if you start playing violin when you are 16 can you be a profeshenal?

Answer 1

Most professional violinists began playing at a very young age (often 5-8 years old). It is possible to succeed even with a late start, but it will take a great deal of hard work and dedication. There is a saying that you should only become a professional musician if you absolutely CANNOT imagine yourself doing anything else, and this is very true. Becoming a musician requires physical and mental effort, long hours in a practice room, years of education, and is a very expensive process. Here are some things to consider:

1.) Private instruction. It's important to study with a reputable teacher, especially before you audition for college music programs. You will need lessons with a private teacher on a weekly basis. Ask your high school music teacher for names, or call the local symphony orchestra-- many professional musicians also maintain teaching studios.

2.) Orchestra & chamber music experience. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have orchestral experience if you intend to seriously pursue music, as orchestral playing is how most professional violinists make their living. If there is a youth symphony in your area, join it. If there are multiple orchestras, join as many as possible. Play with your high school orchestra. Get together a string quartet with your friends (or ask your teacher to help you start one) and expose yourself to that kind of music.

3.) Practice. The old joke about "practice, practice, practice" being the only way to get to Carnegie Hall is completely true. Practice is the single most important thing in learning to play an instrument well-- if you don't practice regularly, you won't get far. The more advanced you get, the more practice will be required. You might only need 30-45 minutes per day in the beginning, but minutes will quickly become hours. In college, I practiced 3-4 hours every day-- on TOP of classes, orchestra and quartet rehearsals, homework... and eating and sleeping. The time commitment is huge.

4.) Camp. If you possibly can, attend summer music camps. Your private teacher will be able to give you suggestions for camps in your area.

5.) College. If you are truly serious about becoming a professional musician, you will need a college education. If you want to be an orchestral musician or a solo performer, you will need a degree (Bachelor of Music) in violin performance, but I would suggest getting a double degree so that you are also certified to teach music in schools. Music is a very tough field to get into, especially at a high level, and it's a good idea to have a "back-up" plan. In order to get accepted into a college music program, you will have to audition, and it helps to have as much musical experience (orchestra, etc.) as possible. Again, you'll need the help of a private teacher to prepare you for college auditions. In college, get involved in as many musical activities as possible... and of course, practice.

6.) College (again). Since you are getting such a late start, it is unlikely that you will be ready to play professionally even after four years of college. If you have worked hard enough and progressed far enough, you can be accepted to a Master of Music program, where you can continue your musical training. It is a good idea to audition for local or community symphony orchestras during this time, and to play musical "gigs" (weddings, parties, etc.) as often as possible-- getting your name "out there" will help you to get more and better-paid work.

7.) Money. Private lessons are expensive (anywhere from $15-$100 per hour, depending on your teacher's qualifications). Camps are expensive. Instruments are expensive. Violins for "beginning" players may cost less than $1,000, but instruments which are appropriate for college-level playing generally range from $3,000-$10,000 and up, and professional-grade instruments cost even more.
Other costs include equipment (music stands, rosin, cases, etc.) and sheet music.

8.) Lifestyle. Recognize that even if you do succeed as a professional violinist, you will probably never have the kind of lifestyle enjoyed by doctors, lawyers, etc. Violinists in the New York Philharmonic, which is arguably the highest-caliber orchestra in the United States, make around $100,000 per year, but that is the extreme high end of the profession, and most orchestral violinists make much less than that. If you choose to make orchestral music your career, you will be rehearsing for several hours every day and performing 3-4 nights per week, on top of your own practice time. This kind of schedule can leave little time for friends or family obligations. Other sacrifices might be necessary-- my violin teacher, who plays with one of the top 10 symphony orchestras in the U.S., sold her house, moved into a tiny apartment, and took out a huge loan to pay for her $250,000 instrument. That's a quarter of a million dollars-- the price of a nice house, for a violin. It takes that kind of dedication.

Finally, you have to recognize that it can all be taken away from you in a second. I started playing the violin when I was 5 years old, and went on to study music in college, until I had to give it up --completely-- during my sophomore year, due to physical problems. I developed tendinitis at the age of 17 and carpal tunnel at age 20, both of which finally progressed to the point where I was in so much pain, I could no longer play. At all. It would have taken several very expensive surgeries to fix the problems, and even then, there was no guarantee that they would "stay" fixed, or that I would be able to play without pain again. I made the difficult choice to give up my music major. I took two years off from performing, and now I am able to play with a local symphony orchestra, but that's it. After 15 years, I can only play for an hour a day without pain. If you do decide to pursue this career, be very careful to take good physical care of yourself. Find a teacher who focuses on correct technique (this lessens the chance of injury), try activities like yoga and the Alexander Technique, and always stretch before and after practice sessions.

I don't want to discourage you, but music is a very difficult path. It can be extremely rewarding, but it has to be something you choose out of complete love for playing and performing. If you hate practicing, if you can't imagine choosing a violin over a house, if you are the kind of person who needs a busy social life-- you might want to consider other career options. If you do end up deciding that music is for you (and you still have a few years to make that decision!) I wish you all the best. :)

Answer 2

Learn Violin In 30 Days!

Answer 3

It depends on what you mean by "professional." If professional means you're getting paid for working in some fashion with the violin, that leaves a lot of leeway: you could be a public school music teacher (BM, or even MM degrees); you could be a private teacher (MM recommended); you could work as a music librarian and play in a mid-level orchestra; or you could work like hell for 10 years and win an orchestra audition that paid a living wage.

You could also freelance. Or freelance *and* teach. Or--like many fine musicians do--work at some non-musical job and freelance and/or teach part time. There are a lot of options. Most musicians do not win auditions at the highest level, but that's fine.

See:
Careers in Music
http://beststudentviolins.com/careers.html

ICSOM Statistics
http://beststudentviolins.com/AuditionsGigs.html#4

Answer 4

naw not with your spelling u wont be able to make lyrics

but truthfully speaking it doesnt really matter at what age u start scratch that IT DOES MATTER however u got to keep a couple of factors in mind
1. Natural Talents
2. Amount of Experience
3. Free time
4. Pratice
5. Treats as a luxury not a burden not negative, positive about playing the violin
6. Professional instructor

TIme wont do crap if you dont have a private instructor or dont pratice alot your skill would slowly drain away

Good Luck

Answer 5

It takes about five years of dedicated, hard work at practice, to begin to master violin, as a musician! From there, you could start a professional career, and keep practising as though you have miles and miles to go, and in about another five to eight years, you will really be good! it's a great career, it's great to be able to play the violin well!

Answer 6

You can be anything dont put limits on yourself and dont listen to others who say no its not possible. I am 40 now I started playing when i was 36 and i am almost to book 5 plus i learned to play bagpipes, guitar, banjo and a little bit on the hurdy gurdy all starting when i was in my 30s. Your young my thing is go till you cant go anymore because you will just be that much better.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

no... but you can get really really good if you COMMIT to it... then make a living out of it... and tell of a great story of you starting at 16 and getting amazing... i started at 11 and i got really good in 5 years... so you decide how much time you wanna put into it

Answer 9

Professional: You can become a professional only through practice because only practice makes perfect...smile

Answer 10

i started at 4 peoples u wont be a pro

Answer 11

Yes, but you need to practice every day