We have long lived in a culture where images replaced the printed word and have now entered one where talking has replaced writing and that's dangerous.
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Double Bass Cuts to music programs
- Thread starter bejoyous
- Start date
We have long lived in a culture where images replaced the printed word and have now entered one where talking has replaced writing and that's dangerous.
Private Ed offers choice based on your assertions and sacrifices as a parent. Public offers what the gov't permits. We know from the comments at G8 the other day that private is a threat to gov't.
Critical thinking is what brings us here as artists. The gov't can't create music. ...just regulate its sale and redistribute any capital it produces.
Sacrifices as a parent.
That's a grand, idealistic, and sweeping statement, but vague in terms of the impact on the financial reality of the working class.
I suspect that religious or private corporate organizations donations would soon enter as the savior for those without funds to school their children. What kind of interest rates do you think they'd charge private citizens for the opportunity of sending kids to school? How much $$ will kindergarten set a family back?
That's a grand, idealistic, and sweeping statement, but vague in terms of the impact on the financial reality of the working class.
I suspect that religious or private corporate organizations donations would soon enter as the savior for those without funds to school their children. What kind of interest rates do you think they'd charge private citizens for the opportunity of sending kids to school? How much $$ will kindergarten set a family back?
SO glad we're staying away from politics on this thread. If you'd just push it back to the affects of a lack of arts education on the populace, I think you'd be okay. I would expect that Chris will *shut you down* if you're going to continue discussing corporate versus public education. Which, BTW, completely changes depending on your Nation. Duh.
Sounds like I misunderstood your comment, sorry about that. Agenda? I was hoping to steer the conversation back to the OPs post regarding cuts to faculty at music programs.
Hmm....It would probably be valuable to the forum to discuss music related topics like this and be allowed to get to the meat of issues that directly effect bass teachers and future generations of bassists.
If it can be done without political posting, it's in bounds. If it gets political, it's not allowed. This site has too long and ugly a history with politics, and this moratorium is unfortunately non negotiable.
I teach during the school year at the Merit School of Music's Tuition Free Conservatory (TFC) on Saturdays. Jr and high school students from all over the Chicago area spend a full day taking classes in theory, their instrument, history, improvisation and rehearse/perform in a wide range of ensembles, both classical and jazz. They also attend a performance by a professional ensemble every week.
The TFC is funded by donations, private and corporate. Students have to audition to get in. It's a great program that picks up some of the slack due to shrinking music programs. Merit also provides teachers to schools that have dropped full time teachers. Of course, these are part time jobs with no benefits, the direction that so much of academia seems to be going. But at least it helps keep music a part of the school experience.
The TFC is funded by donations, private and corporate. Students have to audition to get in. It's a great program that picks up some of the slack due to shrinking music programs. Merit also provides teachers to schools that have dropped full time teachers. Of course, these are part time jobs with no benefits, the direction that so much of academia seems to be going. But at least it helps keep music a part of the school experience.
Cuts to music at school are unfortunate but, really, I never took band at school. I did take a music appreciation course which I enjoyed very much but most of the music programs were of no interest to me. Music doesn't begin at school, it begins in the home. You can always take lessons somewhere, study just about any instrument you want. I would have loved to study double bass back in my school years but my school didn't have one but it didn't stop me from getting one and finding a great instructor. If you want to learn music, you'll learn it, school cuts or no.
You missed a lot of great training then. Not saying you can't be a fine musician without it, but it has its value.
I'm curious if the situation for music teachers has improved or worsened over the past year. My own experience is mixed. One of my professional music instructor friends has recently picked up a teaching gig after 3 or 4 years off. Another friend has found his classes cut to the point that he moved out of the area because he can't afford to live in LA any longer. The economy seems to be improving for some. Has it trickled down to music ed yet? Or is that still bottoming out?
