How good do you have to be at age 15 to play the flute professionally?

Question

Like, what pieces would you have to be playing? What level should you be at?

Answer 1

......wow.

you are just like every single musician in the world. we all want to make it big! but we need to face reality. not everyone gets the chance to be a professional musician. there is no way you would be chosen, at age 15, to play in a broadway show, or something like that. you have to have more experience then just middleschool & highschool band/orchestra programs. and they could care less if you take private lessons.

some people go their whole lives, trying to be a professional musician.

ever hear the joke, "how do you get to play in carnegie hall?"......."practice!"

well, i know a local school that got to perform in carnegie hall. i guess they just got a lucky break.

i'm not trying to like, be mean, or shoot down your dreams, but i too, am a musician. and i have a huge passion for music. and i just know reality. if you are serious about it, go to college. and get old. maybe when you are in your 30's and have had much experience, you will have a chance.

good luck kid.

Answer 2

Hi FluteBoy....   well, let me see.     To be ready for professional playing your music education would have had to be quite extensive  (college and beyond).  But let's say that you are a flute phenom...  then you will have had to already studied  the Mozart Concertos,  Bach Sonatas and Handel Sonatas (and there are many, many of those).  You will have had to play Beethoven, Chaminade, Faure, Muczynski, Molique,  Chopin,  Pagnini,Prokofiev, Quantz, Vivaldi among other composers.   You  will have had to be proficient with the best Etude studies from Anderson,  Karg-Elert, Berbiguier,  Faure to name a few.   You have to study Taffanel-Gaubert Grand Exercises and Moyse DeLa Sonorite.  You have to know all of your basic scales:  Major, Minor, Harmonic, Melodic (48 in number).  

You have to be BETTER than  the professional flute players that already play with the symphonies  because these are the people you are going to have to play against when you audition for one of the two chairs that symphonies alot for the flute.   Then you have to get one of those $12,000.00 Powell or Brannen (sterling silver) professional flutes because the conductor will not hire you unless you do have one.   If he requires a gold flute,  that will  set you back $25,000.00 and if the music he wants to play sounds better with both types of flutes  you will have to have one  of each which if you are already a millionaire, you will not have a problem.   So, if you have done all of the above,  and probably more....  you are ready to go in for auditions.....  providing there are any openings available at this time.  Good Luck and don't give up your dreams!!!!