Perceptive Insight 3

During the Versailles Peace Conference, Clemenceau met Paderewski and said to him: "So you abandoned your music career to become a politician? What a come-down!"

Young Conductors

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This topic not only substantiates my perspective of being stuck in the 'Sandwich Generation', but also contributes to the bitterness that I've been learning to keep in perspective these past few years.

Barbara Jessop recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal about the surge of young conductors taking over orchestras and opera houses, worldwide. Click here to read her article. Interestingly, she asks a very potent question at the outset: are these people simply replacing the conductors in or near their 80's, or is there something especially unique about these individuals?

The arguments put forth indicate that it is simply the fact that a whole bunch of positions have become available due to present incumbents' old ages, and that organizations, having been criticized for ignoring young conductors, are now jumping on the band wagon and employing the experienced-although-immature 20 & 30 somethings. Jessop mentions a few unique differences such as support of contemporary (aka living) composers, reaching out to the younger generation, and technology, but in all reality these qualities are no different to most conductors in most generations past. Fortunately for Jessop, she chooses to cite egocentric exceptions to prove her points. Such as Lorin Maazel.

So, in the same way that my parent's generation is milking social security dry (click here to read George Shipp state "We are embarrassed at the national debt we are handing to our children." on page 10) and my generation is making darn sure our kids won't suffer, we miss out. Old conductors are retiring, and the replacements are now our kids. Ouch. Nothing special. Nothing unique. Nothing out of the ordinary regular expectations of a talented, politically-savvy, music-focused conductor, but those in the middle are again getting ignored.

See where the bitterness can creep in?!

I've missed out on a great full-time conducting career for two very obvious reasons: 1. I didn't subscribe to the stuffy, self-indulgent bullying and elite-ness that classical music self-perpetuates, and 2. I'm not old enough or young enough.

Am I not good enough? I completed a 4-year college performance program in 15 months, when I was 17. When I was 19 I was England's first music conservatory Undergradute student with a conducting major. Ever. That's cool, right? When I was 21 George Hurst said I was 'too nice to be a conductor'. When I was 22, the leader of the Halle Orchestra didn't care if I was good or not: 'we'll soon change your mind for you,' he said. The Principal viola of the London Philharmonic kindly shared that the music I was conducting 'doesn't show your best side'. Because no-one had ever shared with me how a conductor is expected to behave at an audition (I always thought we were supposed to rehearse during a rehearsal), prominent agent Jasper Parrott laughed at me and has never acknowledged me since. Now I'm older and more understanding of what criticism often is, I don't hear it as much. I hear praise, and wonder, and questions, and I see enthusiasm, and interest, and an incredible willingness to give up time, money and energy to play for me - I'd like to think it's because somehow what I do gives others a satisfying opportunity to benefit/ learn/ feel/ enjoy.

So, I shall continue to pursue my love of music and conducting, I shall continue researching for my book, my radio show and my TV show, and I shall continue to enjoy my family - both at home and in the ensembles I work with. Judging by two recent surveys, it seems they, too, sometimes wonder why my career hasn't been what it could/ should have been. Well, I'm grateful for my Christian beliefs that indicate everything is as it should be for a reason, because it's not about me.

Even though this blog often is.

LOL!

Tom Peters at it again

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"I am hooked on the 'power of civility' and the 'power of thoughtfulness' as the Number One Long-Term Moneymaker. (As well as a virtuous way to live.)"
Tom Peters

What's not to be passionate about this?!

Click here to get a ton of free stuff Tom's giving away.

Live Music

Why do we still need live music? There's so much technology around these days. Click here to have your say, and win an AMAZON gift card!

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Perceptive Insight 2

Upon passing rows of fish spread out on a fishmonger's slab, Fritz Kreisler said, "That reminds me, I'm playing a concert tonight."

Stephen P Brown Blog: The arts will survive. Again

In February, I wrote this:
Stephen P Brown's Blog: The arts will survive. Again.


