TubeNet

I ran accross this interesting NPR piece from August 2005 regarding the resurgence of interest in string chamber music among baby boomers:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4819111

I know that here, in Chicago, there are a number of community orchestras, some of whom perform at a level many of us would consider "professional." It seems less so in band, at least around here.

What are the opportunities in your area. Are they increasing? Decreasing? Have you noticed any difference in the number of "old farts" taking up or returning to brass playing?

Have you noticed any difference in the number of "old farts" taking up or returning to brass playing?

Have you been reading tubenet lately?

Alex F wrote:Have you noticed any difference in the number of "old farts" taking up or returning to brass playing?

Guilty.

A friend recently gave me a copy of Blair Tindall's book "Mozart in the Jungle." She claims that "real" amateurs are being crowded out of community/civic ensembles by conservatory trained "amateurs" who were never able to land a full-time gig playing music. I'd be interested to know if anyone here can corroborate that.

Stefan Kac wrote:A friend recently gave me a copy of Blair Tindall's book "Mozart in the Jungle." She claims that "real" amateurs are being crowded out of community/civic ensembles by conservatory trained "amateurs" who were never able to land a full-time gig playing music. I'd be interested to know if anyone here can corroborate that.

I can. There are several groups in this area who have a number of professionall-trained performers, making it more difficult for non-pros to join. On the other hand, some of the best players in my experience never studied music. I enjoy playing in groups that have lots of pro-trained musicians, but don't much get the opportunity like I once did.

Where it's an issue for me is with orchestras. There is nearly no opportunity for a true amateur to play in a symphony orchestra, even those where the string players do well to scratch through Come To Jesus in whole notes. In fact, many of the local orchestras hire their winds and brass so the string players can enjoy being surrounded by competence even if they are incapable of producing it. I was able to play in an orchestra when I lived in Austin many years ago, and though we never played the big repertoire (at least big for tuba players), I still miss it.

Rick "not quite good enough to hang with the players with whom playing is really fun" Denney

I'm in Huntsville, Alabama and there are a few opportunities available for "relatively" high quality playing. There's a top notch brass band, a good wind ensemble, a tolerable local band, and well...another band.

However, the point of my reply is that in a town this size it seems the top notch musicians rarely (if ever) want to participate in any non-profit groups which practice regularly -- a.k.a. the best groups around here scrape together moderately difficult pieces in time for a concert (the brass band is an exception). While I'll admit the tuba players in town don't follow this pattern...probably the whole lack of real gigs..., what really keeps a lot of good groups from becoming great groups is the lack of interest in "working" and the seasonal interest in performing a concert.

And how many this-is-my-only-income professionals want to regularly rehearse for a free concert?

In southeast Wisconsin, there are not too many orchestras opportunities for amatures. (at least not that I am aware of) That's one of the reasons that I will try to encourage my kids to play wind instruments if they want to take up something. There is definately more chances for wind playing after you get out of school. There are a few local community bands and the local pops band as well as a fairly good brass band that have good opportunities for the "after work blow off stress" crowd. Most of the players are either music educators from the area who want to be able to play mixed in with a significant number of re-entry folks who are looking for an outlet for them to play music. It seems that more you are playing, the more offers you get to play more.

Steve