Klarinet Archive - Posting 000273.txt from 2000/07

From: klarAnn-ette h satterfield <klarann@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: Developing audiences for music (Was: A review)
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 15:58:44 -0400

On Thu, 6 Jul 2000 0 "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu> writes:

>In fact, in an article called "Resuscitating Art Music" by John
Steinmetz
>(once stored on Sneezy - is it there still?)
snip
>.[Bernstein] Those who got to
>watch it on TV (on their own terms, more or less) are more likely to be
>classical concert goers today.

I know several musicians who said the Bernstein TV broadcasts were the
beginning of their awareness and interest in music.

>I don't remember where he got his statistics, but the article is a very
>fascinating look at classical music, and what we have to do to make it
>appealing to audiences today. Steinmetz's approach doesn't include
>"dumbing down", either. If it's still on Sneezy, I'd suggest making the
>effort to download it and read it.

Tell me where to get this, Sneezy or other source!!!!

>During the past year, the Richmond Symphony has been engaged in a
>self-study which has included examining the artistic product, and
>discussing ways to make it better. One of the conclusions that our board

>has reached (with a little guidance from the rank and file in the
>orchestra) is that better concerts (including sufficient rehearsals,
>appropriate venues, etc.) of the repertoire we do best (which has a
>certain basic core, but is subject to expansion as it seems appropriate)

>are ones which will also likely sell better. This is especially true if

>the marketing folks can figure out what it is that is appealing about an

>orchestra, and market what we do, as opposed to figuring out what will
>sell, and trying to get us to do it. To the marketing people, this was a

>novel concept.

I'd like to forward this to a couple dozen people--board and
administration here....It that ok, David?

>It's a sticky issue. Organizations can't completely ignore the economic
>realities of the business, but they do need to "keep their eye on the
>ball", and remember that an orchestra is (in western countries at least)

>a part of their cultural identity. Figuring out how to make this
>meaningful and attractive to people who might otherwise not be inclined
>to attend such concerts treads a fine line between pandering to the
>lowest common denominator and the sort of elitist snobbery that has
>gotten us into trouble in the first place.

Well said!

annhall

Ann Satterfield
clarinetist and teacher

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