hi, i just want to know if there is anybody out ther who is going to make flute playing their proffession? whether it be as a soloist or playing in an orchestra. I want to be an orchestral flute player. i am looking for a good teacher, preferably in europe. i know of Mr Zoon who is at the geneva conservatoire...he`s Brilliant but i would like recommendations from people too. thanks.

heya, im taking my flute sax and picc playing proffesionally. hopefully doing solo work and in a major symphony orchestra, i know there hard to get into so i suppose i best carry on working my ass off!!!

hey yeah i know what you mean. i`ve just come from overseas. went to the verbier Festival in Switzerland, in the alps, and oh.....my...word..... the musicians that were at the festival (in the orchestra) were beyond words. well they were the best in the world, and the scary part is is that it was a youth orchestra, and they were flippin brilliant. it was soooo inspirational! think i will audition in two years time. there is such a good vibe there. it was surprising to see lots of americans becasue they have a different style of playing to the europeans. also want to try and audition for the berlin phil acadamie!still completing my bachelor of music degree in south africa first, then i will go overseas. where do you study?

In what ways are the American and European styles different?

I`m Sarah.
When I will grew up, I would like to be a soloist.
I`m playing flute since I was 9 and I really like it.
I`m from the Philippines and I`mm studying here in Italy, Europe.
My teacher`s name is Raffaele Trevisani, Maybe you don`t know him but his one of James Galway`s student.
He`s very good... and I like his techniques.
For me his the best!!!

Hope that this information can help you!

I can`t even amagine wanting to go pro. Your shots are close to one in a million. The pay isn`t all that great unless your Galway.

I had a flute instructor who would always lament on how hard it was to make a living as professional flutist. To be frank she was obese, not very attractive, and her playing wasn`t stellar... but she made her living solely on her flute.

Churches, Synagogues, Theater, Weddings, Funerals, Parties, Private Instruction, Pan handling... so many avenues.

Non-professional amateurs can etch out a living playing music. It`s really how much you desire to live the life of your dreams and taking the right steps to get there.

I`ve played for a couple weddings and a funeral before I had any formal instruction. Heck I played Mozart`s Concerto in G in public once with oh so many mistakes, but people don`t know any better they thought it absolutely wonderful.

If you have charisma and are a people person Solo work could work out well, if not there is always orchestra work studio work, or teaching.

...or you can go into business and play music for fun on the side taking away jobs from degreed professional musicians.

"To be frank she was obese, not very attractive, and her playing wasn`t stellar... but she made her living solely on her flute."

Are you saying that she didn`t make it or was against it because she was obese and unattractive?

That is a shame. I am over weight myself, (not obese) and it has never stopped me. Maybe that gave her a self esteem issue that held her back?

I meant that odds were against her making a living as a flutist, but she makes her living as a flutist.

I have nothing against the over weight. My doctor called my obese when I hit 220 at 6`1. Oi!

Opera Divas can be overweight and make it big! Too bad that weight would have an impact on chances at being a female pro flutist.

Think of all the fat, ugly men that have made it to professional orchestra levels no matter what the instrument.

It`s not just in music though. I think it`s more difficult for an overweight, less than stellar looking female in nearly any profession. Just because we are female, we are apparently held to a different appearance standard.

Am I over-reacting? Perhaps, but my experience certainly does not indicate that "beauty" makes you a better worker of any kind whether it`s teacher, flutist, doctor, or most anything else.

Have any of you noticed that "beautiful" people are better at their jobs than their less-than-gorgeous colleagues?

Hmm, I know that I am only in High School still, but I already have my mind made up. I want to go into the marine band or the Boston Pops Orchestra right after college. I would then, play in either of those symphonies until there is a job opening at my current High School for a Band director.

Hey Kippsix,
You aren`t over reacting at all. I see it that way too.

I always ask myself, how can a man be bald or old, and still look good, yet if it were a women, we don`t? Lol!

Because girls have cooties :p

in response to earlier posts James Galway is plump and is pro

When I think obese I don`t think chubby... not even pear shaped... but more of a blueberry. A large circle. Where it pains you to see the person.

Galway`s big? Doesn`t look it.