Comments on: Advice for aspiring music performance majors

By: Andrew Keller

Andrew Keller — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:05:11 +0000

I am clearly a little behind the times, as I’m reading this for the first time almost 5 years after the posting. That aside, I really think this is a great article for the aspiring classical performance major, both because it gives them awareness of the intense competition that is out there, in addition to the (very useful) advice about schools and the importance of individual teachers. Lucky for me, I got the chance to study with former MN Orch bassist Jim Clute, who has made it his goal for the past 50 odd years to place as many students as possible in orchestras (and I think he has done so with about that many). At the first lesson, he told me right off the bat that I had to study with a teacher that would place me in an orchestra. At the time I had not given much thought to an orchestral career, but here I am a year and a half later, off to IU on scholarship to study with Larry Hurst, who has definitely one of the better track records for placing students. If anyone could enlighten me on the differences between Hurst’s and Bransby’s teaching styles, that would be great (I’m primarily studying with Hurst b/c of my private teacher’s recommendation and he plays french bow). Well, I’m rambling. It really comes down to the big 3 when you want to win a job and that is natural talent, good teaching and a shitload of practice.

By: Nathan Wood

Nathan Wood — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:10:01 +0000

Good article, but, yes, all the names I recognized from my IU days were students of Larry Hurst.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:17:10 +0000

Just to throw it out there Indiana accounted for 33% (17 spots) of the positions won. Rice and Curtis tied for second place with 13% (7 spots) each. Also Eugene Levinson had two students win seats at the New York Philharmonic. How do you get lessons with him?

By: Thinking About A Bachelor’s Degree In Music Performance – advice from MusTech.net : Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:01:36 +0000

[...] is a topic that I’ve blogged about many times in the past, and it’s great to get the perspective of a faculty member in a [...]

By: Thinking About A Bachelor’s Degree In Music Performance – advice from MusTech.net : Arts Addict

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:01:24 +0000

[...] is a topic that I’ve blogged about many times in the past, and it’s great to get the perspective of a faculty member in a [...]

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:50:20 +0000

Jason, why do you say to study at Rice with Pitts or Bransby at IU? Are you sure that the students had these teachers or were some of them from Hurst and Ellison?

By: Corbin Johnston

Corbin Johnston — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:46:26 +0000

The 1998 Utah Symphony Asst. Principal audition was won by Corbin Johnston, a student of Lawrence Wolfe and Edwin Barker (not the Utah Symphony principal). In addition a section bass position was won by Tom Zera (Juilliard).

By: Fran

Fran — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:17:48 +0000

Wow. I’m the mom of a 15 year old boy who wants to take double bass lessons. We thought it would be great to see him learn a new instrument (he already plays electric bass and guitar quite well) and thought joining a youth orchestra would be a good way to spend his time in a team setting.
You’ve scared me from considering this. Perhaps we’ll just stick to hockey. It sounds like nothing but frustration comes to a bassist who aquires any proficiency. It sounds like there are way too many bassists already and he would dealing with intense competition just to be part of an orchestra at all as an adult. Was it worth it for anybody out there? Should he just stick with rock and roll and keep jamming in the basement, when he’s open to classical and jazz?
Or is the cost for the instrument and lessons just going to lead to frustration down the road in an overcrowded area?

By: David A.

David A. — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:59:00 +0000

I too followed the potential professional orchestral bass player path. I started out in NYC studying with Homer Mensch then transferred to IU to study with Sankey (dating myself) and then Bransby. But, after many years of seeing my classmates and others vie for the few positions available decided to branch out on a different career direction.

That does not mean I don’t play and perform any more. Just the opposite, with the variety of musical options available I am as busy as I want to be, playing all different types of music from classical to jazz. Just because I am not a “full-time” professional does not mean I approach my rehearsals with any less zeal or practice.

The bottom line is one can enjoy the benefits of being a musician without the stress of trying to make it a career. I feel I am still playing at the top of my game, and actually enjoying it.

By: Cara S.

Cara S. — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:59:31 +0000

I also agree that this blog is helpful in some way to open one’s eyes about the harsh realities of music performance and the competitiveness thereof. But I have to agree with Nathan, that as long as I am playing music and making some type of career out of it, I will be genuinely content with that. I am a senior in high school and I am preparing to go to college as a music performance major, with my instruments being french horn and piano. Just the anticipation of being able to play my instruments on a higher level gives me the good chills, because I know that if I do what I love, then everything else will pay off. I also agree that those top ten orchestras are way too overrated, and people want leaders. I really like the idea of a student-run and organized orchestra! The reason being that it would be different and new, and that’s what people want to see. Just give me a few years to catch up, and you’ll have yourself a french horn player in the orchestra! In all seriousness, from my knowledge of the music world, it is not for the weak or lazy, but if you really care about what you do, then you will succeed in your own time.