This is a really good article (written by Kate Wagner, who you may know from McMansion Hell). I think posting it to ~arts makes more sense than ~music, since ~music is usually more for sharing...
This is a really good article (written by Kate Wagner, who you may know from McMansion Hell). I think posting it to ~arts makes more sense than ~music, since ~music is usually more for sharing songs/albums, and this is more about general issues with how the arts are seen and treated.
As a child of a dedicated and talented musician, and having some familiarity with the second chairs in life, I'm surprised that the author was surprised and embittered to find out that the world...
As a child of a dedicated and talented musician, and having some familiarity with the second chairs in life, I'm surprised that the author was surprised and embittered to find out that the world (of classical music included) is neither noble, nor fair. When choosing to pursue a degree in Fine Arts after making good marks in Sophomore Engineering, I was fully aware that I was trading a life of strict and relatively humorless monetary freedom for its opposite.
The point is, with people born to skew to the arts, there's really no comparison, and no choice learning this lesson sooner or later. For a person who rises to their level of artistic incompetence below the poverty line, life can certainly be frustrating. I'm glad that Kate Wagner has found her place and hopefully a livelihood in writing about this, but sad that so many have been eaten alive by debt in pursuing what they thought would be a profitable life.
In my opinion, the media which sells the non-existent, non-affordable happy life for everyone, only to line their own pockets, is something which should be avoided like the plague. I hope that more parents and students read this article than watch reruns of Fame! on their expensive streaming arrangements.
I'm a practicing collaborative pianist (side job, but I guess I'm a professional). I have worked with a lot of young musicians at all different skill levels and career aspirations. There is a...
I'm a practicing collaborative pianist (side job, but I guess I'm a professional). I have worked with a lot of young musicians at all different skill levels and career aspirations.
There is a subculture of classical musicianship which is very foreign to me, but which I've seen often enough that I can try to describe it. (This isn't quite what you and the author are talking about.) Some students seem to imagine a glamourous life of performing, practicing, and socialising; rather than of playing music and discovering, if that makes sense. They see music as a tool rather than a purely artistic pursuit.
And I wonder: What sort of musical environment can possibly foster that attitude? How can competitions be the foundation of your art? How can you look at a world-class performer as a social milestone rather than, frankly, as a musician? This is the same attitude that is, at its worst and most focused, celebrity worship: "I want to be Anne-Sophie Mutter"; and at best, a misguided practice plan: "I just have to practice four hours twice a day and then I'll get my audition".
To be clear, I'm not putting down these students as musicians. I admire their skill and drive in the short term. But musical burnout starts with falling out of love with the music. Skill, drive, talent, and small ponds only take you so far. It just befuddles me that anyone can maintain that mindset long enough to build a life around it, without a frank understanding of the profession.
Also, if you practice violin for four hours twice a day, you will get tendinitis and maybe never play again.
the media which sells the non-existent, non-affordable happy life for everyone, only to line their own pockets, is something which should be avoided like the plague.
That must be part of this. But I believe that there is also, as the author hints, a self-perpetuating culture and myth within the teaching industry itself. My impression is that the truly elite schools tend to foster these kinds of destructive attitudes, and that reflects back down to the inspired beginners.
To be fair, as a pianist, I sort of have an outside view. Piano is such a solitary instrument that it's hard to get sucked into the larger culture of classical music. In fact, my social experience basically started with playing in my secondary school orchestra (on a different instrument), before I was really introduced to it at conservatory. So I might be a little off base here.
Finally, I wonder if the cultures of classical music and pop music are comparable. Certainly there's some pretty sharp elitism in the classical world. But among both you'll see media that sells an impossible dream of fame and wild success without incredible wealth and connections. Do kids dream of becoming pop stars? Do their parents offer context and pragmatism? Do they know how?
Quite true. I think the attitude of many music and art teachers is that the economical side of music isn't their worry. This love of music is all that matters to many of them. Teachers of Visual...
I admire their skill and drive in the short term. But musical burnout starts with falling out of love with the music.
