Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-05-18 19:03
Mark, this is a very difficult business, and unfortunately, the definition is limiting because there are not many professional performer positions available. I still stand by my words, a professional performer only does performance type jobs (which would include press and photo shoots and those business related things)
A teacher that performs on the side is just that, a professional oboe instructor. Not a professional oboist. This is not saying they aren't very very good, or that they can't do the job. But at the end of the day, they are instructors, not performers. If they do both equally, then they are professional oboists and instructors, and you can put which one you are most proud of first, I give you the option.
I'd feel sorry for your friend, but scuba diving is awesome! I almost quit music all together to become a dive instructor. It really isn't a job, it's just a whole lot of fun. He sounds like he has a beautiful life, and probably doesn't even care who calls him a professional or not.
I'm a woodwind doubler. By your definition, I am a professional woodwind doubler. By my definition, I am semi-professional. In truth I'm not a woodwind doubler, I'm a Flutist, Saxophonist, Clarinetist, Oboist, Bansuri player, and Recorder player. A lot of doublers get away with using intermediate instruments, because it's just too expensive to own professional instruments. However, this is an oboe board, just for oboists, and there's a doublers board, with different feelings on the subject.
At the end of the day, when someone comes on these boards and asks what instrument do professionals play, of course they mean John Mack, John Delancie, Albrecht Mayer, Gordon Hunt, Maurice Bourgue, Heinz Holliger, Stefan Schilli, Francois Leleux. These after all are the guys we try to emulate. I don't think they played Fox. It's my belief that on the boards we are here to learn, not to relieve any self doubts or insecurities. I mean, I'm not here to be mean, and I'm sorry I'm coming off that way. Pros use Howarth, Marigaux, Loree, Laubin, Hiniker, I'm sure I missed a few. Pros, however, do not use Fox in my book.
Drew S.
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