Why I Work With Young Cellists
Recently, I was on a call with a cellist. He was finishing up at grad school and weighing his options:
Go on for another degree/certificate?
Or
Try the freelance route in another city?
As we talked through his options and concerns about taking auditions, he mentioned that while he felt he know how to prepare, when it came to the actual audition, he would freeze, make mistakes that he never made before, and have what felt like an out-of-body experience.
Does this sound familiar? Does this happen to you?
I offered some different techniques that would prepare him for ALL the challenges that an audition presents. I was able to share some ideas to consider and specific exercises that would help put him on the right track.
And then he said, “Can I ask you a question?” “Of course!” I replied. So he asked, “Why do you do what you do?”
I must admit that the question gave me pause. I have talked to hundreds of young musicians around the world who all have the same questions, the same fears, and the same concerns about their future. I think I mumbled something like wanting to help people, but that didn’t really cover it.
Having had the time to clarify my thoughts, this is how I would answer him now:
Because I love giving young musicians the space to talk about what really matters to them
Because I have the time, experience, and desire to help them
Because I want people to know they are not alone
Preparing for an audition is not a mysterious process. But too many young musicians don’t have access to the knowledge needed to show them how to approach this journey with confidence. It’s not really rocket science, but you will be working as hard as a rocket scientist, I promise you!
I want you to know, with the right blueprint and support, it's a journey you can handle.
Because there are some really exciting auditions happening this fall and winter, I'm offering a short course this October. You can check out the details here. It's by application only, and the main step in the application process is scheduling a call with me.
If you're concerned you're not ready for this session, don't worry--we should still talk. I've never met an aspiring cellist who didn't need ANY of my advice or tips. In our short call, I'll share everything I can that might help you. So go ahead and click the link, whether or not you're taking auditions this fall.