Hey all



Lets face it im not exactly a child prodigy and i didnt sit grade 8 at 13 or lower, im actually 14 and have only just done my grade 5 violin which i got a distinction for .


I want to think about possible careers in music that can not only include performing but all areas of music, eg. im interested in music history. This would help greatly because i need to find out what subjects i need to take for my course choices when starting my scottish highers next year.


And if i might just slip another question in! I would like to learn a second study and i am totally flabbergasted at the huge range of instruments on offer. Has anybody got any suggestions as to a good second study instrument? (apart from the obvious, piano)


Thanks greatly for your time!


Marc.

Hello Marc,

Apart from choosing music, history would be a good option to include. Even though it may not contain material about the history of music, you will at least a get an understanding in the social background that would have surrounded it. In general though, school subjects are limited in their specialisation. Concentrate on getting good all round results; including English and Maths. This will offer you a better choice for A levels (or Scottish equivalent) and again it would be wise to continue with history. It might seem a bit early to be looking at degree courses; but it might be worth browsing the web and have a look at the sort of music specialisms at various universities. Music degrees can vary widely and it will give you some idea of what is available and what topics you might like to study in the future.


Most people will say piano. Yes, it is useful and as a violinist myself there are times when I wish I had a little more competence at the keyboard. However, the ability to play the piano is by no means obligitary. How about the viola? It is very similar to the violin and a lot of violinists play the viola in addition. Learning to read alto clef is not difficult and there is usually a shortage of violists in general. Other than that, I guess it's whatever grabs your interest, are there any particular woodwind or brass instruments you might like to try?

All the best

Hi

I agree with all the above.

As a music teacher i see alot of people who would love to follow a career in music.

If i was 15 and wanted to have a chance in the musical world, not being a child prodigy, i would learn to play the BASSOON. If you can learn to play this instrument well or better, you have a good chance of:

1) Getting into a Conservatoire
2) Having a career playing your instrument - unlike the violin unfortunately
3) Being in demand

Even at the age of 30, i have thought of taking up the bassoon, getting to LRSM standard in 8-10 years and then being able to seek professional work. So at 15 - seriously consider it. It may not be glamorous but a competent Bassoonist would never be lacking in work.

Let me know what you think - instruments are not cheap but if you wanted to learn your local music service should be able to provide you with one and then after a year of lessons you should be able to get a grant to buy one with. At 15 you would need more than 1 lesson a week but again, you should be able to get financial assistance with this.

Best wishes,

Andrew

Singing is so much fun, Marc. You'll love it! Does singing count as a second study / instrument, AmandaL for conservatory entrance purposes? Even if it doesn't, Marc, it'll still add some gloss to your potential CV!

Thanky you for the wonderful replies!
And yes i had read earlier somewhere about lack of basoon players but i dont know i think i would feel as if i was taking a shortcut and i would see all the other violinists and feel quite bad!

o well im quite interested in saxophone or oboe

marc:Johansen : if you want to explore jobs in the music industry, try www.prospects.ac.uk It's a graduate website, but you can just choose "explore types of jobs and then choose from an alphabetical list and it has so much information, ie, entrance requirments, salary etc.

The oboe is also an 'endangered species' instrument, so you'd be in demand if you played it.


Singing would be classified as a second study, but, generally voval students enter conservatoires maybe two or even three years later than instrumentalists. This is because the voice and vocal chords need to mature before being put it into full-time operatic training.

In fact, the oboe is so endangered but valued that independent schools are trigger happy to give scholarships (including 6th form ones if you are interested, Marc) to those who show some promise in it.

woaw i would be very happy with that Tess i think i might consider the oboe or bassoon! I go to a state school at the moment and have always wanted to go to an independant school. I will seriously consider your options and will give you an update soon!


Marc.

hi

Well i'm kind of in the same situation as you, I'm grade 8 piano and planning on doing ATCL but i don't think i'll get anywhere with piano. You should really thinking about playing viola, i used to play violin then my violin teacher said that i have long arms and he think that i'll enjoy viola and i did. Viola is such a great instument , it has such a nice and deep tone(make you want to melt ) and you're always in demand and it'll be easy for you coz it's similar to violin.

It's be good to play oboe or basson too but just a little hint, You're lips and jaw hurt so much after playing for a long time . But all 3 of them is great instrument , you'll love it. Enjoy,tell us when you made your mind yet

Is it too late to learn violin at 17?

one thing that ive learned!

Its never too late!!!!

Good heavens I hope not! I've just started at 38

Subliminal message for Marc: Oboe oboe oboe oboe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Play the oboe!!!!

Words cannot describe how fabulous this instrument is

hehe oboebunny ive always thought the oboe sounded like a duck!!

A little off topic but hey still has the remnants.

If your interested in music history, a history degree can focus around music as a lot of the time you are able to select essays which can often be bent. I managed to bend a why study history essay into an argument about the reasonings of preserving Bach's music in a collective archive.

Music has accompanied and helped us through the ages, through good and bad, theres been music to illustrate the emotions of the era. It even delves into the popular mathematical arguments surround music as proposed by the greeks, Pythagoras etc.

I would recomend for anyone interested in music and to improve thier playing a music history book called 'the development of western music - a history' by K Marie Stolba. Its third edition and ISBN is 0-697-29379-3.

It's a lovely book itself and is rammed with a complete history of western music with origins in 18,000BC through the renaissance, into baroque, classics, teaching history upto the current state. Will assist through giving an understanding of the deep backgrounds of music.