Richard's book: Becoming an Orchestral Musician – A Guide for Aspiring Professionals, sells world-wide and has been described as ‘an unbeatable-value master class’ (Classical Music Magazine) containing 'brilliance and honesty on every page' (Pan Magazine) offering a ‘down-to-earth, informative introduction to life as a professional musician’ (Daily Telegraph). Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: 'Richard Davis's pioneering book is to be welcomed by orchestral players, prospective orchestral musicians, conductors, composers, senior management...and by anybody interested in the internal workings of a symphony orchestra...[it] fills a gap in the literature with a lightness of touch and humour...yet with a seriousness that is both profound and exactly to the point.'
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Critics' Reviews
and comments from readers
Daily Telegraph: 'Davis offers a down-to-earth, informative introduction to life as a professional musician.’
Classical Music: '...[his] practical guide invites systematic reading from cover to cover...Experienced players will nod in agreement with something on every page...newcomers will be profoundly grateful for page after page of advice just not obtainable from normal conservatoire training...the many tips on relationships with colleagues often overlooked by full-time performers...Beautifully laid out on good-quality opaque paper...Davis's book is an unbeatable-value master-class.'
Classic FM, The Magazine (four stars): '...[his] invaluable... book. It certainly fills a gap in the market: no one previously has thought to spell out what it takes to become (and survive) as an orchestral musician. Davis...is better qualified than most to tackle the subject. He has a pragmatic, detached view of the business...This should be required reading for all music students.'
Education Journal: This book has particular appeal...written in a very accessible style...concise, yet comprehensive... I would strongly recommend this book to everyone studying or teaching music at a more advanced level and would suggest that it is essential reading for anyone associated with children who aspire to be professional musicians.’
Pan: 'Almost everything you've always wanted to know, but didn't dare ask, is tackled: counting, nerves, trials, politeness, high finance, Pythagorean tuning...it's all in there...I must express nothing but admiration for the genial style and content of [his] book...you will find brilliance and honesty on every page.'
British Journal of Music Education: 'Clearly written and structured...laid out logically...an excellent on-going resource for students. The enthusiasm of the author, his pleasure in and commitment to orchestral playing, are evident throughout the book.’
Perfect Fifths (Resources website for string players – USA): 'A lovely, well-written, informative book...it is like having your favourite teacher sit down with you over lunch and tell you all the secrets of the business
that you don’t hear at your lessons.’
Maggie Cotton, percussionist with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for forty years: 'Richard Davis's most excellent book...a gem of unvarnished, thoughtful advice...it should be required that every music teacher in the land should have a copy, digest it thoroughly and pass on the messages to their young...[it] is worth its weight in gold.'
Glasgow Herald: '...it will undoubtedly prove helpful to anyone considering a career in music...for any concert goer who has ever wondered how the orchestra onstage functions...it also offers an illuminating glimpse into [its] workings and dynamics...'
Jennifer Cluff, principal flute of Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, in reply to a college first-year student's question on her website, 'What is the best advice for becoming a professional soloist or symphonic flautist...[and] on the process of auditioning/joining a symphony and/or becoming a professional soloist?' she wrote: 'See Becoming an Orchestral Musician...this is a phenomenal book! Read it cover to cover!!...[it]is the best book ever written on the subject... and I have read hundreds. I loved it and read it cover to cover in one day.'
Reviewer (Chris Downing) on Amazon.co.uk (five stars), from UK: 'I love these books that relate careers as they really are rather than how a journalist or a professional writer sees them from the outside. This book covers all aspects of being a working musician and can be related to any instruments easily...reading this book will help you avoid the pitfalls, enjoy the successes and understand what you'll need to be doing every day to earn a crust.'
Rachel Brown, distinguished flautist, lecturer and author, London: 'Just finished reading your wonderful book. It only arrived two days ago. I've read it from cover to cover as I couldn't put it down. It's so eloquent and so readable. Time after time I heard a voice in my head saying "Yes! Exactly!" Now I'm completely behind with the work I should have been doing but I feel like working...I'm sure the book will be an inspiration to so many.'
Reviewer on Amazon.co.uk (five stars), from Moscow: '[It] transported me from the audience, my normal vantage point, to behind the scenes of an orchestra -- the agony of auditions, how to cope with nerves, ensemble v solo playing, the mechanics of an orchestra. Listening will never be the same again. Watching a conductor will never be the same. I read this book from cover to cover in one day, never losing interest -- and I'm not a musician! Strongly recommended for any serious music fan, and an absolute must for any music student (and his or her parents)...it's required reading for any serious fan of orchestral music. A great mix of quotes, anecdotes, hard information, all of it useful, all of it well organized and well written, a real pleasure.'
Winds: '...it will have balanced suggestions for any query you might have about the music business...[it] should be in every school library and on the bookshelf of every music teacher and professional player.'
All Flutes Plus bookshop: 'Congratulations on an excellent book. We are certainly very pleased to recommend it as a "must have" to all aspiring young professional musicians and their parents. A much needed publication, I'm sure it will be deservedly successful.'
Elizabeth Hicks-Kimmey from U.S.A, email to the author: 'I want to congratulate you on your wonderful book...I so wish [it] had been around when I was a student...I have had the privilege of performing in professional orchestras over the last 25 years...Thank you for offering up your honest experiences as an orchestral musician. I hope this book is being offered at every music school in the U.S.'
Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine: No aspiring musician can afford to be without this...as essential to the aspiring professional musician as a map and guide book is to the discerning traveller.’
