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[Michael Bush]

...

[tbn.al]

Terry,
Your last paragraph reminds me quite a bit of a local-to-me church orchestra director (on full-time salary at a mega-church) who is paid to conduct an all-volunteer church orchestra. Another "competitor" mega-church in town has an all-paid orchestra. That full-time-salaried church orchestra director (with the all-volunteer orchestra) once told me that the OTHER church (the one with the all-paid orchestra) is "depriving it's congregation of a blessing"

As a part time paid church orchestra director(less than 10% of my total income) in a mega church(9,000 members), I only use pros when my guys can't cut it. I do believe I am depriving my volunteer orchestra members of a blessing if I don't use them every time I can get away with it. The 180 choir members are all volunteers as well, no hired guns. The Preachers are paid as are the Sunday School and nursery coordinators, but the Sunday school teachers and nursery workers are volunteers. The philosphy is pretty straight forward. Pay only the people who jobs cannot be done by volunteers. To quote Robert Shaw, "Music, like sex, is too important to be left to the professionals." Chime in any time Steve.

[J.c. Sherman]

Just to lob a grenade out there about performance degrees RE: training vs. education... (per blokes prodding : )

These are two distinct approaches, and both are practiced. A conservatory proper is where you learn about your art form as a means of achieving good performance practice.

The other approach is the training and tools method. I went to the former, and I've known many who've attended the latter (or both). Most of the successful symphony folks I know went to the latter; the conservatory folks are by and large... unique performers (?!?).

But the trained, successful musicians... well, all but a couple went to very well known schools. And there are few real conservatories. Success can be had from either venue, but success breeds success... the "better" schools are the ones with the best track record who attract the best students who graduate to the best jobs who advertise their school which brings in the best students who... and the cost goes up with that success loop.

Point? It’s hard to pigeon-hole anyone. And the earlier you do so (say a formerly C student like me) the more opportunities you may deprive of someone. Some undeserved.

J.c. "give them an oportunity to have the minimum tools" S.