Klarinet Archive - Posting 001006.txt from 2003/03

From: Kenneth Wolman <kenneth.wolman@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] irresponsible teenagers
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 17:36:51 -0500

At 04:06 PM 3/24/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>Who ever is telling you that you can't play it until you're 18 is wacko.
>Staple all these emails together and give it to THAT adult. Paul

Dear Rachel,

Add one more to the pile. When the "responsible parties" see them, let
them see this:

To establish I know something about being a parent: I am the 59-year-old
father of two sons, 21 and 24. The younger is an actor, writer, and
musician who composes electronic/computer music but started out on the
trumpet and marching baritone years ago, back in high school. If I had
five dollars for every time something happened to something I purchased for
one of them, musical or not, I could buy myself an island in the Caribbean
and have myself declared President for Life. If I had a buck for the times
Ben's valves had to be fixed on his trumpet or baritone because he played
hell out of them, I could have that Rolex watch I never coveted anyway.

Your clarinet got a scratch? This warrants a ban until you hit 18? I
recall you saying you're 17. For all I know that's two weeks off: but any
amount of time is too long to wait to have an injustice righted when
someone's life is in their music. It isn't like you took a blade and
slashed the thing. Accidents happen to musical instruments because they
are part of the world of the player who is part of the real world. This
episode doesn't deserve any kind of punitive action. To aim it at music,
at your heart, is like putting a knife through it. Any musician would
properly develop a resentment that would poison the domestic well for
years. While I hope that does NOT happen, I can easily understand how it
might.

Good luck to you.

Ken Wolman

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