Klarinet Archive - Posting 000177.txt from 1996/02

From: Marie McDonough <mm46@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Mr. Holland
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 14:03:07 -0500

> I think that it's about time that Hollywood came out
> with a movie that we all can identify with. Here in
> Thunder Bay, we have had so many cuts that music is now
> only offered in the high schools, and only a few at
> that. Now we have a movie that deals with almost
> exactly that. Who hasn't know a teacher like Mr.
> Holland, one who would do almost anything for this
> passion? Teachers like that do exist (as few as they
> are) and we shouldn't condemn them for believing in
> something.

I just had to jump back in, because this addresses both a teaching issue and a
union issue, and someone's (I apologize for forgetting) comment in response to
Dan's post about what musicians needed to know.

It's true, there are teachers all over the world who believe quite passionately
in the value of their work, and quite often these are music teachers. But the
fact that we love something does not mean that we should feel compelled to
accept substandard wages, bad working conditions, and the general contempt of
people in nobler professions, like real estate sales, industrial waste
production, or politics.

It has become more and more difficult in the last decade for students from lower
socioeconomic brackets to participate in music programs, due to budget cuts and
program elimination. The best, most gifted music teacher on the planet cannot
create a good band without any instruments, sheet music, or practice time. And
if that teacher can't afford to buy little things, like sufficient food and
clothing for his/her family because of an insufficient salary, it's unlikely
that he/she will maintain a high level of enthusiasm for very long.

The willingness of a young teacher to work for less money or a young musician to
work for free "to get heard" is perfectly understandable, and should not be
condemned. Unfortunately, others will use their example to justify salary
reductions for more experienced professionals. And when the public doesn't
understand music (since its opportunity for music classes was axed) they won't
care when ballet companies use prerecorded music, or the local symphony's
quality suffers because all of the union musicians have been let go.

It's a vicious circle that none of us who practice or support the arts can
afford to ignore.

Marie

Marie McDonough
School of Education
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN