Yesterday, I received a call from Blake Duty. You don't know Blake, but then again, you kinda do.
For those of you unaware, Blake is the student trombone-playing star of the Be Part of the Music series. He is now finishing his college degree and is a MONSTER trombone player. Even thirteen years later, we still connect regularly.
He had a question for me. He said:
Scott,
Most students, and even one of my professors admitted they don't actually listen to classical music. They spend years mastering excerpts, etudes, concertos, and whatever else, but outside of rehearsal, they listen to anything but the music they're studying. So, we teach our students to play
It's like being a priest who doesn't believe in God but still leads mass because it's something to do.
There are no gigs, audiences, or sustainable career paths, just academic inertia trying to keep itself alive. If you don't get one of the two symphony jobs that opened up that decade, then what? Get your DMA and keep teaching the same music you never even cared about in the first place? Music that no one listens to, creating an endless cycle of disconnection.
Blake's insights are always enlightening. He's a bright individual, and I always enjoy our conversations.
My response?
Blake:
Great questions. Don't forget the "classical music" you hear in TV shows, movies, and commercials. Start listening critically to all music, and you will hear all sorts of instruments in the backing tracks.
Remember, although YOU don't listen to classical music, many people do. There are concert halls filled with (old) people who pay lots of money to hear it. Like scotch, classical music is something you grow into and appreciate more as you age.
And consider the likes of Lindsey Stirling, Simply 3, Black Violin, and other genre-bending artists who play classical instruments in a decidedly non-traditional way. And just this past weekend, the LA Philharmonic and conductor Gustav Dudemel played with Icelandic musician Laufey, country star Maren Morris, and rap artist LL Cool J.
Attendees rocked out to John Williams' Imperial March from Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Arc, and Beethoven's 5th, to name a few. The multihyphenate Becky G made an appearance, and electro-trap duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, while seemingly a little nervous at first, settled into a mesmeric groove with the orchestra, getting people dancing as hard as they might at a techno gig.
But it's more than that.
Your training is not just about learning to play classical music. It's about mastering the instrument, allowing you to play any music with skill and understanding. Think of it like learning Latin, a language no one speaks but is the foundation of all languages. Your training is the foundation of your musical journey, enabling you to explore and excel in any genre.
My classical training was designed to build technical proficiency and physical dexterity. It was meant to aid with music literacy and help me understand musical stylings. It provided the base from which not just all music, but all learning was built upon. It challenged me mentally, emotionally, and physically, and helped me grow as a musician and person. It shaped me to be the person I am today.
Blake has a point - not just about classical music, but the commercial viability of band music. It's not the MAIN point. We teach kids to sing and play all sorts of music, not in hopes that it will make them a consumer of that genre, but in hopes it makes them a consumer of life.
Blake, your questions are thought-provoking and challenge us to think critically.
Keep them coming.
Tag, you're it.
Have a great week!
Scott