For everyone doin some kind of performing arts, what do you do/play and for how long?

Question

I'm just interested, I play flute and I like hearing about what other people do... :)

Answer 1

I have been playing the flute for about 10 years now. I miss being in an organized ensemble, but I still play on my own whenever I get the chance.

Answer 2

Clarinet - 3 years
French Horn - 13 years
Sax - 4 years
Trumpet - 5 years
Flugle Horn - 4 years
Flute/Piccolo - 2 years
Violin - 6 years
Cello - 2 years
Upright Bass - 3 years
Oboe - 3 years
Bassoon - 15 years
Piano - 5 years

I started on clarinet, quickly found the French Horn to be a bit more of a challenge, and Bassoon as well. Everything else I played was during the same time. I was taking at one point, up to 4 music courses a year, every day and doing the rest of my work at home for other subject areas.

I ticked off a lot of fellow musicians in middle school, high school, and then I laughed at them in college when I knew most of the instruments and they struggled to learn them for Instrument Lab courses requiring them to learn everything I spent years doing. About 5 of my high school classmates and I went to the same university.

I was always being told, "choose one". Well, at some point I think it's a good thing, but I suppose my overactive mind got the best of me. I'm never bored. heh heh

Answer 3

I play viola and violin. I started in the 4th grade on viola, and it turned out that we had instruments laying around among the family because my great grandfather had been a prominent musician in his day (1930s - 1960s). I played in the school orchestra and then got into the local youth symphony program http://www.aysmusic.org in junior high school and continued through high school. I auditioned for a university orchestra and received a full scholarship to the University of Arizona http://web.cfa.arizona.edu/music/. There, I studied viola performance and graduated with a BA.

The process burned me out, though, so I basically quit playing after graduating. Then, 15 years later (3 years ago) I picked up the viola again because my youth symphony was having a big reunion and I wanted to attend but not to embarrass myself. So I started practicing carefully again with easy etudes and scales, etc., the onto learning the orchestral parts for the reunion.

About that time, one of my old music buddies talked me into joining the local community orchestra http://www.nmapo.org, since he is a conductor there. I did so and enjoyed it immensely. I started in the back of the viola section and got my feet wet again playing symphonic literature, and re-learned how to practice and how to get the stamina required for 3 hour rehearsals and 2 hour concerts. After I was in that group for two years, the viola section was overloaded, so I decided to get busy learning to read violin music on the violin, so I could join the 2nd violin section. I did that and played violin in the orchestra for about 4 months, which I enjoyed quite a bit. It gave me a chance to use the fiddle http://www.karlwinkler.com/Old%20Violin.jpg I had recently restored.

After that season, the principal viola chair opened up in my community orchestra, so I auditioned for it and got the spot. Now, I have to keep up with providing bowings for my section, leading sectional rehearsals, etc. It's a lot of work, but I enjoy it.

Then, finally, during the past few years, I have been involved with a string quartet http://www.giovanniquartet.com where happened to find three other players who are about at my level (thankfully the 1st violinist is quite a bit better than I am!) and also love music and enjoy rehearsing and playing. We provide music for weddings and other events.

Answer 4

I'm a guitar and bass player, and singer, in country, classic rock, ballads, and R & B music! I've been playing for 30 yrs in bands, my own bands, and at the moment I do solo acts, at coffeehouses and restaurants! I have a little trio band, that also helps me do gigs for nursing homes , benefits for charity, birthday parties, barbeques, family gatherings! I've also performed at funerals, weddings, and a classic car show, doing oldies, and doo-wop music!
If you're ever in my town, I'll hire you on the spot, I absolutely love to hear flute music!

Answer 5

I'm a musician and musical/vocal director, I've played the keyboard for about 29 years now, and freelance playing in orchestra pits and doing musical and vocal directing for whatever shows I find that perform around my area (and there are actually a lot of them, and I'm an established resource for many theaters now). I've also taught some voice and keyboard privately.

Answer 6

piano - 13 years

violin - 4.5 years (finished my grade 8)

viola - 6 months in school orchestra because they were short of violists

harp - 6 months. I joined my school's harp ensemble, was one of the best harpists for my year. but my harp learning is currently on hiatus until I finish my B.Mus at a conservatory.

voice - just started

I'm majoring in piano performance at a music conservatory, currently in year 1 of the B.Mus programme. Life can't get any more fun than this :).

Answer 7

Yeah we all get to toot our own horns on this one hahaha.

I've played the piano all my life, taught by Mom and then by outside teachers later on. I've been a church organist for the past 7 years.

Answer 8

I am a dancer and have been dancing for 21 years. I've also been teaching dance for the past 10 years.

Answer 9

I sing and play keyboards in bands, been doing it for over 20 years (god Im old)

Answer 10

.....tireswing47........I think you won.... :)

I've been playing trumpet for about 7 years now, and piano since I can remember (though I've only recently started formal training)... I'm currently in the process of gaining my degree in Classical Trumpet... band geeks unite!!!!