Missed Opportunity

There is an interesting post on Greg Sandow's Blog about music schools (universtiy schools) and student recitals. Many student concerts are free, but finding an audience for them remains to be a challenge. At our school (Delta Community Music School) we host many free concerts through the year, and as well a summer jazz festival that includes a week of free noon hour concerts by our faculty. Interestingly enough none of these concerts in the past has been very well attended.

Getting the word out to young musicians and families is an increasing difficult challenge as the usual media for advertising (newspapers, flyers, posters) seem to have less effect. We know there are people out there who would like to come to these events, but how do we connect with them? In the past couple of years I have been increasingly turning to emails, social networking sites like facebook to try to connect with those that might be interested in what we are doing.

Link to Greg's article on Sandow

Cumulitive advantage, popularity and the arts

So we do we think something is good because we are independent creatures of thought, or is it because everyone else likes it so we think we should like it too? So why did projects such as Harry Potter and Star Wars get such a cold response from their peers when they were starting out? Why did they become popular when no one in the beginning wanted to publish them or finance these projects?

I would like to think I am somewhat independent soul capable of making my own decisions. but science might indicate otherwise. (I found this article through a friend's facebook link - there must be some irony in that.)

New York Times: Is Justin Timerlake a product of Cumulative Advantage? April 15, 2007 - Duncan J. Watts

Bernstein YPC

Here is a moment from one of Leonard Bernstein's Young Peoples Concerts with the New York Philharmonic orchestra. Emotion and the meaning of music. Bernstein was such a great teacher and communicator.




"I want it". Tchaik Symphony No. 4

The Digital Concert Hall

Now you can subscribe to concerts of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from the other side of the planet. You can purchase "online" tickets to virtual concerts of real performances broadcast through quality streaming video

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Music Monday

On Monday afternoon close to two million children across Canada will be singing the same song — at the same time.

They'll be singing, shouting, hollering and chanting Sing Sing, an existing song written by Juno-award winning singer-songwriter Serena Ryder. She added a new verse for children for this year's Music Monday's festivities that aim to highlight the importance of music in education.

Article on cbc.ca