Klarinet Archive - Posting 001067.txt from 2000/10

From: "Patricia Smith" <pattiesmith@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Ouch! (OT)
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 12:13:38 -0400

David,

It seems to me that Ms. Hetland is using a few parts of her research to
garner a small corner of the media sky for herself. The "Mozart" effect has
been a hugely trumpeted thing among people who fear that arts will be cut
out of schools altogether. I think that indeed we do need to be concerned
about cuts in arts education; however, we also have to look at the overall
society we live in and the cultural poverty that has been spawned by pop
culture over the last thirty years. The impoverished society created by a
vacuum in arts education is something we are already looking at. Witness
how young people see rappers and various rock and rollers as great
musicians. It is nothing short of nauseating. Do the rappers and rock and
rollers have something to offer ? Yes. Are they great musicians ? No.
They are icons - symbols of society - nothing more. Just like Charlton
Heston has become an icon for the NRA...There is a difference between being
an icon and greatness - greatness is creating something that has not existed
before, or synthesizing newness from differing threads of themes...an icon
merely reflects...
Don't get me started...I just ate lunch and when I get angry, I throw up.
Besides, I attempt to either avoid or settle politics and other
controversies. It's bad for digestion and for the serenity of my soul. And
I don't have a cat or a mynah bird to express my opinions for me, so I
can't get off the hook.

On another thread, I wonder sometimes if it is because so many times, the
majority of our music education majors are NOT the cream of the crop. They
are not the best musicians. Sure, they may possess a love of music, or even
a deep knowledge of it, but is that really enough ? I'm not convinced it
is.
BTW, to the music educators on the list, hey folks, I know you guys are the
cream of the crop because you're here on klarinet. I hope all of you are
having a great year; hang in there with the marching band, it'll soon be
over.

Patty Smith

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