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Another perspective

Author: Craig Matovich
Date: 2006-12-24 02:24

On the role of classical music, music theory, form and analysis....music... on every day life.

20 years ago I moved from classical music into computer programming for a living. I chose not to pursue a doctorate in music (not that there is anything wrong with that --- ala Seinfeld) to create more opportunity outside the college/conservatory area where I was working then.

Funny things happened after some computer training. In every interview, after covering the technical questions, I differentiated myself from the competition by steering the converstaion into music.

Sometimes music and math. Sometimes music and the naturally occuring things in nature also represented in musical formulation like the distribution of planets in our solar system or the non-lineral characteristics of the chochlea of the inner ear... and how those things relate to the overtone system.

I pointed out that at one point IBM had to recruit classically trained musicians to become programmers to meet their needs and that the classically trained musical mind was adept at both the pneumonic aspects of computer language and the logical decision tree processes that computer algorithms employ. And that our formal training in theory and form and analysis makes us better prepared to tackle computer programming tasks.

(By now their eyes were wide....chins agape.)

And I pointed out that we classical musicians PLAY with the works of genius.

We played with them as children, as adolescents and as adults. And therefore, we are specially equipped to deal with their business challanges better than the average applicant.

I almost always got a job offer. I always got one when I really wanted it.

Now, if only I can convince an orchestra here or there that computer programmers make better oboe players...

Post Edited (2006-12-24 02:39)

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Classical music new

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2006-12-22 16:25