Klarinet Archive - Posting 000538.txt from 1998/01

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Orchestra life
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 00:11:39 -0500

><<Sometimes students can romanticize
>the idea of being an orchestral player: "it's so great, lots of money, you
>play all the time - what a wonderful life" >>

on 1/10/98 3:38 PM, Hat NYC 62 wrote:
>
>Lots of money? For 1 out of 100 symphony clarinet players. . .maybe! And
>Symphony players are about 1 of 1000 clarinet players! Believe me, having
>been
>in a small orchestra (where we at least made a living). The money is
>generally
>NOT a good reason to practice your butt off.

And from another regional orchestra clarinetist who makes a living (but
just barely), the money is not going to bowl you over unless you land
with one of the majors.

Having said that, even in the majors, I wouldn't think money would be a
particularly good motivator. It is certainly not why *I* practice after
19 years in the Richmond Symphony!

David (orchestra drone!)

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/