Klarinet Archive - Posting 000616.txt from 2004/10
From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Klarinet
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 19:32:26 -0400
At 09:08 AM 10/21/2004 -0700, Ormondtoby Montoya wrote:
>Adam, I probably won't be the only person to comment that we aren't
>writing your book for you. This same comment surfaces when students
>ask the List to write their term papers for them or to do their research
>for them.
This statement has been bothering me all day.
I have been very lucky in my life and have become friends with many world
renowned musicians. As just one example, I have been able to spend hours
talking with people like Vincent Abato about what it was like to play under
Toscanni or Bernstein or Levine. What is was like to sit next to Daniel
Bonade in an orchestra, play in a band backing Sinatra, audition for Glenn
Miller. I could go on and on. Through these conversations famous people
have become more than just names in a book to me, they've become real
people. Something I value more than I will ever be able to explain to
people like Mr. Abato. You see, these are just normal people in their
everyday life. Nothing special.
Before I am accused of bragging, please hear me out. I would love nothing
more than for Mr. Abato to be able to participate in this list and believe
me I have tried. It just isn't going to happen. The best I can give you is
me and I really enjoy sharing what I have been so lucky to learn. In a way,
it is possibly the only way I can return the favor, so to speak.
We all have unique experiences (perhaps not so clarinet-centric) which we
can share with the list. I hope people are interested in mine, but am not
offended in any way if people are not. I am very interested in other
people's experiences and fear that messages such as the above imply or
outright state that one needs to have some mystic "qualifications" to post
to the list. To this I say: balderdash.
Yes, I can buy a book about clarinet repair, but that is nothing compared
to hearing what Clark Fobes has to say about the subject. Yes, I can buy
hundreds of books on Mozart, but that is nothing compared to what Dan
Leeson can offer us in one message (or one book of fiction!). No one
requires me or anyone else to participate in this list, so please don't
suggest that we should or should not answer questions by new participants
or inexperienced students even if their motives are borne of laziness
(which, I submit, is unlikely).
If a student asked me something about Vincent Abato (or anything else) I
would do my best to answer. I would suggest he/she also look up what ever
resources I felt were relevant. I would *never* accuse them of trying to
use me to do their research for them or write their term papers for them.
I have been very lucky to know many people who freely share what they know.
Let us decide when we wish to share, please do not discourage other people
from asking.
I hereby and henceforth state that no one is required to respond to any
requests for information I make.
Seems rather obvious, though.
-Adam
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