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Re: Goal?

Author: oboi
Date: 2013-01-19 05:22

Each goal is personal? It all depends what you want to get out of your music.

I'm an adult amateur, with the hopes of one day being at least semi-pro, so I go about my oboe-ing with an intensity more than most others. I'm actually working towards a solo recital, and so, balancing between work and music is going to be a challenge. I have a lesson every week and I play in a community orchestra. However, since that isn't enough challenge (since most other amateurs treat it like a casual hobby), I got involved in some chamber music, hopefully finding people to do pretty advanced stuff. So, for me, my lessons are structured as if I was a music student.... with the amount of time I can dedicate to it obviously less. So, technique, technical studies, etudes and pieces everyday (doesn't happen realistically, though). As soon as I work on these, I improve. The weeks where I just play through orchestra stuff without working on those other things, no improvement.

My other amateur friend is in a similar predicament. While for him, music being just a very very serious hobby with no desire (anymore) to become pro, orchestra wasn't enough, so he endeavoured to seek out other advanced musicians to play and sound, as he says, "like a pro". His goal is to continually get as skilled as he can. He's created this amateur society in order to find the people at the level desired and a venue for us to perform. Finding opportunities is key.

Others I know have lessons and are content with orchestra. Skill levels varying. Some do the occasional chamber music gig. Even those that are intermediate level at best have actually found a niche in getting asked to play in non-paid gigs (even doing things like Messiah or guest player in orchestra). Having your name out there helps and being a rarity like an oboist increases your chances of getting fun gigs to do.

Others barely have time to practice and just go to orchestra for a bit o' music and socializing.

I've probably gone off topic now.... ha. But I think, if band and church isn't enough of a challenge to you anymore, try to form a chamber group. Now that is some really meaty music. Ask your teacher for advice and if you want a challenge, let him/her know to structure your lessons as such. Have a piece or two that you are working up to performance level. Does your teacher have student recitals? If you were to work up a sonata, is there an opportunity for you to perform it at church, etc.? Are there any amateur music festivals you can go to? One thing that has definitely allowed me to get better is to have a goal and a teacher to enforce those goals. For example, my piano playing has gone south because I don't have lessons in that anymore, and nothing to drive me to get better and better each week. As soon as I found myself in a chamber group or some event to perform at, I immediately got better. Now I don't have anything again and just play at random.

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