At 11:14 AM -0400 3/17/10, Darcy James Argue wrote:
Part of this is just a fundamental lack of respect for nonclassical music.
All too true. In fact we have an influential minority on our own music faculty who feel exactly this way. Some will unbend for jazz (although they wouldn't want their daughter to marry one!), and some won't, but they actively oppose any commercial music (the kind you can make a living from!). And I think that's typical of most college music faculties. (Although as a matter of fact our cello teacher, who's a terrific all-around musician, happens to be a jazz guy!)
Also, I hate to say it, but even the most well-intentioned players, who have an authentic love and respect for swinging jazz or hard-grooving R&B or rock, *vastly* underestimate the difficulty of playing that kind of music convincingly. It is comparable to learning a foreign language, in terms of the time investment required, the benefits of early immersion, and the telltale accent that is almost impossible for non-native speakers to get rid of.
Beautifully put, Darcy. I couldn't agree more!! Especially about the accent, which I'd never thought of but which I can sure hear.
John -- John R. Howell, Assoc. Prof. of Music Virginia Tech Department of Music College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A. 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:john.how...@vt.edu) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html "We never play anything the same way once." Shelly Manne's definition of jazz musicians. _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list Finale@shsu.edu http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
