Comments on: A Peculiarly American Paradox http://www.musicalamerica.com/mablogs/?p=3607 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:48:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.6 By: Dominique Piana http://www.musicalamerica.com/mablogs/?p=3607&cpage=1#comment-179522 Dominique Piana Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:43:34 +0000 http://www.musicalamerica.com/mablogs/?p=3607#comment-179522 It is wonderful to see this true concern about the status of classical music in America addressed so thoughtfully. There was a recent article by Michael Zwiebach in this week's San Francisco Classical Voice newsletter coming at the same issue from a slightly different angle (Pulling Out All the Stops on Arts Funding). Beyond financial issues, there is, sadly, a real problem with a general disaffection from the field. Disaffection, as in "loss of affection". I believe that this is what must be examined first. Why don't people flock to the "banquet of life" like they used to? I find it perfectly normal that we now have, comparatively, more well-trained people than, let's say, 30 years ago. We also have a greater population on earth! It is, ultimately, a global issue. It's not a matter of location, but VALUES. How do we impart those values so they become again part of the cultural trends? Values require “top down” modeling, and “bottom up” aspirations. To make this happen consciously, by multiplied personal effort, requires the digging of a new road. Until recently, in the history of mankind, things “happened” to us as a society. Now everything must be chosen and elaborated personally. It is wonderful to see this true concern about the status of classical music in America addressed so thoughtfully. There was a recent article by Michael Zwiebach in this week’s San Francisco Classical Voice newsletter coming at the same issue from a slightly different angle (Pulling Out All the Stops on Arts Funding).

Beyond financial issues, there is, sadly, a real problem with a general disaffection from the field. Disaffection, as in “loss of affection”. I believe that this is what must be examined first. Why don’t people flock to the “banquet of life” like they used to?

I find it perfectly normal that we now have, comparatively, more well-trained people than, let’s say, 30 years ago. We also have a greater population on earth! It is, ultimately, a global issue. It’s not a matter of location, but VALUES. How do we impart those values so they become again part of the cultural trends?

Values require “top down” modeling, and “bottom up” aspirations. To make this happen consciously, by multiplied personal effort, requires the digging of a new road. Until recently, in the history of mankind, things “happened” to us as a society. Now everything must be chosen and elaborated personally.

]]> By: Carole Blum http://www.musicalamerica.com/mablogs/?p=3607&cpage=1#comment-179520 Carole Blum Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:21:59 +0000 http://www.musicalamerica.com/mablogs/?p=3607#comment-179520 Dearest James: soooo good to hear your articulate voice expounding on the language of music in our native second language of english. I sang my early opera roles in Los Angeles, and the most memorable of those was singing The Magic Flute at the Shrine Auditorium for thousands of LA school children bused in to see our performance. Their sheer joy upon hearing Mozart's masterpiece for the first time was amazing. IF YOU EDUCATE THEM THEY WILL COME. xx Carole Blum Dearest James: soooo good to hear your articulate voice expounding on the language of music in our native second language of english.

I sang my early opera roles in Los Angeles, and the most memorable of those was singing The Magic Flute at the Shrine Auditorium for thousands of LA school children bused in to see our performance. Their sheer joy upon hearing Mozart’s masterpiece for the first time was amazing. IF YOU EDUCATE THEM THEY WILL COME. xx Carole Blum

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