Author: SecondTry
Date: 2021-11-06 19:50
Ok, you've been warned. I do though promise to be sensitive and to the best extent I can, reveal my biases.
My biases:
Those who know me would describe me as left of center politically. I only bring this up on a clarinet board because it's relevant (and in fairness necessary to reveal) based on the topic that follows. This begs the question of just how far left of center am I.
Let's just say that while I support affirmative programs that give previously and currently disenfranchised groups of people (and I do believe with all my heart that they exist) a leg up, I also believe such programs need clearly defined metrics so that they do not exist in perpetuity, and can be regulated. After all, every program that empowers one group over another runs the risk of disenfranchising those not benefitted by such programs: people often not responsible for the discrimination that inspired the creation of such programs in the first place.
I respect progressive's views; I am not one. By no means am I a conservative either, much that I appreciate that there is more than my way to run a country, and all voices should be heard.
Further biases. As someone not financially worried, I volunteer at an arts magnet school in a financially challenged area. A say this neither to brag or secure pats on the back, but rather, as a segue into my thoughts.
The fine arts, especially in the US, is inherently, if not also unintentionally vastly skewed in favor of the haves over the have nots. The costs of instruments, lessons, and materials, even time not spent on a near full time after school jobs, that can rather be focused on musical study: all favor those WITH favor. I support programs that pay these costs so that the "huddled masses" can afford these things in an effort to better level the classical musician playing field with respect to race.
But that said, not for a second do I think anything but blind audition raw talent should be the metric upon which employment in this field is based. A situation in which a talented minority was discriminated against would infuriate me. But so too would a situation in which a less talented player was given employment as a performer for any reason, including nepotism, race, etc.
This is not my position if most areas of employment. I firmly believe in aggressive hiring and on the job training/mentoring. But in the professional orchestra, when its time for the clarinet (or french horn, or whatever) solo, nobody can cover for you, monitor your work and correct you/prevent you from serious blunder.
I am for affirmative programs that make the audition process more competitive with respect to race. I have zero tolerance for affirmative programs in the audition process itself, which must be color blind. I fully support orchestral mentoring programs, I am just dead set against anyone but the most talented, in blind auditions, getting the job.
What say you?
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The Clarinet BBoard
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