Skill level required to "double"

[Vortex]

Exactly how good at your secondary instrument should you be to call yourself a "doubler"? Should you be just a competent player? As good at it as your primary instrument? Skilled enough to impress the average audience? Capable of being a soloist/section-player (pick one)? I'm curious to hear everyone's takes on this, because I know some "doublers" who are quite stunning (at least to my ears) and others who flat-out suck.

[Martin Williams]

for most situations on my double I just have to be a competent player, but that may be a different case for other people. Btw, my double is the trumpet

Martin

[Martin Williams]

Sorry, double post, my machine is bein stupid, I think its tellin me to go practice!

[Steve J.]

As good as you can get. It would be a mistake to consider "doubles" as less of a priority. To my thinking that is the only attitude you can have if you consider yourself a doubler. If you don't treat all doubles as a priority you aren't a "doubler"...... ideally.

I find in fact I try to keep a high level on everything but you end up concentrating on the horns for the required next job. I find the saxophones to be easiest to stay in playing shape. For me if I don't atleast do daily warm ups on flute the skill level crashes - primarily sound suffers.

[Gordon (NZ)]

All of the above.

But it depends a bit on the environment in which you are playing. If you are conspicuous in any way to the audience on account of your INcompetence, then you are letting them down. If you impress them with your competence, so much the better.

[Benny]

"In time and in tune" were the words Victor Morosco said to me once. Of course to do this well is quite a challenge and requires much work. Doubling is not just getting the notes out at correct pitch either. Part of developing a double is understanding the main styles for that instrument and being able to do the things that that instrument is known for also.
Steve J is totally right, if you're a doubler that's what you do- it's your job and priority as a player. Today there are too many guys who double too well for the people to say "oh I kind of double" to get good professional work.
Also (for me at least) I don't think your doubles get to a point where you can say "that's good enough, I don't need to practise that any more." There is always more to learn and as you progress your standards will get higher.

[Sigmund451]

My question is; are you still doubling if you stink on both instruments :wink:

[Benny]

yes, but you're crap