THE FIRST STEPS of a professional player can be challenging for a performing musician. The right contacts are essential and more important than paper qualifications. Organisations and other players want to know if you are good enough, and if they can get on well with you, musically and personally.
There’s no substitute for playing in front of lots of people and becoming known to audiences. This is best started while you are still a student, especially in your final year, so that you can make the transition from student to professional smoothly.
Here, Clare stresses the importance of being determined and never giving up.
