Umyoguy

This is reassuring to read. Thanks for posting, and congratulations on your new position. Now get out of the Met so we can have a crack :)

I too have a regional orchestra gig, like Bob. It's not what I wanted while I was in school, but you know what? I get paid to play. Early on I determined that was going to be my criteria for happiness, and I've succeeded. I need to remind myself of that every day or it gets lost in the daytoday frustrations of what playing for a living really means.

The recent young audition winners have just motivated me more. I also derive motivation by watching sports and seeing people fulfill their dreams in different arenas.

You only fail if you quit.

Jon

Uncle Rico

I had forgotten the actual Chicken Little story. The king ran the wolf off and gave Chicken Little an umbrella to keep acorns from hitting her, or to keep the sky from raining on her "parade". So, I think there is alot of wisdom in the last two paragraphs of Craig's article.

Morris says "It is difficult to know if and when your career will bloom, but if you work hard and smart, you will have opportunities." Great advice, but have the "diaper-laden-orchestra-superstars" not done so? (a rhetorical question, unless someone can answer it with certainty)

Regarding age, I heard that Thomas Smith of the NYPhil won his job in his late 30s or early 40s. If so, then that's one to celebrate as an example of someone who weathered much on the road to career success.

ecarroll

Wilmer,

I know, I know. Ask my mirror. Ask my wife. Roger Bobo once asked me "didn't you used to be Ed Carroll?" (broke me up)

Thank God for teaching. . . we can live vicariously through our students

Then again, we both knew "the kid" when he was a kid.

Cheers, mate
EC

robertwhite

Good point, Rico. That's part of what I brought up earlier when I said I could only think of a couple situations where a young audition winner didn't get tenure (on trumpet). If it's principal with a major group, you'll see the "revolving door" thing more often - but not just with young players.

In any case, we should presume that anyone who won an audition put the goods together. I often think of my buddy Mike Tiscione, who won a spot with the Atlanta SO when he was 23 or something ridiculous like that. He practices more thoroughly than anyone else I know. When an audition comes around, there's nothing on the list that he's not ready to play, and his trumpet playing will undoubtedly be in top form as well. I'd bet if most of us held ourselves to that level of scrutiny we'd have more success.

Doing that is awfully painful, though, and requires someone with the strength of mind to be 1.) brutally honest about their weaknesses, and 2.) hell-bent on conquering them. To have this strength as a young person is truly special. But that doesn't mean it can't be learned. Winning a job is a by-product of facing these challenges.

PH

This scares me. Speaking of Tommy Smith as a late bloomer is wierd. I worked with him as a high school kid in Cincinnati. God I'm old!

wiseone2

Wynton was 18 when we met. Sergei was ........14years old. Eddie was ancient by comparison
Wilmer

__________________
Be sure Brain is engaged before putting Mouthpiece in gear.
S.Suark 1951

ecarroll

Wilmer,

So true. I was 20 when I moved to New York from Chicago...toilet trained for almost a year! Louie Ranger and I celebrated my 21st birthday (a story for another time)

But damn...you were a handsome devil back in the day, sailor

EC (wearing Depends)

Uncle Rico

You two diaper-laden superstars need a room?

Just kidding!

Tootsall

Ahem... will that be diapers?... or depends?

MrClean

Ooooooooooo.... Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnn.