Episode 366: What is a Professional Band? WASBE 2

How many musicians think of themselves as ‘Professionals’?  Somewhere along the line, I learned that there were a few jobs described as professions, Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers and when I looked a little harder for a clear definition, I found that the term professional refers to a full time occupation, one that has training schools and universities.  Professions have national and local associations, adhere to a code of ethics and are licensed by the state.  If that is true, how can there be any professional musicians?  They’re not licensed to practice by the state although practice is exactly what they do.  You can see that the definition isn’t a perfect solution to our question of what a is professional band.

Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility): Roger Zare
Symphony No. IV: Bookmarks from Japan: Julie Giroux
  San Jose Wind Symphony, Edward C. Harris
The Wild Goose: Ryan George
Circus Overture: William Bolcom
Bells Across the Atlantic: Adam Gorb
Walking the Dog: George Geshwin
  Lone Star Wind Orchestra, Eugene Migliaro Corporon