyone told you.” 

Branding ourselves as an athlete or a musician isn’t the only self inflicted pigeon hole we place ourselves in and get sold/told about in school. Think back to the social hierarchy of middle and high school— the lunch seating chart scene from Mean Girls is the perfect example…you’re this or you’re that and crossing lines between groups is a no no.

We’re told…

Our peers and systems convince us that we are only ONE thing. This is by design. We’re the orchestra kid, or the band camp guy, the athlete, the nerd…you get the point. But that is really not helpful to us, but it helps explain why so many of us put ourselves in a box.

Determination and Time

Now, I do want to point out that choosing music as a career takes a lot of determination, commitment, time and discipline. The professional music world is not for the faint of heart. Believing that one can only be a musician and nothing else, however, is problematic. You are more than what you do and what you practice. 

Professionally

Beyond school I’ve seen this play out in a number of ways. In the professional music world you’re a teacher, a freelancer, a symphony core member, a chamber musician, an artistic director, a professor, or an adjunct (insert other title here- instructor, professor, pawn…stay tuned for my upcoming post about working as an adjunct)…these are just a few. The point is, people label us and shove us into the hierarchy. 

As I’ve mentioned before, and written about before, I’ve run into many people along my career path who like the system this way and have no trouble making sure they let you know what rank they believe you’re in. The only thing it does is give one person the illusion that they are better than or above the person they’ve designated as “other.”

Who I Am

I’m a performer and a teacher, but I’m also a runner, a yogi, a wife, a cook, a friend, a daughter, and a collector of pyrex bowls and fire king mugs.

The Life Outside the Professional Music World Bubble

We are not just one thing in our daily lives or our professional lives. Having a life outside of music is really important. Be more than one thing because you are more than one thing. Yes- you’re a musician, but you’re not JUST a musician. Within that hierarchy you aren’t just one thing professionally either.

Students

As a student, this can be particularly tough. For those in the public school system, many times there are scheduling conflicts for classes. So, while a student may want to participate in many things, they can’t always do it all because of scheduling conflicts. At some point, one must make choices and prioritize one activity or skill over another. This, however, shouldn’t deter young people (and their parents) from encouraging well rounded interests and activities. 

Strangely Delivered Good Advice

When I was studying violin (very briefly) at Manhattan School of Music I had a professor who made sure we knew his feelings on the subject. He embodied the disgruntled life-long orchestral musician who ended up teaching orchestra repertoire. One day he told us that he could quit violin that day and be just fine and that we should strive for that too. There are some big issues with how he presented the sentiment.

He possessed a huge amount of privilege and power that freed him and allowed him to make such statements. Looking back at it, I understand what he was attempting to say. While his delivery was less than acceptable, the message was- have interests outside of your chosen career. He was right about that. Like many people in powerful positions, he didn’t express it in a healthy and helpful way to a room full of 20-something year old graduate students trying to win orchestra jobs. 

Find Your People and Your Hobbies

It’s tough out there, but realizing you are more than what you do is a really important lesson. Finding other interests and hobbies outside of the music bubble is crucial to fight burnout, but more importantly its crucial in finding JOY! You want to make sure you have the life skills needed to succeed in a competitive and demanding field. So, get out there. Do some yoga, find your people, and find some hobbies outside of music…it’ll be good for ya!

Next Week

Next week I’ll be discussing the physicality of being a professional musician and how if we take care of our bodies, our bodies take care of us. Hope this has helped you a little bit! If you would like to schedule a 1:1 consultation send me a message! I’m here to help.