New Posts

Stepping up to a professional instrument is a big, emotional purchase. How did you research, trial, and finance yours, and what would you do differently? General advice welcome here; instrument-specific boards exist too.

by Cadenza Team in General Gear Advice · Jun 4, 2026

Lots of ear-training drills don’t survive contact with live music. What practice has actually improved your hearing on the stand or stage? Compare methods here.

by Cadenza Team in Music Theory · Jun 4, 2026

Long tones, scales, technical patterns, mental prep — fundamentals routines vary widely across instruments. What does yours look like, and how has it evolved?

by Cadenza Team in Fundamentals · Jun 4, 2026

Sight-reading rewards consistency over intensity. What daily habits, materials, or games have measurably improved yours? Share routines that fit into a busy schedule.

by Cadenza Team in Sight-Reading · Jun 4, 2026

Overuse injuries end careers quietly. What warmups, breaks, setup adjustments, or bodywork have kept you healthy, and what early warning signs do you watch for?

by Cadenza Team in Musician Health · Jun 4, 2026

The grind of practice, auditions, and rejection takes a toll. How do you recognize burnout early, and what has helped you recover and protect your relationship with music?

by Cadenza Team in Mental Health & Burnout · Jun 4, 2026

Nerves are nearly universal; what to do about them is personal. Which preparation, breathing, mindset, or professional approaches have genuinely helped you perform under pressure?

by Cadenza Team in Performance Anxiety · Jun 4, 2026

Many musicians build careers on the organizational side. How did you make the move, what skills transferred, and what would you tell someone considering it?

by Cadenza Team in Arts Administration Careers · Jun 4, 2026

Multiple income streams, deductions, contracts, and self-employment make musician finances messy. What do you wish someone had told you earlier? (General experience-sharing — not formal legal or tax advice.)

by Cadenza Team in Unions, Taxes & Legal · Jun 4, 2026

If you’ve moved to (or away from) a major music city, what surprised you — cost, competition, opportunities, quality of life? Help others weighing the same decision.

by Cadenza Team in Moving Cities · Jun 4, 2026

Moving somewhere new means rebuilding your network. How did you find your first subs and gigs, get on contractor lists, and become someone people call back?

by Cadenza Team in Freelance Gigs · Jun 4, 2026

Setting rates is one of the hardest parts of freelancing. How do you price services, decide when to say no, and hold your rate without losing the relationship? Share what’s worked.

by Cadenza Team in Freelancing · Jun 4, 2026

Reputation, lineage, location, personality, cost — what actually matters when choosing a teacher, and how do you tell if a studio is the right fit before committing?

by Cadenza Team in Pedagogy · Jun 4, 2026

For families and young students just beginning to explore serious training — how do pre-college divisions, youth orchestras, and summer programs fit together, and when should you start?

by Cadenza Team in Pre-College / Youth Music · Jun 4, 2026

Each path serves a different goal. How did you decide which degree (or none) made sense for where you wanted to go, and would you choose the same again?

by Cadenza Team in Graduate Study · Jun 4, 2026

For a BM, the teacher often matters more than the name on the building. How did you weigh studio fit, location, cost, and opportunities when choosing where to study?

by Cadenza Team in Undergraduate Study · Jun 4, 2026

Prescreens in the fall, live auditions in late winter, decisions in spring — the calendar catches many applicants off guard. Walk newcomers through how the cycle actually unfolds and where people lose time.

by Cadenza Team in Conservatory Admissions · Jun 4, 2026

Everyone hits plateaus. What targeted practice — limitations, transcription, playing along, writing lines — has actually moved your improvising forward? Share concrete approaches.

by Cadenza Team in Improvisation · Jun 4, 2026

Transcription, tunes, time, technique, ears — there’s never enough time for all of it. How do you structure a weekly routine that keeps you moving without burning out?

by Cadenza Team in Jazz General · Jun 4, 2026

Not every call is worth your time or fee. What do you check before submitting — performance guarantees, rights, reading vs. premiere, reputation — and where do you find the good ones?

by Cadenza Team in Calls for Scores · Jun 4, 2026

Commission, competition, personal project, or portfolio gap — composers balance many pulls. How do you choose your next piece, and how do you protect time to actually write?

by Cadenza Team in Composition General · Jun 4, 2026

A strong application video is hard to get right. What repertoire, camera angles, and rehearsal footage have helped you, and what do panels seem to actually want to see?

by Cadenza Team in Orchestral Conducting · Jun 4, 2026

Young Artist Programs run on tight calendars. When do you start preparing, how many do you apply to, and what have you learned about fees, travel, and managing the season? Share your experience.

by Cadenza Team in Opera · Jun 4, 2026

The right aria package shows your real voice and stage sense, not just your ceiling. How do you choose a balanced set, and how has your package changed as your voice developed?

by Cadenza Team in Voice General · Jun 4, 2026

Collaborative and staff-pianist work is its own path. How did you break in, how do you set rates, and how do you build relationships with singers, instrumentalists, and schools?

by Cadenza Team in Piano · Jun 4, 2026

Harpists face a unique challenge: the audition is also a moving operation. How do you handle transport, regulation, and unfamiliar instruments, alongside building your repertoire?

by Cadenza Team in Harp · Jun 4, 2026

From the Beethoven 5 trio/scherzo to Mahler and Mozart 40 — which excerpts form your core, and how do string height, setup, and bow choice factor into audition prep?

by Cadenza Team in Double Bass · Jun 4, 2026

Most lists ask for a Bach movement alongside excerpts. How do you choose which suite and movement to present, and how do you keep excerpts and solo playing in balance?

by Cadenza Team in Cello · Jun 4, 2026

For violists building an excerpt list for the first time, which pieces are essential and which solo works pair well with an audition program? Share your recommendations.

by Cadenza Team in Viola · Jun 4, 2026

Don Juan, Mozart 39, Schumann 2, Mendelssohn… which excerpts would you put on a starter list, and what’s your approach to keeping a large excerpt repertoire fresh?

by Cadenza Team in Violin · Jun 4, 2026