Klarinet Archive - Posting 000304.txt from 2004/10

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Differing skill levels
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2004 18:20:42 -0400

At 03:54 PM 10/9/2004 -0600, Richard Bush wrote:
>When individuals do not play to the best of their ability and also have no
>desire to improve, I take issue. This kind of attitude makes me mad. I've
>always been taught to give everything I have when honoring commitments.

I suspect you would not enjoy playing tennis with me, then. This does not
mean someone else wouldn't want to play with me, nor does this mean I'm
wrong for wanting to play tennis.

And if I were the only tennis player in your city and you refused to play
with me unless I became a better tennis player, I wouldn't feel sorry for
you not being able to play tennis and wouldn't expect that you would take
issue with me for choosing not to do so.

I certainly would understand if you did not want to play in such a group,
but, with all due respect, I don't feel you have a right to take issue with
such a group, either.

>For many, playing in a community band or orchestra that is not very good,
>is a self fulfilling prophecy. When communities or cities are large
>enough, there will be many such groups. When there are several, they will
>be at different playing levels. Somehow, people, like water seek their own
>level. For those who must participate in the "only game in town," it is
>very frustrating when a few drag the group to a much poorer performance level.

Starting a new game seems like the obvious answer. If there aren't enough
players to do so, well, then you know why the only game in town is the way
it is.

>The universal question will always be, "How do we motivate those who revel
>in their own mediocrity to improve?"

I just can't see how it is bad for some to revel in their own mediocrity
*as a hobby*. In most other cases, I absolutely detest mediocrity.

Buffet would likely be out of business if it weren't for players who
purchase instruments well above and beyond the requirements of their own
playing ability. Consider what the price of a professional clarinet would
be if it were only purchased by professional quality players? Not a pretty
thought.

Hobbyists are important in so many ways, no matter what their aspirations
or how mediocre they may be.

-Adam

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