Section Member Jobs

About This Music Career

Each orchestra has a section, and each section is made up of Section Members. To become a Section Member, one must have above average skills with his or her instrument, and must enjoy performing on stage. Additionally, he or she must know the orchestral repertoire, inside and out.

With all of that said, being able to play an instrument well is not enough, as you must like and know how to play with a group of other musicians. The musician must recognize cues to things as to where the correct bowings or phrasing should be and more. In terms of work circumstances, the Section Member is under contract to perform a specific number concerts during a given time period, like a week for example. Any additional concerts above the agreed upon amount will usually result in additional salary.

Also, the Section Member must be available to travel, as must be willing to travel, as orchestras often tour other cities and countries. Those who work full-time in major orchestras as Section Member will generally receive vacation time of at least four weeks while the orchestra is on break. Section Members can earn additional income by teaching privately. Additionally, if the individual is a noted member of the orchestra, he or she may also be asked to go on the lecture circuit as a guest speaker.

Salaries
Section Member salaries depend on a number of things including orchestra type, its location, the number of weeks in the orchestra and the seniority of the orchestra member. Regardless, minimum earnings are negotiated by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) local union. All things considered, Section Members working in a major orchestra may earn between $800 and $2,500 or more on a weekly basis. It is important to point out that major orchestras run from 30 to 52 weeks per year.

And, in addition to income, Section Members receive vacation pay and other perks and benefits. However, those working in smaller orchestras will usually earn considerably less than those playing in major orchestras, both in terms of salary and benefits. Those who work part-time are paid on a per service basis, usually for each concert performed. As mentioned, Section Members can earn additional income by teaching.

Employment
As one could imagine, Section Member positions are limited, as there are more qualified individuals than openings. With that said, this does not mean that you cannot reach success. You will face better options in smaller, less prestigious orchestras. Regardless of the orchestra one is auditioning for, it is important to note that auditions usually take place behind a screen to ensure there is not any potential for racial or sexual discrimination in selecting members.

Advancement
Once an individual obtains a position as a Section Member, they can look to advance to the position of the Section Leader. They can also look to advance their career by landing a gig with a more prestigious orchestra.

Education and Training
Section Members are not required to have a formal education, but they should have extensive musical training – training that might be acquired at a college or conservatory, or even through private study.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
Performance experience is extremely helpful to an aspiring Section Member. This includes something like performing in youth or college Orchestra. Also, auditioning is useful for the experience, if nothing else. Music is the name of the game, so a dedication to music is necessary. Perseverance is also necessary as jobs are not always the easiest to come by.

Unions and Associations
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is an option for Section Members, which is the union that negotiates things like minimum wages for the musician, the number of rehearsals and so on.

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