Gift Of Music

Apparently, playing in professional orchestras or symphonies pays well. A little bird I know told me how much members can potentially expect to paid to play at big events---I'm in the wrong business.

Unfortunately for me, I grew up in a cow-town and there was no orchestra OR symphony. We had concert band so I ended up stuck playing clarinet along with a large number of my peers. I take pride in saying that I hardly practiced and was terrible at sight reading but good at memorizing so I was actually pretty decent and was 4th chair behind three others who actually did try. (Also, 4th chair out of 20 to 25 people isn't bad at all.) But, it wasn't a lack of desire for success that made me never practice, and recorded practice tapes (essentially) was how our teacher assigned chairs. It was the plain and simple fact that I had issues internalizing the music---being practically unable to sight read was sort of an embarrassment for me. I had my own method which made me as good as the first three chairs by the time the concerts came around. Memorization. While in class I spent a lot of energy really listening to what my part sounded like until it was so ingrained I didn't need sheet music anymore.

I firmly believe that all of this could be a thing of the past in a different sense. Had I continued to play, and especially if I had been able to have the instrument I really wanted (French Horn, especially a Double Horn), I could see myself playing professionally. But it remains a thing of the past in that I likely will not pick up an instrument in any sort of seriousness again. I did turn my focus to guitar for a while and I have a nifty little one I like to strum from time to time.

So, for the next little while I plan on dwelling what it would be like to get paid 600 bucks for 4 hours of work, or to pick up a guitar and be a sudden rock star. Fun times.