For some reason when there are “in depth” sessions about updating conservatory training to relate to the “real world”, the focus seems to always be on how the student can gain an advantage through learning marketing, entrepreneurial skills, managerial skills and general business acumen etc…… NEWS FLASH:
THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF JOBS AVAILABLE!…..
It happened again, this time in Lyon. There is that moment sometime after the first performance when someone in the administration of whatever orchestra I’m conducting says “have you seen the reviews?” – and I know that “the Moment” has arrived.
With so much attention in the blogosphere being paid to the situations in Shreveport and Columbus along with the upcoming conference in Denver, it has gone virtually unnoticed that an orchestra in Arkansas is on the verge of closing down. I only know about it because it’s very close to home…..
And so it goes, Shreveport claims it’s now fiscally responsible by implementing their cuts. However the cuts run deeper than just in financial terms. The musicians probably feel like the they have been on the losing end of a game of Whac-A-Mole after reading final sentence in the article that reported the imposed decision…..
This is the title of a very tongue in cheek article by Joel Stein that appeared last week in the LA Times. It is a wonderful essay demonstrating that we might be better served if the stereotypical “classical” policeman stayed at home and listened to their stereo instead of attending a concert….
Yesterday over on Violinist.com Mark Johnson linked to my post Philippe Quint ring’s Joshua’s Bell and there has been some very lively discussion to say the least! I have posted a comment there also in response. Feel free to join in the fun there or here. I will delay today’s post till tomorrow. I love passionate debate!….
In tribute to the debut of the conducting robot Asimo by Honda (I drive an Accord which pretty much drives itself also!), I thought I would write a post about interpretation in response to a lively exchange over on Greg Sandow’s blog. Interpretation is one of the most overrated, over studied elements and at its worst can amount to the pre-meditated murder of music….
The recent return of Philippe Quint’s Violin and his concert of gratitude to a group of cabbies is in stark contrast to the ill conceived busking session with Joshua Bell in a Washington Metro station last year. One was an audience connection, the other…Oi!….