Klarinet Archive - Posting 000596.txt from 1998/10

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] The rich get richer
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 10:06:04 -0400

My experience has been the same...the military musicians seem to get the
"first call" in this area. Is it because they take care of each other? Most
I've known have been consistent in recomending their "buddies" when
openings come up. But that's not surprising, is it?

I disagree somewhat with Dave on one point, though. *Every* military
musician I've known and played with has been very competent...well
educated, well trained, and experienced. But so are a lot of "civilian"
players!

The policy on allowing military musicans to "moonlight," seemingly without
restriction except to give priority to their military gigs, involves some
tough calls. I don't envy the leaders who have to deal with it. Fred S.

>Here in the Washington, D.C. area where I've lived most of my life, there
>are numerous military bands and orchestras. I've noticed that, since the
>ban on military musicians playing outside jobs was lifted some years ago
>(ten or fifteen, maybe?), the military folks have taken a whole lot of gigs
>that civilians used to be able to get. Along with the general decline in
>live music everywhere, this has exacerbated the situation of trying to find
>musical work in this area. And I'm not just talking about paid gigs ---
>for example, I can't even get an audition with some of the local
>county/city orchestras (some unpaid, some very slightly-paid), because all
>the clarinet and bass clarinet slots have been taken up by moonlighting
>military musicians. Not to say that they're bad players, in fact many of
>them are quite competent, however, I suspect that there a number of better
>civilian musicians available to play some of these jobs, but the military
>musicians' resumes get them into the door. Just an observation, please let
>me know if I just have a case of sour grapes!
> Dave Spiegelthal
> Calverton, VA
> Bass clarinet and that smaller one (I think they call it "B-flat
>clarinet" or something like that)
>
>
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org