Hello everyone,
Over the past 6 months or so, I have been learning bassoon (with a professional), and am really enjoying it! I have played trumpet for approximately 6 years, and (if I may say so myself) am quite skilled, especially when it comes to improvisation. I enjoy them both very, very much, and it has gotten to the point where I am now trying to decide if I would like to play professionally (it's between that and electrical engineering). I have spent A LOT of time thinking about these options, and yes, I know I have some time, but I'm the kind of person who needs a direction, so I can be mentally sound.

So here we go, IF I was to become a professional musician, would it be possible to play both the trumpet and bassoon, or would it have to be one or the other? Maybe bassoon for orchestral, and trumpet for jazz, I don't know, just an idea. The main thing that concerns me is if I would have the right "stuff" for such a career. I know I haven't been playing bassoon for long, but I'm deeply in love with it, and whenever I play trumpet I enjoy it so much! I feel like not playing professionally would be wasting talent (I feel the same way about the engineering though too).

I'm extremely sorry for my exceedingly lengthy story, but can anyone help shed some light on some of these questions? This keeps me awake at night, I'm just that kind of person.

Oh yes, I also meant to ask, would one instrument be easier to get accepted with, as in auditions, and such?

I'm guessing bassoon, but what about trumpet?

Generally most of us say there are a million trumpet players and only a thousand bassoonists.So you might think that you'd have a better chance as a bassoon player. However, there are generally more trumpet positions out there. And most importantly the number of people auditioning doesn't matter. The orchestra is going to pick whoever they want based on Skill, abiltiy to match tones, and how well they might get along with the other players. It doesn't matter if there are two people going for the position or 1,000. Who ever gets it gets it.

You might also consider both careers. There are a large number of professional orchestras that rehearse and perform only in the late afternoon and evening. So there are a fair number of professionals who teach furing the day, or have a "regular job" during the day and then do their music jobs in the afternoon/evening.

I know a professional Bassoon player who picked up the french horn for fun. And he is now gigging on french Horn sometimes. IT's all about making sure the contractors in yoru area know what you can do.

Okay, thanks a bunch! I'm glad someone out there has some helpful information!

Thanks again,
Grenn