Future Shock…

This is the first in a series of postings about one musician’s desire to bring Classical Music back to the People, by whatever means necessary…

Are you depressed yet?  It seems like every time you turn around there is another article about this orchestra cutting costs, that orchestra cutting concerts, the other orchestra in the red, etc.  It’s pretty depressing, not least of which because there are a lot of musicians out there who are trying to make a living, and their main source of income is threatened.  Let us hope that these institutions make it through these trying times.  But here’s the question: how is the classical music business like the economy in general, and what can we do for the future?

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Waving the Magic Wand

A pop survey –

  • What is the most common gripe among orchestra players?

In my experience it’s “Boy, this conductor sucks!”  I have heard it from several angles, including from inside the orchestra (I spent many years playing Orchestral Keyboards, probably the performance opportunity I miss most with having a conducting career) and from when I’m on the podium (word of advice to young conductors – just because you hear something that doesn’t mean you have to listen to it; you are out there to do job and you have to have a thick skin).  And speaking of young conductors –

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Connections

The show that got me hooked on cable TV was called “Connections.”  This madman historian, James Burke, produced this fabulous show on science and history that was absolutely riveting.  His premise was that history does not proceed in a straight line.  So he would talk about one invention and then somehow connect it to something that you wouldn’t believe had any relation to it.  It’s hard to describe, but it’s still one of the best shows ever.

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