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Blue Fairy Wren's avatar

I don't know....I worked as an orchestra cellist for many years and some of the best players were some of the worst people I've ever known.

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KW NORTON's avatar

Agree. I exited orchestral music as a string player when I detected the regimental and hierarchical nature of the deal. Some of those who come from orchestral backgrounds here in Nashville are the least talented at creative cooperative and inspired productions. In my comment ai should have specified singer songwriter, troubadour musicians. They are frequently inspired by interdependence and not ruthless control. Those are the type I look for and treasure.

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Blue Fairy Wren's avatar

Orchestra culture can be really toxic. It was heartbreaking when I realised that I loved being a musician, but hated going to work. Sadly, back in the early 1990s there was no youtube, no alternative avenues to forge your own path, so I changed direction completely.

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KW NORTON's avatar

Yes different times offer entirely different challenges and opportunities. One of my daughters stopped ballet dancing due to similar toxicities.

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Blue Fairy Wren's avatar

Ballet is even worse than music. Not only is their technique and artistry constantly under critical scrutiny, but their bodies are as well. I used to play in the ballet orchestra and the dancers lived on cigarettes and chocolate bars. You'd see them in the green room choosing 3 lettuce leaves and half a tomato for dinner, then outside they'd be having a cigarette and eating a chocolate bar in secret.

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KW NORTON's avatar

It is bad. Agree. DidnтАЩt see the food abuse in my daughter but lots of other stresses on the dancers as a whole.

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Karen Bennett's avatar

IтАЩve heard this so many times!

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