Klarinet Archive - Posting 000503.txt from 1995/11

From: Mike Vaccaro <MVPROD@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Age limit on competitions
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 13:45:34 -0500

Dan has brought up a very complex question.

First of all I wonder why we are competing at all. Or do we always compete
whenever we pick up the instrument.

In golf they have a strict line drawn between professional and amateur. They
also have strict age categories and different tours. For example the regular
tour, the senior tour, and the super senior tour. The PGA tour , The Nike
tour, etc. They also have a simple defined set of rules and scoring system.

In music what makes a professional. Is it membership in the union. Many union
members are not qualifed and many amateurs are qualified for the title
"professional". It is all so very hazy.

Also any scoring on a musical "competition" is strictly arbitrary. How many
musicians have won the "competition" musically for a symphony position and
have not gotten the job. I saw this happen last week for the Long Beach
Symphony.

Is not the opportunity to get up and play in front of ones associates or the
general public competition enough?

Oh, I don't know. I guess I just never understood music being a competition
after one gets out of college (maybe even before), although I admit it is
always competitive. I have found a combination of musicality and
politacality usually get the job done whether in contests, auditions, or in
the professional arena.

Just some thoughts to fuel the fire!

Mike Vaccaro