tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592446021810335788.post3448349468524726889..comments2021-05-03T03:17:51.909-07:00Comments on Lone Oboe: i needed a break, so i took one!Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02587734192703062955noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592446021810335788.post-72785577081413956182009-03-10T00:03:00.000-07:002009-03-10T00:03:00.000-07:00thanks, patty, you're so kind. i'm not giving up ...thanks, patty, you're so kind. i'm not giving up yet! but it is hard, very hard, especially for those of us "normal" types: i am musically talented, but not in any extraordinary way, nor do i possess extreme discipline. i think that a lot of the musicians who win jobs easily have one or both of these traits. but not all, of course! so i will keep trying.Gabriellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02587734192703062955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592446021810335788.post-63968387931383555062009-03-08T09:06:00.000-07:002009-03-08T09:06:00.000-07:00I don't do auditions. They are truly brutal and so...I don't do auditions. They are truly brutal and so atypical of what music is about, but mostly I'm too lazy and too old. (How many 52 year olds win auditions?) <BR/><BR/>My advice, though (and I'm sure you already do this), is to play for as many people as possible. Even set things up like an audition; have them ask you what to play. Have them say, "Could you do that again, please?" If the auditions are behind the screen I've even done that for someone. <BR/><BR/>The winner of our opera audition played for both oboists and other instrumentalists. The player made sure to play for a seasoned opera oboist, since he knew the rep better than anyone else would. That player clearly knew where the music fit in the opera. <BR/><BR/>You probably know all this already, but just figured I'd mention it.<BR/><BR/>You really have my sympathy. Auditions are just awful. I'm not sure of a better way, but I hate 'em. (It used to be that a conductor just chose people, and that sure didn't work well either!)<BR/><BR/>I recently read a long post by a musician who was extremely depressed about the whole thing. The player deemed himself a failure because out of almost 10 auditions he only won one. I had to smile, even while I felt for him, since I've heard of people who take many more than that before they land a job. What a TOUGH business this is. Sigh. <BR/><BR/>Hang in there! (And if you're ever up in my area I'd be quite happy to hear you play!)Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16172401944836258683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592446021810335788.post-61163411493594866472009-03-06T17:44:00.000-08:002009-03-06T17:44:00.000-08:00Gorgeous! I miss the ocean...Gorgeous! I miss the ocean...G.Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14686748216199861538noreply@blogger.com