Great Expectations

It seems that one of the most disheartening aspects of orchestral music is the dwindling audiences. In a country that runs on supply and demand principles, there is a lack of demand for what we do. Regardless of the causes that brought about this phenomenon, we must act aggressively in order to secure a place for ourselves in the future. Musical education in public schools is not what it used to be. The musicians themselves must educate the public, starting with those around them. I believe that teaching lessons, visiting schools, inviting acquaintances to concerts is a good start. Once they are there, however, the education cannot halt. Pre-concert talks and lecture-type programs can be exciting and greatly improve the understanding of those present. We must inform people why what we do is special, and let them know that they can get this no where else. This music is powerful, just show listeners the correct path, and they will get it soon enough.

It is obvious from the discussion that the skills needed to win an audition and those needed to thrive in an orchestra are not always the same. I’m not sure what role schools should play in developing the latter. It seems a little silly to teach every student how to maintain an orchestral position and deal with contract issues seeing as only a small percentage will earn a position. It would make more sense for there to be some sort of committee within the orchestra (since each group may run a little differently) that could help new members get acquainted with the extra-musical aspects of orchestral life. While in school students should be given the time to practice extensively and the opportunity to take advantage of the experts on staff, both performance and otherwise.