Meet Minor (Mick) Wetzel | Violist – Los Angeles Philharmonic, Viola Teacher – @theviolapro.com

We had the good fortune of connecting with Minor (Mick) Wetzel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Minor (Mick), what is the most important factor behind your success?
I am a violist in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In our orchestra there are thirteen violists. I consider myself to be the least talented of all. (I promise that this isn’t false humility.)

Because of this, I have had to ‘reverse engineer” skill sets and techniques. This lack of “talent” has enabled me to be a much better teacher. It is my superpower.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the founder of The Viola Pro coaching.

I coach people developing their abilities as performers. Most of my clients are in that no man’s land of having advanced degrees and haven’t landed a job (won an audition) yet.

I give them the ladder to climb, rung by rung, to consistently improve.

My goal is for them to perform their best on the day of their performance/audition. These “rungs” come in the form of regular mindset strengthening and technical growth through innovative practice methods.

I am proud of the success that my clients have had. Auditioning for a major orchestra in the United States can be one of the most competitive job interview processes. The success of my clients having won positions in multiple major orchestras subsumes any of my own success.

One of my biggest challenges is to get out the message to the music world that I can help them prepare for and perform their very best. I have taken many auditions and done well. I have successfully coached many clients.

Most importantly, I have heard many auditions for the LAPHIL over the last 30 years and I know what people are looking for on “the other side of the screen”. This is so valuable because it is essential to success to begin with the end in mind.

I have surmounted this hurdle challenge of getting my message out by embracing the techno environment.

Now I get my message out via my weekly Motivation Monday email and via my InstaGram @theviolapro.

I believe anyone can improve on the viola and I seek the aggregation of marginal gains (James Clear – Atomic Habits)

If we can have a daily 1% improvement, the aggregation over a year is a 37% improvement.

Let’s get a little bit better – EVERYDAY!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love the ocean. My son and I have done a lot of surfing. Our favorite surfing spot is Solimar Beach, just north of Ventura. We have found may wonder places to eat in that area as well. One of our favorites is The Habit.

Because I perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall every week (October – May) I have all access to that world class facility. I am always proud to show my new friends where I “work”.

Because I also work at The Hollywood Bowl (July – September) I love to share my backstage access to this iconic venue.

I have identified my favorite places to eat as several food trucks in our area in SoCal.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Chris Still @honestypill.com and his wife Amanda McIntosh @takemyfaceoff.com have shown me and my coaching business all of the support, mentorship, love and encouragement that I have needed to make TheViolaPro coaching brand take off.

I have a mission to share what I have learned as a performer and as a teacher and coach with as many people as possible. I want to help them avoid the pitfalls and delays that I experience. I want to give them the “keys” to unlock whatever is blocking their path to success.

I have the knowledge to share and Chris and Mandy have given me the technological megaphone through which I can broadcast.

Their knowledge of the current best practices to get my message out have been revolutionary and innovative.

Website: https://www.theviolapro.com

Instagram: @theviolapro

Youtube: @theviolapro1290

Other: This is the general sign-up link for my weekly email:

https://the-viola-pro.ck.page/bc25725d5f