<p>Just an idea that I've had lately. Do you know anyone who has switched instruments as a music major at a conservatory? Let's say, organ to piano or viola to violin or cello to bass type of thing, not completely different instruments, for more solo and chamber music opportunities as well as better rep? Is it dumb to consider it after 10+ years of playing one instrument, and would it significantly hinder one's chances of getting a job? I have been a little (actually extremely) frustrated by my instrument lately, and the fact that the exact same rep/people keep showing up everywhere. Is there anybody out there who has gotten a career out of 2 instruments? I knew of this 1 teacher at my PC who played and taught both viola da gamba and baroque violin.
Current plan was saving to buy an OK cello, practice for a couple years and maybe audition for cello grad school?</p>
<p>I know that most people are going to suggest that you not do that.</p>
<p>But I think they are wrong. I don’t see any harm in experimenting with different instruments. If anything, I suspect it makes you a better musician. </p>
<p>Most people just randomly choose an instrument when they are young, and then they stick with that instrument. Now who is to say that instrument happens to be the one that they are most suited or gifted for? Chances are, it’s not. So if you feel frustrated on your instrument, there is a fairly good chance that it is not the best instrument for you, and if you have an interest in another instrument there is a fairly good chance that it may be a better match for you. Even making a major change (like from violin to obo) may be better than remaining with an instrument that might not suite you.</p>
<p>Some people are going to suggest that learning more than one instrument will somehow harm you. I don’t believe it, and there are plenty of very good musicians who can play multiple instruments at fairly high levels. </p>
<p>It can be done. Son’s college teacher switched from trombone to double bass. Obviously, you’ll have a lot of “catching up” to do. Plus cello is incredibly competitive.</p>
<p>D3 switched from violin to viola during her senior year of high school, and hasn’t looked back. There might be some complexities in terms of studio teachers in a college setting, but with open communication things could work out well. There are certainly well-known performers who play two instruments at a high level, and if you’re looking to teach privately it could double your studio. (Be careful of the false allure of starting a new instrument just because you’re frustrated with what’s happening on your main instrument, however. It just prolongs the plateau…)</p>
<p>I know quite a few keyboard players that teach and perform on more than one instrument (organ/piano; harpsichord/piano) and a few string players do the same with violin and viola (think of Pinchas Zukerman and James Ehnes who have recorded on both). Certainly most decent saxophone players play a variety of instruments (I know a sax player that has soloed with orchestras in several countries who plays bassoon in his local pro orchestra). </p>
<p>However, I have not heard of a lot of success in going from bass to cello at a high level (certainly people do it all the time at a low level, but I am not aware of anyone who is world-class on both instruments the way Ehnes or Zukerman are); it would require a much larger time investment than doing a violin to viola or saxophone to clarinet switch would. </p>
<p>The level of cello playing required to get into a good grad school is very high. Certainly there are tons of grad programs that will take mediocre cellists, but no full-time orchestral position would ever be a likely result if one attends such a grad program.</p>
<p>I agree that playing more than one instrument is beneficial.</p>
<p>Ask your teacher how feasible they think such a transition would be. They know your abilities and character (as well as the instrument) better than anyone on the forum here does.</p>
<p>Getting back to your original question: do we know anyone that has switched instruments as a music major at a conservatory? Yes, I know a piano to violin switch, but this person was accepted on both instruments into top full-ride programs (i.e. Curtis, Colburn) and had been playing both for 14 years and had been practicing at least 3 hours per day on both for over 6 years.</p>
<p>My daughter plays both oboe and saxophone at a high level and plans to play them both professionally. She can play the other woodwinds pretty well too. She just has the ability to learn wind/brass instruments very quickly. Not everyone is like that. Having said that, the ability to learn quickly is only the beginning. She has to put in the extra hours for each additional instrument.</p>
<p>Various professional musicians do give her a hard time about playing more than one instrument. They don’t understand that it doesn’t harm her at all, because they themselves can’t do it. She never mixes them up. Concepts she learns on oboe can be applied to saxophone and vice versa. For conservatory however, she will probably have to major on one and study privately on the other.</p>
<p>I can understand what you’re saying about feeling your instrument has limited repertoire, and the same pieces are played over and over. That’s how my daughter feels about oboe. Saxophone though is far more versatile as a solo instrument.</p>
<p>I can’t comment about cello as far as being able to start the instrument in college and playing profesionally as I know less about strings. It’s not going to hurt you to experiment though and learning new repertoire should be fun.</p>
<p>It can be done, but I would think that the chances of getting accepted into a grad school with a good cello program ( read this as one that produces employable orchestral musicians) as being very slim. Cello is an extremely competitive instrument and the students you’d be auditioning with will have played for 10+ years and most likely won’t be using just an “OK” instrument.
Of course, picking up another instrument and developing some proficiency won’t hurt you, but don’t do it at the expense of practice time on your primary instrument or because you’re just in a bit of a slump lately. Remember, you’ll see the same competitors on whatever instrument you’re playing- that’s inevitable.
There is something to the old adage " jack of all trades, master of none"- branching out to learn new things is great ( such as playing multiple, similar instruments), but don’t expect to develop the same level of proficiency on all of them. If you’re truly unhappy with your major instrument, have a talk with your studio teacher and your advisor to see what they suggest to help you along.</p>