| 1. Subscribe to blogs and news about your | | | | the real thing. |
| instrument. | | | | 25. Become a member of music societies, clubs and |
| 2. Know who are the top players of your instrument | | | | unions like the American Federation of Musicians. |
| (dead and alive). | | | | 26. Subscribe to Music Magazines. |
| 3. Know all the major concertos. | | | | 27. Attend as many concert as you can, it will help |
| 4. Perform a solo recital at least every 2 months | | | | you with your music interpretation, style, etc. |
| (Gigs don't count) | | | | 28. Know the score of the pieces you are playing: |
| 5. Learn about other musical genres (Jazz, Blues, | | | | solo, chamber, orchestra,etc. |
| Rock, Country,etc.) and try to understand their | | | | 29. Try to build your own sheet music library. |
| musical forms, chord progressions, and after that try | | | | 30. Try to build a music library with CDs and DVDs. |
| to arrange something for your instrument. | | | | 31. Listen to the pieces you are working on |
| 6. Learn improvisation. | | | | (chamber,solo, orchestral, etc) at least once a day. |
| 7. Try to compose your own cadenzas. | | | | 32. Know the composers of the pieces you are |
| 8. Go to Music festivals. | | | | working on (style, period in time, life,etc.) |
| 9. Make friends with Concertmasters, Conductors, | | | | 33. Practice at least 4 hours a day, 6 or more for |
| Composers,Arrangers, Manager of salsa groups, jazz | | | | competitions. |
| musicians and any other music group around you. | | | | 34. Learn Sibelius or Finale. |
| 10. Schedule an audition as a substitute at the | | | | 35. In moments of frustration call a friend and tell |
| nearest orchestra or popular group. | | | | them how much you love music and how much you |
| 11. Always be on time. | | | | don't want to quit, explain to them how hard is the |
| 12. Bring all your equipment: stands, music, extensions, | | | | business of music and how hard you are willing to |
| plugs,etc. | | | | work. |
| 13. Dress accordingly to the occasion, if in doubt | | | | 36. You might want to learn german or italian. |
| dress nice. | | | | 37. Sharpen your skills of transposition. |
| 14. Try a different path in the music business other | | | | 38. Learn the basics of piano. |
| than performing: compose, arrange, conduct, work as | | | | 39. Study music and physics, the simple stuff |
| a luthier, manage a symphony, etc. | | | | 40. Listen to other music genres you are not |
| 15. Teach as much as you can: it would not only bring | | | | interested and learn from them. Find something good |
| money but it will also remind you of the basics in | | | | about it. |
| your instrument, things you will need for the rest of | | | | 41. Know the major works of Beethoven, Mozart, |
| your life as a performer. | | | | Bach, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and all the great masters. |
| 16. Play every gig available no matter how much they | | | | 42. Learn orchestration. |
| pay, especially early in your career, you would be | | | | 43. Classical Music for Du-mmies- Its a great source, I |
| surprised how many contacts you will do: this will lead | | | | learned a lot of things i didn't know, cool book! |
| to future gigs!! | | | | 44. Practice your scales every day; this is key. |
| 17. Always be making friends and tell them what you | | | | 45. Don't waste your time in music theory class, learn |
| do: they will spread the word for you. | | | | all about harmony, counterpoint, instrumentation, etc. |
| 18. Have a Facebook account and make groups and | | | | This helps understand the music better, it will be |
| fan sites. | | | | reflected in your playing of course! |
| 19. Same with twitter and other social networks. | | | | 46. Help organizing someone's recital or music event, |
| 20. Build your own website. | | | | one day you will need them and you will also have |
| 21. Participate in music forums. | | | | the experience as well. |
| 22. Practice sight reading, is easier to do this with | | | | 47. Join your church music group. |
| friends, read quartets, duos and trios often. | | | | 48. Prepare your self for competitions (international |
| 23. Practice you excerpts!: Wake up at 3am and play | | | | or local) |
| Don Juan or another difficult excerpt and play it | | | | 49. Blog about classical music. |
| without warming up or anything! Its an awesome | | | | 50. Wake up early for practice marathons with your |
| feeling. | | | | friends. |
| 24. Play an audition to friends and teachers before | | | | |