Musicians in the making

In September, Romania was again in the international classical music spotlight with the George Enescu International Music Competition. After watching around 230 young artists from 36 countries take the stage, BR asked the most famous Romanian musicians how difficult it is to learn the techniques to play a musical instrument well enough to win such a competition.

By Oana Vasiliu

The 14th George Enescu International Music Competition once again offered a great chance for teenagers and young people interested in classical music to be heard, discovered and acclaimed by some of the biggest names from the classical music industry worldwide. After years of rehearsals and numerous competitions, Romanian-born German violinist Stefan Tarara (28 years old), South Korean cellist Hong Eun Sun (25) and Spanish pianist Josu de Solaun (33) were the three big winners of this year’s event. But how does a performer reach these great heights? The answers come from five of the greatest local musicians, flutist Mihaela Anica, pianist Horia Maxim, conductor Tiberiu Soare, cellist Razvan Suma and violinist Alexandru Tomescu.

Among the local teenage stars with great potential, Soare mentions three names: violinists Alexandra Bobeico (17) and Mircea Dumitrescu (16) and pianist Cadmiel Botac (16). “Unfortunately, there is no standardized system of selection in Romania. Some musicians get the chance to be heard by someone with the power of decision, others deliver outstanding performances during national or international competitions, and others just have relationships in the music world through parents, teachers or other people,” said Soare of the selection process of young musicians. Asked by BR which instrument is the easiest to learn, the conductor replied, “I think percussion instruments are very suitable for young children, because they can develop a sense of rhythm and are more accessible in terms of the immediate sounds resulting.

Cello, flute, piano and violin – the first steps

The first question that every musician should ask is, according to Tomescu: who wants to learn the instrument, the parent or the child? After answering this question, this is how – and when – to get started.

Five seems to be the optimum age at which to begin learning most musical instruments. Suma said that in China, children typically take up his instrument, the cello, at four or five years old, while in Romania, study officially starts at 10.

Thanks to the latest developments in flute construction, now children as young as five can start learning the instrument. The revolutionary idea to change the dimensions of the flute came from Professor Barbara Gisler-Haase of the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, who made a model that was slightly curved in an omega shape so that the player’s spine is not affected and the required air volume to generate sound does not affect the player’s respiratory system. “The education system in Romania has approved a national curriculum for studying the flute from nine years old, which is definitely progress,” commented Anica.

Maxim says that six is the best age to start playing the piano, but a musically talented child could begin as young as three or four.

Tomescu told BR that for this instrument there are two extremes: the Suzuki school, a Japanese method of learning to play the violin for children aged two to three, or taking it up in adulthood. The violinist says that in Romania, study begins at six or seven, although there are notable exceptions, such as Sandu Albu, who discovered his passion for the violin at 18 and managed to catch up on his missed years of childhood study and go on to enjoy an outstanding musical career.

The money behind the music

Every musical instrument comes with maintenance costs to extend its lifespan. Flute beginners are advised to invest from EUR 400 to EUR 1,200 to get started. But, said Mihaela Anica, places such as Tomasi Workshop can loan players an instrument for up to 10 months with the possibility of buying it later.

Kit for a child violinist (aged around six) consists of a quarter size violin, a quarter bow, metallic strings, rosin, the box, stand, metronome and a visit to the luthier, along with lessons. “The price of a small violin, such as those used by children, is reasonably cheap, from several hundred to several thousand RON. But the violin must be changed as soon as the child grows. The child moves from a quarter size violin, to a half size violin for several years, then a three-quarter violin and a full instrument when the violinist’s arms have reached their final length,” said Tomescu. In Romania, he added, instrument upkeep costs half or even a third as much as it does in Europe, with total costs of about RON 200 per year, if proper care is taken.

Piano students have two main options, according to Maxim: an acoustic piano (or upright), meaning an instrument with mechanics and a sounding board, or the more convenient alternative of an electronic/digital instrument. The latter costs from EUR 400-8,000, while an acoustic piano will set the buyer back by anywhere from EUR 200 (for a second hand model, probably not in great condition) to EUR 10,000. Add to that upkeep costs of almost EUR 75 per year for mechanical adjustments or changing broken strings.

The cello offers a cheaper option for a beginner. “Quarter size cellos can be rented or bought and subsequently resold very cheaply. Then, it is much like in tennis: it depends on what tournaments you want to go to,” said Suma. A good cello starts from EUR 4,000, but smaller ones cost from EUR 500 upwards, with the kit to support learning approximately EUR 150.

The journey to the stage

“The experience of taking part in a competition is a hard school, but extremely useful for anyone who wants to live on stage,” summed up Tomescu. “It is important to know how to choose the right moment to participate, the repertoire and the contest.” Under-18s have several major national violin competitions, such as Lira de Aur in Suceava, Remember Enescu in Sinaia and The Spring of Arts in Bacau. At international level, a federation lists the top competitions around the world, including the George Enescu International Music Competition.

The biggest flute competition in Romania takes place in Cluj-Napoca: the Gheorghe Dima International Competition, which offers two options: solo flute or chamber ensembles with flute.

There are several piano competitions, but the national school Olympiad seems to be the usual first step to enter into the world of the instrument. On an international scale, there are thousands of competitions at which children and teenagers can perform.

“It is very important for every musician to have his/her own path. I don’t believe there is one most important contest or concert. For us, every gig is a step climbed. On stage, the battle is with ourselves. It’s a battle with your emotions, the preparation, the public before you or the jury that evaluates your performance,” concluded Suma.