I want to quit orchestra but my parents won’t let me?

Posted on 21 Dec 2009 - by sdyaso In: Orchestra

I’ve been playing violin since I was four years old, and i’m fourteen now. I’m the most talented violinist in my grade, and will be concertmaster when I’m a senior. I’ve been playing in a youth orchestra connected with a local college since 6th grade. I also play guitar. Recently, I’ve gotten into musical theatre and found that I have a really good singing voice also and have gotten many lead roles. With training, I think I could be a professional actor, and want to study that in college.

Since 7th grade, school orchestra has been getting progressively frustrating and pointless even though the music has gotten harder. The same thing has been happening in my outside orchestra since 8th grade. This year in high school, we have orchestra daily and it has been hell. I feel like I’m not growing musically and wasting my time in both orchestras. It also makes me weary and not want to practice my solo violin when I get home. I’ve tried to convince my mom to let me join chorus. At first, she put up a bunch of lame arguments. (“You won’t be the star in chorus.” 1. It’s not about being the star 2. I probably will be a star since there’s not many tenors. 3. I won’t be the star in orchestra because I won’t get any solos for another 3 years.) Her final “compromise” was to require me to perform regularly somewhere. At first glance, this looks like a good deal. But in reality, all of the orchestras and programs require you to be in your school orchestra. She also suggested starting a supervised quartet with some people, but:

1. We still wouldn’t have anyone to perform for
2. It would be hard to find someone to supervise as my private teacher doesn’t have time and the orchestra teacher would be pissed at me.
3. Since we’re high schoolers, I doubt that we’d get anything accomplished.

How do I convince my parents to get out of this stupid situation and get into chorus?
Well I can’t join the main orchestra since it would be in the Emory college orchestra. And being the sly little devil that I am, I checked my mom’s email and found that she has talked to her friend who is a professional violinist and she said that I shouldn’t quit.

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4 Responses to “I want to quit orchestra but my parents won’t let me?”

greengo
December 21st, 2009 at 10:46 pm

Well, I homeschool and the youth orchestra does not require my kids to be in their school orchestra. Most youth orchestras are okay as long as you are taking private lessons. This is nice, because now my son does youth orchestra, voice lessons, drama, and whatever else he wants to do.
I think you should join a string choir or a small ensemble outside of your school environment, or see if you can get into a local youth orchestra, explaining your situation. Also, it is highly probable that a local church would be interested in you for special solo music or a church ensemble.
The other choice is to try out for your local arts magnet high school. Those magnet schools are very flexible and usually have kids with multiple interests!
jake w
December 21st, 2009 at 11:29 pm

Tell her you have done it long enough and you are great at it. You should already be a star in her eyes and I am sure you sound like one from all of the practice. Tell her you have done it long enough and you need to move on to something new. You should make her a deal saying you should try something else like theater, or whatever you want, and if you like it and are good at it you could continue it, but still practice your violin or cello or bass, whatever you play!
Asian kid
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 am

first you should pretend to go emo and dress in complete black and write on it clssical music sucks.
or convince ur mom job experience is also important and get a part time job. u will be so busy working that there is no time for music.
Jeggz B
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:27 am

Just upgrade from the Youth Orchestra into the main Orchestra. It’s what I did a while ago, and the repertoire is a lot more challenging and interesting. This way you don’t have to do it at school either, so you can join the school chorus and pick the school orchestra back up when you’re a senior and can do solos. Since it won’t be on everyday you’ll feel more like practicing when you get home.

In BSO we have concerts each season as well, so your mum can’t gripe about not performing. We also do incidental music for some operas going on in town (not that this occurs a lot). We’re doing the Magic Flute next year!

Symphony Orchestra