Eight months later, Standard & Poor's agree! (posted by the League of American Orchestras):


"Standard & Poor’s say arts institutions will weather recession
In Tuesday’s (10/13) Chronicle of Philanthropy, Debra E. Blum writes, “While many museums and other cultural institutions face debt, shrinking donations, and investments losses, one of the nation’s top credit-rating agencies calls the sector stable and resilient. In a paper released this week, credit analysts at Standard & Poor’s say they believe that the nearly three dozen nonprofit cultural institutions the company rates will ‘manage their businesses reasonably well during this recession,’ just as they have weathered past economic downturns. They say that while belt-tightening may become the norm for the organizations, they will likely benefit from an increase in regional tourism, a gain in repeat visits, and government stimulus money for education and science programs. ‘They may also be able to weather the storm because they have a diverse revenue base and other mitigating factors,’ says Jessica Matsumori, one of the paper’s authors, who describes the 33 cultural organizations that Standard & Poor’s rates as ‘the cream of the crop.’ ”
Posted October 16, 2009"

Butternut Squash Recipe

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I've made this a few times and had several requests for the recipe, so here it is. What's this got to do with music? Nada. Except, my thesis subject (Sir John Barbirolli) was himself a terrific cook and would often make gallons of spaghetti & tomato sauce for a little privately-invited audience at his apartment AFTER a concert (normally about 10:30pm)!

1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
1/2 cup (120ml) mayonnaise
1 very finely chopped onion
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon (20g) brown sugar
salt & pepper
1/4 cup (20g) soup crackers
4 tablespoons (10g) Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons (15g) melted butter

1. Preheat oven to 350F/ 175C
2. Place squash in cold water and slowly bring to the boil. Simmer until soft (can be broken apart with the back of a fork)
3. MASH the squash. Mix in the mayo, onion, egg, sugar, salt & pepper, and place into a baking dish
4. Mix together the crackers, cheese & melted butter and sprinkle over the squash
5. Bake uncovered for about 40mins, until the topping turns brown.

Serve & enjoy without hesitation or reservation...

Perceptive Insight

"Playing music in America you feel you're selling a luxury item. But in England you're providing a necessity"
Isaac Stern, 1983

Be Great At Classical Music Marketing

New Article: Be Great At Classical Music Marketing

"I LOVE NJ ARTS"! make a video

1. Who knew that October is DISCOVER JERSEY ARTS month? How'd I miss that one? Where did you find out about it?
2. Anyone interested in doing some filming? I have a few opportunities for you...


Art Pride New Jersey Foundation wants your videos for arts contest
By Ronni Reich (Star Ledger)
October 12, 2009, 7:29PM
Local arts aficionados with video cameras can win prizes as the Art Pride New Jersey Foundation celebrates Jon Corzine’s official proclamation of October as Discover Jersey Arts Month.

The “I Love N.J. Arts” video contest invites people to submit 30- to 60-minute videos about why they love the arts in New Jersey to Jerseyarts.com. A panel of New Jersey film personalities will judge the submissions in early November. Three winning entries will each receive a customized Flip Mino video camera. Submissions are being accepted through Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m. Complete contest details and submission information are available at JerseyArts.com/videocontest.

"Ode to Hen" by Vincent Beer Beethoven

My youth-orchestra/ percussion ensemble buddies Jonathan and Graham are now brewery film stars! This is:

1. Classic.
2. Typical.
3. SO MUCH FUN!

Love it, guys. Well done, Jon.

(Click here if you can't see the video on Facebook)

Are you nuts?

If an unresounding "YES!", then you'll fit right in to what built the great USA (before the 21st C financial corporate moguls took over)!! Read on, dear fellow freaks:

The heart of The Hypomanic Edge [by John Gartner] is case studies of a few of our most potent nutters. Appropriately it begins with a true crazy ... Christopher Columbus. ... Here's how Dr Gartner concludes:
"America has been good to hypomanics--a land of opportunity that has liberated their energies and lifted their spirits. In return, hypomanic Americans have been good to America, powering a wilderness economy above every other nation on the planet in just a few hundred years. They may be our greatest natural resource." --Tom Peters

Discover how to listen to music

Check out this great article:
Discover how to listen to music

Simon Cowell's letter to himself

How many of you can identify with this? I mean, this might be a letter you write to yourself, with the names, dates, places, companies, and industry somewhat different, but the circumstances, feelings, reactions of others, and self-doubt are entirely your own. Ignore the Simon factor, and read what he's writing. You'll be surprised.

