A few years ago someone gave me tickets to a performance of a Baroque group that came to town; the hall was PACKED and the crowd enthusiastic. We can't get those crowds for symphony performances.
And the most fascinating thing to me was that the overall quality of the playing (i.e., how "good" the players were, and I am a string player so I can tell..) was clearly below the quality of the players in our regional symphony. I'm not sure why people like Baroque music as much as they do, since I'm not overly fond of it, but ... there you go. Sometimes I think (and I'm NOT trying to insult anyone here) that the people who don't have a musical education just don't understand more modern music to the point where they can enjoy it. I myself reach that point with ultra-modern "music" that I classify as "organized noise," but maybe those same people react that way to, for example, Stravinsky. Huh.
MA
Specializing Vs. Generalizing
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Allen
- 3 valves
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- Location: Boston MA area
When musicians with only classical training try to play jazz, lovers of jazz think they sound appallingly bad. And, no good jazz band would want that player with them.
Similarly, a musician with only classical training (which is firmly rooted in 19th centtury traditions) plays Baroque music, it sounds appalling bad to the ears of people who know and love Baroque music. And, no good Baroque ensemble would want that player with them.
It's possible to be good at more than one style of music. But, don't think you can be good at any style without studying and practicing it a lot! Yes, you can pick up charts for any style and play it. I know; I've had my ears offended by lots of musicians who have done so. So, don't count on playing outside of what you have studied a lot unless you are only going to play for audiences who don't know any better.
Similarly, a musician with only classical training (which is firmly rooted in 19th centtury traditions) plays Baroque music, it sounds appalling bad to the ears of people who know and love Baroque music. And, no good Baroque ensemble would want that player with them.
It's possible to be good at more than one style of music. But, don't think you can be good at any style without studying and practicing it a lot! Yes, you can pick up charts for any style and play it. I know; I've had my ears offended by lots of musicians who have done so. So, don't count on playing outside of what you have studied a lot unless you are only going to play for audiences who don't know any better.
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corbasse
- 3 valves
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I normally have Otto's Baroque Music streaming at work. Not too distracting, nice background music. Mixed in with the Hogwood, Freiburger or Koeln they have the occasional Academy of St. Martins in the Fields or I Musici recording. Although these are excelent groups with extremely good musicians I always cringe and hit the mute button when they come on. It's like listening to Shakespeare recited by some famous French actor, phonetically pronouncing the words.Allen wrote:When musicians with only classical training try to play jazz, lovers of jazz think they sound appallingly bad. And, no good jazz band would want that player with them.
Similarly, a musician with only classical training (which is firmly rooted in 19th centtury traditions) plays Baroque music, it sounds appalling bad to the ears of people who know and love Baroque music. And, no good Baroque ensemble would want that player with them.
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windshieldbug
- Once got the "hand" as a cue
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What's right is doing the things that will get you the gig of your dreams.
Did Carol Jantsch take up tuba because she knew that Paul Krzywicki would retire from the Philadelphia Orchestra some time in the future? I doubt it.
Just as in business, you need to put your eyes on the prize, and do the things that will get you there, hoping that the proper things will fall into place along the way. Avoiding detours, making sacrifices when needed, and being realistic.
If the bassoonist has their heart set on performing baroque music, then I applaud their preparation, which may likely put them ahead of their peers.
If the goal is to just get a gig (any gig), then certainly their options are more limited, but at least double what the tuba possibilities are for orchestra.
Did Carol Jantsch take up tuba because she knew that Paul Krzywicki would retire from the Philadelphia Orchestra some time in the future? I doubt it.
Just as in business, you need to put your eyes on the prize, and do the things that will get you there, hoping that the proper things will fall into place along the way. Avoiding detours, making sacrifices when needed, and being realistic.
If the bassoonist has their heart set on performing baroque music, then I applaud their preparation, which may likely put them ahead of their peers.
If the goal is to just get a gig (any gig), then certainly their options are more limited, but at least double what the tuba possibilities are for orchestra.
Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?
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tuba_hacker
- bugler
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Exactly. Maybe we agree afer all.Music majors CAN get rich. It just depends on what a person defines as "rich" and what area of music they go into.
As far as who's the sucker, it's the person who thinks they can stay sane doing something they don't like for 30-40 years because it makes money. I've seen/known plenty of those business major grads who have the nice suits, cars, etc. who are quite miserable.
George
Bass Trombone
NIH Philharmonic
Washington Sinfonietta
Bass Trombone
NIH Philharmonic
Washington Sinfonietta
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adam0408
- 3 valves
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That is an interesting point. However, if you look at it from the point of view of a tuba player, what is the value of specializing yourself to the point where you EXCLUSIVELY play orchestral excerpts (for example)? Sure, you can be great at playing orchestral rep, but someone with a broad and unspecialized view of the tuba has really the same chance of getting a job as you, or so it seems in today's world of auditions where so many people show up to fill one spot.tuba_hacker wrote:You're looking at this the wrong way. If the music world is competitive and over-staffed, what are the advantages of being just another generalist?is such specialization healthy, especially in today's competitive and over-staffed music world?
...
Unless I'm mistaken, the sheepskin will say Bachelor of Music, just like yours. Who's the sucker?
Mentioning the baroque bassoon, although it steered the conversation in an interesting direction, was simply meant as an example of what I see as EXTREME and questionable specialization (which could be due to my ignorance)
I guess the sad reality is that there are too few jobs and too many talented people. To be truly successful and support yourself it seems you have to make your own opportunities and sell the crap out of yourself.
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adam0408
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MartyNeilan
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