Klarinet Archive - Posting 000292.txt from 1998/08

From: dnaden <dnaden@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Music major priority
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 01:47:31 -0400

Kevin--

Consider this:

In a recent thread about a clarinet audition (I believe it was for the National
Symphony), there was discussion about only the most qualified clarinetists being
invited to audition. Often a paper cut based on the submitted resume was
involved.

The university situation is similar. Auditions are merit based for music
majors, but...if one is not a music major, that individual is denied audition
opportunities. Much the same as having an insufficient resume for professional
positions, and being denied the opportunity to audition.

David S. Naden, MMus
Cal State University Los Angeles

Kevin Fay (LCA) wrote:

> "Equal opportunity" is exactly my point.
>
> Most schools don't have enough spaces to have even their clarinet majors
> gain any meaningful orchestral experience. The spaces that exist are
> typically doled out based on audition. If you are going to do this on a
> meritocratic basis, do so--but don't limit the auditions to music majors and
> then say that any sort of "merit" is involved. If the music major wants the
> spot, they can win it--they have more time to practice, and get the longer
> lessons, they should win on the merits. If they don't win the audition,
> perhaps they should consider another career anyway (before entering into a
> life of poverty).
>
> To the extent that a performance degree is designed to prepare the student
> for life in the real world (like with a job as a performer), they should get
> used to competitive auditions in a hurry. By and large, people who hire
> musicians don't care squat about your major--they only want to know if you
> can play.
>
> kjf
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dnaden [mailto:dnaden@-----.net]
> Sent: Friday, August 07, 1998 1:10 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Music major priority
>
> Kevin Fay's post opens up a whole new discussion: To whom does a university
> music department have to serve in terms of priority (My apologies if poorly
> stated).
>
> Based on my limited experience at five different schools (University of
> California San Diego, University of Western Ontario, University of Dayton,
> Wright State University and Cal State University Los Angeles), that most
> music
> departments give music majors first priority. While this may not seem fair
> from
> those who believe that all musicians regardless of major should have equal
> opportunity, the primary mission of any music department is to prepare music
> majors to enter the music field to the best of the department's--and
> students--ability. In most instances, this means that top performing
> groups,
> such as the orchestra or top wid ensemble, is often restricted to music
> majors
> in order to provide them with as many performing opportunities as possible.
>
> However, some schools, such as the University of California San Diego, have
> a
> combined university and civic orchestra. In such cases, the opposite
> happens.
> Music majors often have only limited opportunities to perform with such
> groups,
> because positions are often filled by community members. Some schools also
> hire
> contract players to fill out university groups and play principal parts,
> often
> at the expense of music majors within the department who are forced to play
> second parts, or not play at all.
>
> The bottom line is that no "system" is perfect, and that someone always will
> feel as though he/she did not have an equal opportunity. As limited as some
> opportunities are, any opportunity is better than none.
>
> David S. Naden, MMus
> Cal State University Los Angeles
>
> Kevin Fay (LCA) wrote:
>
> > This pisses me off.
> >
> > Not that Ed plays bass--but that his school's orchestra is "only open to
> > music majors" (unless, of course, they need *him*).
> >
> > Seems to me that the money that Ed pays his tuition with is just as
> > green--he should be allowed to audition for the "normal" clarinet chairs
> > just like anyone else. Most schools don't exclude music majors from
> history
> > classes--a fail to see any good explanation for the converse. IMHO, it's
> > just too damn bad if the best clarinet player in the school decides to
> > declare a more marketable major, they should get the chair if they win the
> > audition.
> >
> > Some pretty good musicians have managed to make it through school without
> > being music majors. Charlie Neidich has a spiffy degree in Anthropology
> > from Yale (where, incidentally, he was given an award for something like
> > "outstanding senior musician" without having taken lessons from K.
> > Opperman). Kenny Gorelick, a classmate of mine from the good old U of W
> > (Kenny G to most of you), is a CPA--which may help explain why he is, if
> not
> > the most talented saxophone player on the planet, certainly the richest.
> >
> > kjf
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Frederick S. Sterns [mailto:fssterns@-----.net]
> > Sent: Friday, August 07, 1998 7:22 AM
> > To: klarinet@-----.org
> > Subject: Re: [kl] Orchestral bass clarinet excerpts
> >
> > > Hello all. I've been given the opportunity to audition for my
> > >University's top orchestra on bass clarinet (it's only open to music
> > >majors, but due to instrumentation problems I can enroll despite my
> > >status as an electrical engineering major). However, the orchestra
> > >director did
> > >not anticipate having a dedicated bass clarinetist audition for his
> > >group. Consequently, I have to prepare four orchestral excerpts of my
> > >choice to audition with. I've played a good amount of orchestral bass
> (my
> > >focus is jazz) and basinet (bassoon parts), but I've never run across any
> > >major bass solos, etc. Truthfully, the only excerpts that come to mind
> > >are from Copland's El Salon Mexico and Strauss' Death and
> > >Transfiguration. I'd appreciate any suggestions as to what to play. I
> > >want to make a good impression because this will be my first taste of
> > >university-level playing. By the way, I've heard that there exists a
> > >book full of orchestral bass clarinet excerpts. Where can I find it in
> > >two weeks?
> > >
> > >Edmund William White
> > >ewhite@-----.us
> > >ewwhite@-----.edu
> >
> > Michael Drapkin's "Symphonic Repertoire for Bass Clarinet" is probably the
> > publication you're looking for. I got mine from Eble Music [Iowa City, IA]
> > 319/338-0313. Don't remember the price, but it was under $20.
> >
> > I found their staff to be knowledgeable, helpful, and courtious...their
> > service prompt. FSS
> > >
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