Needless to say, I have written a similar letter to myself recently. No-one knows, and no-one's seen it, not even Melissa my dearest companion & wife. In fact, I think I deleted mine. Anyway, perhaps there's hope. Perhaps there is direction. Perhaps God is still prepping me/ us for something way beyond our wildest dreams. Perhaps He isn't. But my journey has surely been one of the roughest ones out there. My own mother would often remark about her wonder at how I survive my (often self-made) trials and tribulations. They say there's nothing gained without risk and failure. Did you see that motivational video flying around facebook & youtube recently? Well, I need thirty-three more hands with ten fingers each to count the number of 'failures' I've experienced - projects that have fallen flat, ideas dismissed and laughed at, being made fun of in school, presentations at work that were ridiculed, and worryingly egocentric decision makers who consistently maintained their faux dignity by quashing every idea, move, project, report, application, business plan, marketing plan, and attempt to better one's life. I'm tired of trying to please everyone else, coz it's can't be done.

And, of course, going bankrupt thanks to being taken advantage of by a particularly clever intimidating self-centered real-life 'actor'. Humilitating in every respect.

But things are turning around. Melissa and I didn't have to pound the pavement, although things got pretty intense. We have each other, we have a wonderful home, and we have our faith (and all that goes with it. Like... people). Maybe I won't be the next Herbert Von Karajan. Maybe I will. Maybe there's no future in classical music. Maybe I'll get a record contract! Only one person knows, and He will only reveal everything in His own good time (and little impatient me gets frustrated sometimes!).

So, read this letter. Ignore 'Simon' and draw the inspiration it contains. I assume that's why it was published. Wow... I used to be an utter optimist, and there's a little glimpse of it again! Yippee!

Great snippets

Sorry for so many posts this week - there's so much to post about! And I still have several drafts waiting for a week when I don't have anything to blog about. Maybe those days are over!

So, thank you, Tom Peters, for some precious insight. I don't know who organizes, selects, and distributes your daily quote of the day, but these past two were truly inspiring:

"18-44 stupid, Stupid."
If you get that you will laugh and appreciate it tremendously. If not, don't worry - you're not alone!

"Find Heroes. Do Demos. Tell Stories."
Wow. Sums up life, really. If you don't subscribe to this, look out - you're on your way out the door! If you don't recognize who is a Hero (and let them do their thing), look out - you're about to be the recipient of some serious backlash from your bosses (who may actually be your paying customers)! If you don't demonstrate first, look out - no-one will believe you! And if you don't tell stories... look out!

It's still exciting...

I still get a thrill from being on the radio! Thank you, Dave, of Star 99.1 FM!

Click here to listen to the segment.

BTW - Dave is really good at editing, too ;-)

I luvs you hun. Honest. I do!

Rare Victor Borge

I've seen many Victor Borge sketches but came across this one only today. Remarkable. The guy really was a genius in many ways. Of course, it helps to have a basic knowledge of the classical music repertoire, so something like Borge's humor probably wouldn't be all that funny these days. Such a pity - we've lost so much in the past 20 years.

ENJOY

In case you didn't hear...

I became a US Citizen on Friday! Although dual citizenship is not recognized by the USA (and most Western countries), they didn't take my UK passport away.

THANK YOU EVERYONE who helped me get to this point - it's been a very long and expensive journey doing everything by the book (over 7 years and almost $20,000), but well worth it. Special thanks to those who played a direct role: Mike, Rena, Gino, Barbara, Teresa, Judith, Gerald, Tracey, Ben, M&D, Jax Chapel folk, and of course... my dear wife Melissa - I'm so glad she puts up with so much 'me'.

Well, now on with the rest of our life together!

This photo was taken immediately after the ceremony in Newark.