Classical Music: '...[his] practical guide invites systematic reading from cover to cover...Experienced players will nod in agreement with something on every page...newcomers will be profoundly grateful for page after page of advice just not obtainable from normal conservatoire training...the many tips on relationships with colleagues often overlooked by full-time performers...Beautifully laid out on good-quality opaque paper...Davis's book is an unbeatable-value master-class.'
Classic FM, The Magazine (four stars): '...[his] invaluable... book. It certainly fills a gap in the market: no one previously has thought to spell out what it takes to become (and survive) as an orchestral musician. Davis...is better qualified than most to tackle the subject. He has a pragmatic, detached view of the business...This should be required reading for all music students.'
Education Journal: This book has particular appeal...written in a very accessible style...concise, yet comprehensive... I would strongly recommend this book to everyone studying or teaching music at a more advanced level and would suggest that it is essential reading for anyone associated with children who aspire to be professional musicians.’
Pan: 'Almost everything you've always wanted to know, but didn't dare ask, is tackled: counting, nerves, trials, politeness, high finance, Pythagorean tuning...it's all in there...I must express nothing but admiration for the genial style and content of [his] book...you will find brilliance and honesty on every page.'
British Journal of Music Education: 'Clearly written and structured...laid out logically...an excellent on-going resource for students. The enthusiasm of the author, his pleasure in and commitment to orchestral playing, are evident throughout the book.’
Perfect Fifths (Resources website for string players – USA): 'A lovely, well-written, informative book...it is like having your favourite teacher sit down with you over lunch and tell you all the secrets of the business
that you don’t hear at your lessons.’
Maggie Cotton, percussionist with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for forty years: 'Richard Davis's most excellent book...a gem of unvarnished, thoughtful advice...it should be required that every music teacher in the land should have a copy, digest it thoroughly and pass on the messages to their young...[it] is worth its weight in gold.'
Glasgow Herald: '...it will undoubtedly prove helpful to anyone considering a career in music...for any concert goer who has ever wondered how the orchestra onstage functions...it also offers an illuminating glimpse into [its] workings and dynamics...'
Jennifer Cluff, principal flute of Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, in reply to a college first-year student's question on her website, 'What is the best advice for becoming a professional soloist or symphonic flautist...[and] on the process of auditioning/joining a symphony and/or becoming a professional soloist?' she wrote: 'See Becoming an Orchestral Musician...this is a phenomenal book! Read it cover to cover!!...[it]is the best book ever written on the subject... and I have read hundreds. I loved it and read it cover to cover in one day.'
Reviewer (Chris Downing) on Amazon.co.uk (five stars), from UK: 'I love these books that relate careers as they really are rather than how a journalist or a professional writer sees them from the outside. This book covers all aspects of being a working musician and can be related to any instruments easily...reading this book will help you avoid the pitfalls, enjoy the successes and understand what you'll need to be doing every day to earn a crust.'
Rachel Brown, distinguished flautist, lecturer and author, London: 'Just finished reading your wonderful book. It only arrived two days ago. I've read it from cover to cover as I couldn't put it down. It's so eloquent and so readable. Time after time I heard a voice in my head saying "Yes! Exactly!" Now I'm completely behind with the work I should have been doing but I feel like working...I'm sure the book will be an inspiration to so many.'
Reviewer on Amazon.co.uk (five stars), from Moscow: '[It] transported me from the audience, my normal vantage point, to behind the scenes of an orchestra -- the agony of auditions, how to cope with nerves, ensemble v solo playing, the mechanics of an orchestra. Listening will never be the same again. Watching a conductor will never be the same. I read this book from cover to cover in one day, never losing interest -- and I'm not a musician! Strongly recommended for any serious music fan, and an absolute must for any music student (and his or her parents)...it's required reading for any serious fan of orchestral music. A great mix of quotes, anecdotes, hard information, all of it useful, all of it well organized and well written, a real pleasure.'
Winds: '...it will have balanced suggestions for any query you might have about the music business...[it] should be in every school library and on the bookshelf of every music teacher and professional player.'
All Flutes Plus bookshop: 'Congratulations on an excellent book. We are certainly very pleased to recommend it as a "must have" to all aspiring young professional musicians and their parents. A much needed publication, I'm sure it will be deservedly successful.'
Elizabeth Hicks-Kimmey from U.S.A, email to the author: 'I want to congratulate you on your wonderful book...I so wish [it] had been around when I was a student...I have had the privilege of performing in professional orchestras over the last 25 years...Thank you for offering up your honest experiences as an orchestral musician. I hope this book is being offered at every music school in the U.S.'
Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine: No aspiring musician can afford to be without this...as essential to the aspiring professional musician as a map and guide book is to the discerning traveller.’
Description
Becoming an Orchestral Musician takes you on a journey into the musical profession. It is the first comprehensive guide for professional musicians on how to succeed in joining an orchestra or ensemble, and how to survive as an orchestral musician.
- Such crucial topics as how to obtain the right tuition, music college versus university, auditioning, nerves, the secrets of ensemble playing and intonation, conductors, the mechanics of the orchestra, performing philosophies and strategies for survival are covered in separate sections. The matter of how to explore and adapt one's musical psyche, the pitfalls of a career in music and the highs and lows of performing are also discussed. The history, mythology and science of music-making and numerous anecdotes provide a vivid background.
- It is essential reading for all orchestral musicians, including players of every instrument, whether at college or university or during their career, whether full-time or part-time, and whether professional or amateur, and also for the parents of budding instrumentalists. There are probably more orchestras and ensembles in the length and the breadth of Britain today than ever before.
- With the renewed recognition in schools of the importance of music, the competition among younger musicians has become intense. Schools and colleges need to be well informed about career guidance for their students. Richard Davis's book will give the answers to many of the questions those students will be asking.