Klarinet Archive - Posting 000448.txt from 2001/07
From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Nothing but the Best
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 11:44:11 -0400
For about the three-dozenth time, I'm reading Judith Kogan's superbly
narrated expose' on life at Juilliard, revelling in the neurotic exper-
iences and mindset that are commensurate with attending the most famous
school of music in America (if not the world). Kogan was a harp major
there, and her fly-on-the-wall expository style is so much a delight
that it's easy to "live" the narrative vicariously through her prose.
In the constant pursuit of musical excellence, I return to this book
time and again. There's almost a mystical, otherwordly quality about
the environment and sociology she describes, and I experienced it my-
self from the very first week I arrived at one of the other well-known
schools (Eastman) and went through placement tests. The politics, the
competition and gossip and jockeying for recognition. Somehow, amidst
my memories of the dysfunction and silliness of conservatory life, I
find myself dreaming again of returning to school and completing a
master's degree.
I'm just 31. I don't suppose it's too late. And rereading Kogan's
book reawakens the yearning and passion to the same degree that it
did when I first read it, probably ten years ago. I'm living half
of my life's dream already, right now, working in Manhattan, play-
ing more orchestral and chamber music than I can juggle in a single
day planner. I may never make the cross-over and support myself
wholly by musical means at any point in my life, but the itch to
get a master's seems impervious to any mental scratching that I
might do.
I always get this way when I read Kogan's book. It's fun to take
the elevator upstairs at Juilliard and visit the places she mentions,
and I usually stick around and practice up there after dropping by to
attend a student recital on a given weekend. It's a pleasurable read,
her book, whatever your inclinations. If any of you are interested,
it's published by Limelight Editions, 118 W. 30th St. in New York,
10016. Cost me $10.95 when I bought it. I don't even know if Lime-
light Editions still exists, but it would be very easy for me to grab
the 6 train up to 33rd street and take a short walk to find out. I
include the address here because I lived in San Francisco when I
purchased it, and I simply sent Limelight a letter asking if they
still published the book. They responded by sending me the book
with an invoice! I happily wrote them a check and mailed it in.
I have no connections to Limelight or Kogan or anything of the
sort. I just enjoy this book so much that I thought others of
you would like it as well. Of this I have no doubt, actually.
Neil
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