Advice on Becoming a Professional Musician
By CJ Younger, Communications Manager
A central part of the GTCYS program is our seasonal retreats. These weekend events give students more dedicated time with their conductors to dig into their repertoire, and each orchestra had a special activity to build their musicianship and teamwork.
At our most recent winter retreat, the chamber group Son de Cuerdas broadened the musical horizons of Concertino West and Concert Orchestra by performing a variety of Hispanic and Latin pieces. The group is a Class Notes Artist with Your Classical MPR, and professional musicians Omar Macias (cello), Ada Tzab (harp), and Amos Lucidi (piano) shared music history, techniques, and fun facts with the students.
We got the chance to ask Son de Cuerdas a few questions afterward about the retreat and what it takes to become a professional musician:
Q: What was it like to perform for GTCYS students at the winter retreat?
Omar: It’s really fun—a little bit surreal, actually. I played in GTCYS as a kid so it’s like I’ve come full circle. But it’s really fun to get to play for these kids and help inspire their musical journey.
Ada: We could feel how receptive GTCYS students are to what we are doing, especially at the end with their questions—they had very reflective questions about what we do.
Amos: Very direct questions, too. You can tell that they’re also musicians.
Q: I’m sure that seeing the trio perform was inspiring for students! What would you say are the steps for a GTCYS student to reach the level that you’re at one day and perform as a professional musician?
Amos: To reach the level of a professional musician, I really insist on finding a teacher with whom you can find a connection and really helps you develop your technique, your musical abilities, and your understanding of music. But more than that, I think a good teacher promotes enjoyment in their students, enjoyment of playing. Not the one who makes you feel bad about yourself and your playing, but who makes you think ‘Wow, this incredible, I can achieve so much more.’ And from there, with that guidance, then dedicate time.
Check out GTCYS’ private teacher directory! Need-based financial support is available for private lessons, thanks to our community of donors.
Omar: On the flip side of that coin, I would say it’s important to remember to have fun along the way. When you get so focused on the goal of being a professional musician, sometimes it’s easy to forget about why you even started playing music. You start thinking about how you want to be in this orchestra and reach a certain chair, and you get so hyper-focused that you forget about having fun.
I like to tell my students that fun is like carbonation in a soda. If you have soda without carbonation, it’s just an icky, syrupy drink, right? You need some of that carbonation––you need fun in your music to really make it sparkle and make it come alive.
Q: I’m sure working as professional musicians has led you to a lot of great experiences in your community. Where have you seen that impact?
Omar: We’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with a few community performances with the Saint Paul Public Library. One of our performances was at a laundry in West Saint Paul, which was cool because our audience was people who wouldn’t otherwise find their way into a concert hall. And after the performance is done, they come up to you and tell you ‘That was really beautiful, I really like this song.’ It feels so genuine and sincere.
And I feel like that makes it so much more fulfilling because you’re connecting with people in a way that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Because of music, I was able to interact with this person and bring a sparkle into their day.
Sharing music with the community through free concerts is an important part of GTCYS students’ musical journey. Check out our upcoming community concerts in February and March!
Amos: I think we can all agree that music is a language of emotions. So, I feel it’s fascinating how you can even be more direct than with words. If you’re playing a piece that arouses a certain emotion in whoever is listening, and you’re creating this connection without the use of words, the expression and reception of that emotion are there. You don’t need to know anything about music as a listener. It’s beautiful to create this connection.
Ada: One of our goals as a group is to connect specifically with the Hispanic community in the area. We try to bring classical music to this community, and also perform popular music that they can identify with. But also, we try to promote Hispanic and Latin music with the rest of the community here because it’s a very diverse community that we have here. It’s interesting because we can connect with people with a specific piece or song, but also this music from a certain place can help us connect with people who didn’t know that music.
Q: Omar, you wear a lot of hats in GTCYS—as a Harmony teaching artist at Riverview, a sectional coach, and a sponsored lessons teacher. It’s so cool that you also played in GTCYS. Can you tell us more about that experience?
Omar: In middle school, I was actually very close to quitting music entirely. But my teacher called a meeting with my parents and got us connected with GTCYS, and I ended up joining Philharmonic in eighth grade.
I remember thinking how I didn’t want to go to a high school for two hours at night. I had school the next day, and all kinds of activities going on. But when I was finally in that room, rehearsing with kids from fourth grade to seniors, I really felt the huge range of talent. At first, I felt intimidated, but when the music happened, I realized, ‘This is where I want to be.’ Being in Philharmonic gave me something to practice for and look forward to during the week.
And so now, being back here as a professional musician feels surreal. I remember my teachers and coaches giving me advice when I was younger and not fully understanding why it mattered, and now here I am, saying those same things! I find it inspiring for myself because I’m here to help them get better and keep going with their instruments. And that inspires me, in turn, to want to keep doing better as well because the kids see that we’re putting in this effort, and it becomes a self-fulfilling circle. The kids feel inspired, and that inspires me as a teacher and makes me want to do better.