Perceptive Insight 16

"I occasionally play works by contemporary composers, and for two reasons. First, to discourage the composer from writing any more, and secondly to remind myself how much I appreciate Beethoven." Jascha Heifitz

Perceptive Insight 15

Conductor Sir John Barbirolli equated contemporary music to "three farts and a raspberry, orchestrated." He wasn't far wrong in many cases.

Why music is cut in schools

I've held (since Mr Gingrich & Mr. Holland's Opus) that one of the primary reasons music is usually the first subject cut from education is because the decision makers are usually inexperienced in the benefits of music-making (creativity, social, self-discipline, teamwork, sense of achievement, focus, sense of occasion, etc). Some may have participated in music at some point in their lives, but unless the actual benefits were shared with them, they still consider music as a nice extra (refer to my previous "Perspective Insight" blog post that quoted Isaac Stern: "Playing music in America is like selling a luxury item...")

It's nice to see how a decision-making Principal (Head Teacher) realizes how useful music can be to the development of children/ teenagers. Click here to read one version of the full story - the focus of the story is a reduction in detention/ misbehaviour, but the real benefit is that without class disruption, more students are able learn more.

My two concerns remain using [any] music as a deterrent - instead of inviting students to listen and learn about the incredible language of audible music they get turned off completely - somehow, though, it seems at least being exposed to it will have a positive impact later in life in more people than not. My other concern is using gentle music to lull young children to sleep. Every time they hear a slow movement from a Mozart symphony for the rest of their lives, they will be inclined to fall asleep and completely miss the entire musical journey Mozart created for us. Just a warning, is all.

Perceptive Insight 14

"In 1912, the London Symphony Orchestra was the first British orchestra to visit the United States, only narrowly avoiding travelling on the Titanic."

Perceptive Insight 13

"Wilberforce knew somebody had detuned a string on his viola. He just couldn't be sure which one."

Perceptive Insight 12

"If you have an apple and I have an apple, we can exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." George Bernard Shaw

Perceptive Insight 11

"Music has a very great deal for which to thank the BBC, which has taught the uncultured public that a symphony is not so deadly as hyoscyamine, nor as painful as mumps."
Ernest Irving, 1947

Perceptive Insight 10

"Never try to tell a man how to play his instrument: he knows far more about it than you do, and will immediately resent your effort. Instead, explain exactly what it is you want, and leave it to him to produce the desired tone, effect, or whatever it is."
Sir Adrian Boult, 1947

Perceptive Insight 9

"Berlioz is France's greatest composer, alas. A musician of great genuis, and little talent."
Maurice Ravel

Perceptive Insight 8

"The grandeur of Beethoven's thirty-second piano sonata (in c minor, op.111) represents the opening of the gates of Heaven."
Robert Browning, 1982

Perceptive Insight 7

Mozart said about Ludwig van Beethoven: "Keep your eye on him. He'll make the world talk some day."

Perceptive Insight 6

"A single man (Sir Thomas Beecham) did more for British music than was done by the massed battalions of the BBC. He was not only the greatest British conductor, he was also the greatest impresario of the age, endlessly stimulating and naturally DISLIKED BY EVERYONE except his appreciative audiences."
A.J.P. Taylor, 1965

Perceptive Insight 5

In 1936 Sir John Barbirolli was appointed conductor of the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York (now the New York Philharmonic) in succession to Arturo Toscanini. After six months Toscanini returned to conduct a concert. He said to Barbirolli, "John, my orchestra is just as I left it." Barbirolli's contract was then renewed for a further two years.

Perceptive Insight 4

Besides being a celebrated conductor, Hans von Bulow was also a remarkable pianist. He was once asked his opinion about a performer who experienced a memory lapse during a recital, and resorted to improvising. Bulow's comment on the improvization: "Well, it wasn't as bad as what he could remember."

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!"

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."

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