Klarinet Archive - Posting 000562.txt from 2004/10

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Daniel Bonade and Rose
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 07:37:50 -0400

Adam Michlin wrote:

> Artur Schnabel said it best:
>
> "The sonatas of Mozart are unique: too easy for children, too
> difficult for adults. Children are given Mozart to play because of
> the quantity of notes; grown ups avoid him because of the quality of
> notes."
>
> Sadly honor groups have become, without exception to my knowledge,
> about the quantity of notes.
>
>
Not a truer word has been printed here. The thing is, this has been
true in some form or another since the year one. I think the real
problem is that in too many areas, there are too few OTHER opportunities
for students of all calibers and abilities to perform in public, whether
as soloists, or in ensemble, and to hear and witness professional or
well-seasoned amateur groups perform fine music.

A truly superb musical education must be one that is well-rounded in all
areas, not one focused on trophies, awards, and how many times a person
has won the top chair where. There is room for many types of musical
expression. I'm one of those people who did well in high school, only
to founder later, because in focusing too much on winning chairs in
auditions, I didn't really have any idea what *I* REALLY wanted to DO
with music, where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do for myself, what I
ENJOYED. It's taken a lot of years to realize that there is a bigger
broader world out there, and that it has a LOT more to offer me than
just competition for a few slots in something that, to be honest, only
marginally would be enjoyable as a career for me. There's a lot of
other music out there, OTOH, that I've yet to explore, that fascinates
me, and that I'm ready to open my head and heart to.

I think that, as a teacher, and as a player, any of us, at any level,
can learn from working in Rose. To paraphrase an old political saying,
"It's the music, silly!"

Patricia Smith

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