At 27, and without a degree, is it possible to be a successful classical muscian?

Question

I've spent most of my life aspiring to become a proffessional musician. I belive im skilled and talented, but I havnt had the best luck over the years. I've tried giving up before, and it just makes everything in life seem meaningless. And at the same time, one still has to work to pay bills. I dont think i can afford to go back to school. But i dont want to continue working mundane and pointless jobs my whole life. I just want to play (orchestras), and be able to support myself from that. I dont feel i have too many options....can anyone give some POSITIVE insight? I would really appreciate it.

Answer 1

OK - do ypu play in a community orchestra or participate in other amateur musical enterprises?  Never say never but you can't just get an audition cold.  Start by playing anywhere you can, a wedding sting quartet,  park concerts in the summer, for senior citizen centers - where ever you can play.  If your serious you must start playing regularly - professional or otherwise, and if you mean it you must get good teachers.  Good l**k, but you must know you make your own luck most of the time!

Answer 2

the FIRST thing you need to do is get over that negative attitude... You talk about wanting to be a professional musician and then spend three times as many words making excuses why you can't succeed at it.

Until you can get over your negative attitude you will continue on "working mundane and pointless jobs".

Answer 3

Um..at 16 I was the head percussionist for the ICEJ orchestra in Jerusalem, Israel.  And my mother's cousin performed as a pianist with the Chicago Symphony at the age of seventeen.  So yes, it is possible to be a professional classical musician without a degree.  Find groups then apply and audition like crazy.

Answer 4

You don't need a degree to be a professional musician.  You only need to win the audition.  And I know quite a few people that play in my area's orchestra but do other things for their day jobs.  Stay at home moms, a doctor, folks that work at random retail/service places during the day.  

Play wherever you can.  Church, quartets, community orchestras, take lessons, and think about teaching lessons or giving time to middle and high school orchestras for sectionals.  Buy music for audition pieces, work that up.  If you truly desire for this to be your life, I think you have the drive to accomplish it.  Best wishes.

Answer 5

Spend every moment that you are not at work in practice.  Practice as much as possible for about six months (or a year if you can wait that long).  After you've reached a point at which you can no longer teach yourself, ask for the imput of others.  However, beware of those who will tell you that there's no hope or that your technique is bad simply because they are jealous.  I've run into a few of these types myself.  Ultimately, only you will know when you are ready, and when you are, apply to music schools such as Yale, Juilliard, other conservatories, etc.  Many of these schools offer tuition assistance because they would rather that you spend your time in a practice room rather than at work.

Your ideal ultimate situation would be one in which you spend six hours practicing in a conservatory and about six hours in music courses with no work because you are on full scholarships.

I wish you the best... I've been in a similar situation before and now I have a college degree.