Rant: Tenure

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:51 pm

[rant]
I have noticed some very common misconceptions in the posts here concerning the topic of orchestral positions, tenure, and unions. As a past member of the Orchestra Committee for the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, veteran of three contract negotiations, and chairperson during two, I would like to mention some particulars which were not only in our contract, but in some form in place in every contract I ever reviewed.

One. Orchestral tenure does not mean you get paid if you don't work. With the exception of a handful of jobs which are salaried, by far the major majority of symphony jobs are per service, which means if you don't play you don't get paid. Period. It is NOT tenure which is causing symphonies to go out of business. It is unresponsive programming and poor fundraising. Period.

Two. Symphonies are not afraid to hire people into tenured jobs. Even in the salaried jobs, there is ALWAYS a time period (typically one-two YEARS) before a new player even becomes tenured. There is plenty of time to dismiss such a player if they are not working out. What an audition committee is looking for is the winner of an audition that will LAST that long, not "let's try someone out and see... ". So some of the things they are looking for BESIDES technical ability are experience, musicality, blend, knowing when not to show off, the past demonstration of proven ability... the same things someone would look for IN ANY high level job interview!

Three. Tenure does not mean you can't be dismissed or demoted. It just means that it is harder to do so, that you can't be fired on a whim. And with so many egos in the music business, whims are flying all over the place. What tenure DOES mean is that in the case of a dismissal or demotion, the musician has the right for that action to be reviewed, or may request an audition. In either case, the review committee is set in advance in the contract. The Music Diretor has only one vote on this committee. If the musician chooses an audition, material is only selected from the music that the musician is required to perform that season. Non-playing review consists of a hearing including anyone deemed to have information as specified by the Music Director OR musician.
[/rant]

If anyone has any questions or comments, fire away... but I feel better!

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 4:46 pm

The Music Diretor has only one vote on this committee. If the musician chooses an audition, material is only selected from the music that the musician is required to perform that season. Non-playing review consists of a hearing including anyone deemed to have information as specified by the Music Director OR musician.

...and who would enjoy playing under an MD who was on the losing side of a review? Nothing like having a sworn enemy with a stick...

Oh, but then I just remembered that MD's are trained to be egoless, humble and compassionate and that no orchestra would ever hire a self-absorbed tyrannical egomaniac...

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 5:55 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:...and who would enjoy playing under an MD who was on the losing side of a review? Nothing like having a sworn enemy with a stick...

Exactly, so tenure ain't worth so much as it first seems!...

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:26 am

Tenure in an orchestra isn't at all like tenure at a university. One could almost rate the term "tenure" on a numbered scale. Playing in an orchestra is a professional job, and one should act as such. Serving and doing to others as they would yourself. Or even better.

I wonder what the percentage of professors that act professional is compared to the percentage of orchestral musicians. Ha.

Just a ranting observation full of generalization.

-MSM

JCradler · Post by **JCradler** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:46 am

While "tenure" is not a term used by the military bands in any official way(to my knowledge), the subject of "retention" comes up at the end of each enlistment. If one is doing their job as they should (See bloke's post above. BTW out here in congested DC it means leaving your house 2 hours before the call time to be DAMN SURE you're early) then reenlistment is almost always a formality. What's that ? Your alarm clock? Can't figure it out? Time to work somewhere else...
To quote one of our officers statement to me and a bunch of newbies 16 years ago:" You are not guaranteed a 20 year career here based on a 10 minute audition."
I know this may not be exactly "On topic" but it got me thinking.