Tips for starting music professionals
Yesterday I summarized my tips for musicians in three points:
Practice, practice, practice. Your basic level should as high as you need it to be. Intonation, timing, sound, etc, all of these criteria should be top notch. They’re your responsibility. Playing the 25th note of Ibert even more in tune and beautiful might not get you that extra concert on the short term but you owe it to yourself and art to get it right and always make it better.
Network: not only for the connections but also to be inspired and to be part of a network that sees music like you do. You have to know what’s going on. Visit concerts and congresses. Always be there. Make sure people know who you are right from the start. Don’t be shy, step up to people who you think might be worthwhile to you and your art. Be inspired, find gigs, jam, just be there, always!
Focus, on the short and the long term. Always have your goals clear. When you practice make sure you know what you’re going for in the next 1-5 minutes and per week/month/year. Plan studying your pieces but also your skills. Perhaps you need three months to get your staccato to be faster. Equally Important is planning your artistic vision. Where do you want to be in five years? What would you do if you had all the money, all the podia and all of the audience in the world? These are just two questions you should ask yourself every so many days. Take the time to plan and to focus yourself on what you think is important at that moment.