Quite true. I think the attitude of many music and art teachers is that the economical side of music isn't their worry. This love of music is all that matters to many of them. Teachers of Visual Art historically the same way. In fact most of my art teachers informed me that being a teacher was the worst thing an artist could aspire to, because in their case it's the teaching that burns them out.
After years of observation, this seems to explain why the majority of people involved with the arts are young. Their optimism and love of their craft has yet to be hit with the harsh realities of life. The relatively few oldsters that survive most likely suffer from the effects of survivorship bias.
This is a really good article (written by Kate Wagner, who you may know from McMansion Hell). I think posting it to ~arts makes more sense than ~music, since ~music is usually more for sharing songs/albums, and this is more about general issues with how the arts are seen and treated.
As a child of a dedicated and talented musician, and having some familiarity with the second chairs in life, I'm surprised that the author was surprised and embittered to find out that the world (of classical music included) is neither noble, nor fair. When choosing to pursue a degree in Fine Arts after making good marks in Sophomore Engineering, I was fully aware that I was trading a life of strict and relatively humorless monetary freedom for its opposite.
The point is, with people born to skew to the arts, there's really no comparison, and no choice learning this lesson sooner or later. For a person who rises to their level of artistic incompetence below the poverty line, life can certainly be frustrating. I'm glad that Kate Wagner has found her place and hopefully a livelihood in writing about this, but sad that so many have been eaten alive by debt in pursuing what they thought would be a profitable life.
In my opinion, the media which sells the non-existent, non-affordable happy life for everyone, only to line their own pockets, is something which should be avoided like the plague. I hope that more parents and students read this article than watch reruns of Fame! on their expensive streaming arrangements.
I'm a practicing collaborative pianist (side job, but I guess I'm a professional). I have worked with a lot of young musicians at all different skill levels and career aspirations.
There is a subculture of classical musicianship which is very foreign to me, but which I've seen often enough that I can try to describe it. (This isn't quite what you and the author are talking about.) Some students seem to imagine a glamourous life of performing, practicing, and socialising; rather than of playing music and discovering, if that makes sense. They see music as a tool rather than a purely artistic pursuit.
And I wonder: What sort of musical environment can possibly foster that attitude? How can competitions be the foundation of your art? How can you look at a world-class performer as a social milestone rather than, frankly, as a musician? This is the same attitude that is, at its worst and most focused, celebrity worship: "I want to be Anne-Sophie Mutter"; and at best, a misguided practice plan: "I just have to practice four hours twice a day and then I'll get my audition".
To be clear, I'm not putting down these students as musicians. I admire their skill and drive in the short term. But musical burnout starts with falling out of love with the music. Skill, drive, talent, and small ponds only take you so far. It just befuddles me that anyone can maintain that mindset long enough to build a life around it, without a frank understanding of the profession.
Also, if you practice violin for four hours twice a day, you will get tendinitis and maybe never play again.
That must be part of this. But I believe that there is also, as the author hints, a self-perpetuating culture and myth within the teaching industry itself. My impression is that the truly elite schools tend to foster these kinds of destructive attitudes, and that reflects back down to the inspired beginners.
To be fair, as a pianist, I sort of have an outside view. Piano is such a solitary instrument that it's hard to get sucked into the larger culture of classical music. In fact, my social experience basically started with playing in my secondary school orchestra (on a different instrument), before I was really introduced to it at conservatory. So I might be a little off base here.
Finally, I wonder if the cultures of classical music and pop music are comparable. Certainly there's some pretty sharp elitism in the classical world. But among both you'll see media that sells an impossible dream of fame and wild success without incredible wealth and connections. Do kids dream of becoming pop stars? Do their parents offer context and pragmatism? Do they know how?
Quite true. I think the attitude of many music and art teachers is that the economical side of music isn't their worry. This love of music is all that matters to many of them. Teachers of Visual Art historically the same way. In fact most of my art teachers informed me that being a teacher was the worst thing an artist could aspire to, because in their case it's the teaching that burns them out.
After years of observation, this seems to explain why the majority of people involved with the arts are young. Their optimism and love of their craft has yet to be hit with the harsh realities of life. The relatively few oldsters that survive most likely suffer from the effects of survivorship bias.