On Sunday, visiting with my parents and sister, I said I really wasn’t as busy as they all think. I know my sister works very long hours. I don’t. I just work very odd hours. But I think this week has been crazy and I guess it’s only because whenever I say something like, “I’m not busy!” God proves me wrong.
I guess.
Anyway, I’m alive, but blogging time hasn’t been as plentiful. Being busy is good; it means I’m working and making a (not quite living) wage!
We have one final rehearsal for opera. Great music. Thank you Herr Mozart. But it sure is a long one ….
Yesterday began with a meeting at SCU; a prospective student visited and I had the joy of hearing her play and working with her a bit. (If any of you readers are interested in SCU or UCSC and want to meet and have a lesson please just ask and I’ll make it happen.) Then it was coffee with a friend, Pat Strange. She’s a fabulous violinist and just all around fun person. We were colleagues for a good long time in San Jose Sympony (RIP), Opera and AMTSJ. She left for the all that is wonderful up on Bainbridge Island a while ago, and playing catchup was great (although it did point out that time has passed and we are all getting just a wee bit older). Opera rehearsal followed. Student followed opera. And then it was a concert.
Last night I went to a new music concert. It’s been quite some time since I’ve attending something like that, and it reminded me of my college years. Pat Strange played two works and I was especially impressed with Pablo Furman’s work. Wow. Pat has always amazed me with her skill, and that work was great. What was even better was finally seeing her after such a long time. I think it’s been at least four years.
Meanwhile …
Some of you have written in response to things I’ve blogged about here. In response to my link not working post Max suggests that the answer might not have been what another individual thought. Ah well. Hope some of you were able to read about the Mud Oboe!
I blogged about ticket prices and Jennifer said she doesn’t like the cost of concerts either, and that a movie only costs $9. I’m not sure what to say except that maybe that’s comparing apples to oatmeal or something? I dunno. We can’t compete with the ticket prices of an art form that can play in multiple places at once, reaching millions of people. Am I wrong? I do think we pay for the things we find valuable to us. I’ve heard friends complain about not being able to afford something and then I go into their homes and see what they can afford and I realize it’s often a matter of priorities or values. I’m not saying everyone should value live classical music concerts … really! … it’s not for everyone, and I don’t believe it ever will be.
Then Jerry suggests that the violinist who just might dump it all actually has a pretty good life. Yeah. It sounds like it to me, too. But I think many of us occasionally go through the “what the heck am I doing in this unpredictable, stressful, scary profession?” sometimes. And I must confess that at the moment I’m tired of worrying about money and I do think about what it must be like to have a steady paycheck with steady hours. And no oboe reeds.
Still, I wouldn’t want to give it up. And one of my jobs perks is that I am expected to whine a lot. So I do. 😉
I’m not trying to say that a concert and a movie are comparable, but when it comes down to deciding what to do on a Friday night, it’s just cheaper and easier to go to a movie. They’re completely different experiences, but they do kind of compete in the same space. How do you get newcomers to come to concerts? Classical lovers know that it’s worth it, but how do you get new listeners to try it out when it’s expensive and inconvenient? Hmm, maybe if it were more like a sports game or American Idol – two competing musical groups – you be the judge! Vote at the end of the concert. Ok, just kidding, but actually I’ve been thinking with all these reality shows (American Idol, Project Runway, Top Chef, American Inventor, etc.) why not one for classical composers or performers? I’d watch it. 🙂
Well, I think that if you’d choose a movie over a concert, you should go to a movie! Clearly that appeals to you more, then. I don’t think classical music concerts are for everyone.
Me? I don’t go to movies often. I usually wait until things are available on DVD. I don’t care about seeing things on a big screen. I do care about seeing and hearing live music. So I choose otherwise.
It’s taste and preference and all that.
And that’s fine. We aren’t here to appeal to each and all. (Imo, of course!)
But … if we were told we’d have to do some sort of schtick like American Idol I just might finally opt to find a different profession. I don’t know that that would appeal to every musician. AI isn’t my cuppa tea either, though, nor are all those other shows.
Again, personal preference ’tis all ….