Klarinet Archive - Posting 001053.txt from 2004/07

From: "Lars Kirmser" <musictrader@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Feeling like Yamaha is one stupidly run company!
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 15:52:27 -0400

> This is not true if the local retailer figures it out in time.....
>
> Your sentence should read, "internet retailers".....and should go on to
add,
> "at very reasonable prices".
>
> Change doesn't come easy for some.
>
> Forest Aten
> Clarinet/bass clarinet
> Dallas Opera

Please Forest,
Share with me some of your inimitable wisdom. What exactly are local
retailers required to "figure out"? As Walter alluded, Retailers can meet
(excuse me) internet wholesale prices and LOSE money on EACH sale we make.
(Oh, Oh, did I hear my wife locking the front door?). You (musicians) can't
have it both ways. Local service is an adjunct to local sales. If you want
local services, you must support them with sales, or they will be unable to
continue operating a store front. I believe that it is inevitable in the
not-so-distant future, musicians will ONLY be able to purchase AND service
their instruments via the internet (mail, UPS, FEDEX, etc.). Maybe that's
what retailers have to figure out and eventually face.

Notice, I haven't mentioned the local music programs which are funded on the
local tax base (which is side-stepped by internet sales). As a result, music
programs all across the nation are being radically underfunded or eliminated
altogether. (BTW, the federally underfunded "No Child Left Behind" program
has only made this problem MORE difficult for fine arts and special needs
programs to survive). This is a national problem which we already have begun
to "pay" for. You might also be interested to note that in the US only 60%
of the monies required to run a primary and middle school music programs, is
funded by the average school district. Only 40% of the funding required to
run the average high school music program in the US is funded by district
funds. The balance of funding must be generated by band booster clubs, candy
sales, car washes, etc. Pretty upsetting stuff, and it's only going to get
worse. We as a nation are on track, where only the children of the affluent
will be able to pursue a music education. I suspect that we are all are in
general agreement that ALL children must be given the opportunity to learn
music and other fine arts studies. But now that music programs are
frequently being moved to "zero" hour and being underfunded, this problem is
a reality for many American children as we speak.

Lars Kirmser

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