How long do you have to play the clarinet to be considered a proffesional?

Question

I've played it 7 years

Answer 1

Time is not the key. You must be paid to do it in order to be considered a professional.

Answer 2

It isn't considered on how long you play. I have been practicing for 7 1/2 years and I am not even close to being a professional! I am still learning A LOT of new things.
These questions may help you determine when you think you are a professional.
Do you try your hardest? Do you practice everyday? Do you take private lessons (they help tremendously)? Do you ask for help when you don't understand something? Do you help others in your section when you think they need help or they ask for it?

Just a little thing I learned but there is always something to fix, you can never play perfectly, and practice everyday because if you go a day without practicing than you can hear a difference in your playing.
:)

Answer 3

It's neither the time involved nor the ability. It's the $$. You're a pro if the majority of your income comes from musical performance. Many pros also teach, but if most of your dough comes from teaching rather than performing, then you're a professional teacher.

Additionally, many professional musicians must take other employment to cover things like medical insurance. This is particularly true if you freelance instead of having an orchestral gig.

Edit: For what it's worth, I've played clarinet for 28 years and do have bachelor's and master's degrees in performance. However, I've played piano for 33 years but since I never "clicked" with it I would never play in public!

Answer 4

It's not a matter of how long. It's if you can make a living by playing it. I played the violin for only a year and a half before I was making $500 a month to play - but even then, that wasn't enough to live on, so I wouldn't have called myself a professional. Plus, the only 1.5 years thing.

Answer 5

It doesn't matter how long you do it for, but your training. If you take Clarinet exams, and take classes, and go to a music school than your pro. You also dedicate your life and make your living off of playing the clarinet. Seven years in your school band doesn't cut it.

Answer 6

it depends on when you can recieve recognition. Not like "that was so beautiful" or something, but when you can be respected by listeners and make money doing it. If you get paid and recieve more than just pity compliments, then u r a professional. I play at my church every youth sunday and from that I am certainly not professional. I have been playing viola for 2.4 years and I play advanced music for being a, be..g..in..ner. I really need to perfect my bow techinque though...

Answer 7

i'm in high school and have been playing my clarinet since 4th grade..i definetly don't of myself as a professional. haha. but you're a pro when you go through college and get paid for it. maybe getting a degree in some type of musical field will help.

Answer 8

until its your proffesion playing it. like as your job.. lets say you started in fourth grade.. maybe about 15-20 years.. you dont "need" a degree, but college is where you get really good training.

also, time doesnt make you a professional, how well you play the instrument does

Answer 9

Long enough to find someone who believes you are good enough to be paid for your playing.

Professional musicians are not only paid to play, but should be available on mass-media recordings to be considered professionals.

Answer 10

"Even if you played it 10 hours a day, it would take you about 50 years to master it."
I'd probably say when you get a job playing it professionally, then you would be a professional!