<p>< fully inspired on a daily basis. I look at some of these kids and think they are the role models I wish I had.</p>
<p>And I would hope that my fellow classmates would appreciate each others' pursuits of excellence in every form and endeavor, not just in grades.</p>
<p>sevmom, my son also plays the violin. I have heard him play in many wonderful concerts with the youth symphony. I've heard him play at countless recitals, and as part of wonderful string quartets. I've heard him play in the pit orchestra at school theater productions. But yes, I've never heard him play with a good orchestra at his school, although I have heard him play as a soloist with the band. Why? Because, like almost ALL of the local school systems--in the most prosperous communities in our state--they have no string program and no orchestra. </p>
<p>He did, as a 3-season athlete for 4 years of high school, have ample opportunity to participate in school-based athletic invents.</p>
<p>As long as people make the assumption that athletics matter more than music, that will continue to be the state of affairs.</p>
<p>That is unfortunate, Consolation, that your community does not support strings or orchestra. Most schools in our area do seem to have orchestra.</p>
<p>Clarify.. never said there wouldn't be impoverished kids, I said impoverished schools. Believe me, not all budgets are equal regardless of the student population. But orchestras are hugely expensive. Did we not see Mr. Holland's Opus?</p>
<p>Heck, we had an orchestra in our elementary school in CT where I grew up.</p>
<p>Not around here, though. There are three school systems I know of in this entire region of the state that have string programs, one of which is Portland, at a population of 60K. And even there budget cutters have tried to eliminate it.</p>
<p>Somehow, the public school systems in NYC and CT and elsewhere managed to provide music instruction throughout the Great Depression. Things are different nowadays, apparently.</p>
<p>Modadunn, we also saw Music of the Heart, a fact-based story about a Suzuki program set in a NYC public school. It's all a matter of what people think is worthwhile.</p>
<p>loved that movie too!</p>
<p>Our school's orchestra does TONS of fundraising to support the programs and trips involved. Obviously, there is some funding from the city as well (and support of music programs) but the kids get out there and do lots of stuff to bring in money(wreath sales, cake sales, car washes,garage sales, selling of advertising space in the concert program,etc).</p>
<p>For what it is worth, turns out that the quartet ran a tape of a rehearsal rather than playing "live"... Famed</a> quartet played inauguration to taped music - Yahoo! News</p>
<p>I wondered. I know clarinet players and there's no way they would play in that kind of cold. I don't know about the piano, but I can't imagine that violin and cello strings would like that kind of weather.</p>
<p>Yes, I saw that info as well. What a coincidence after all the posts on this thread about Yo-Yo Ma.</p>
<p>I just loved how he made eye contact with Obama and smiled! Of course, easier to do if what you are playing isn't broadcast to all. But he just looked so happy to be there!!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I wondered. I know clarinet players and there's no way they would play in that kind of cold. I don't know about the piano, but I can't imagine that violin and cello strings would like that kind of weather.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Actually, it is not the strings that are the problem, it is the instrument they are attached to that is. Although there are still some who prefer gut strings, I and most of my friends play on steel strings, which are themselves not going to deteriorate in the cold. However, the wood instrument brought out from a 70 degree room into 30 degree cold will quickly shrink, with the strings contuously going flatter and flatter until the instrument temperature is the same as the environment (at which point it can be retuned and kept stable). </p>
<p>Worse yet, when the glued joints shrink too much they tend to open up and will rattle and buzz, requiring the instrument to be repaired. And if it is particularly dry (which I think it was) the wood of older instruments will start to crack (just like a well-seasoned log), which too requires expensive repairs. I was told Ma was playing on a backup instrument outside, so as not to risk his primary instrument. I would assume Perlman was as well.</p>
<p>I agree with the decision to go memorex. No use in potentially embarassing the professionals playing under very harsh circumstances.</p>
<p>I was envisioning the string players going to the local music shop and buying a "previously rented" instrument for $150 or so.</p>
<p>Goaliedad:</p>
<p>Makes total sense to me - why risk what has to be a priceless instrument - and the key "tool of your trade" on a freezing cold outdoor performance where the acoustics have to be just terrible.</p>
<p>I just found it somewhat amusing in the context of this thread...</p>
<p>Yes, sounds like they made the right choice. Amusing in the context of this thread. A few on here were implying that if you did not share their view that Yo-Yo Ma and other
"world class " performers are the ony path to inspiration, then surely you are lacking. Not unlike some of the attitudes on here about colleges-if it ain't HYP,etc., it might as well be community college. Hey, community college is the right choice for alot of kids.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A few on here were implying that if you did not share their view that Yo-Yo Ma and other "world class " performers are the ony path to inspiration, then surely you are lacking.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, no one said that they were the ONLY path to inspiration. Would you like your remarks to be characterized as saying that listening to your son's high school orchestra is the "only" path to inspiration? </p>
<p>I didn't think so.</p>
<p>And what, exactly, does the fact that they chose to broadcast a taped version, given the weather conditions, have anything to do with whether the performers are inspiring? It was, after all, their own playing that was broadcast.</p>
<p>Glad you chimed in. Never said Yo-Yo Ma was not a source of inspiration. Nobody did. All the best.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>I was told Ma was playing on a backup instrument outside, so as not to risk his primary instrument. I would assume Perlman was as well.<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>And the clarinet guy also...even the good clarinet players in our high school band won't take their primary instrument onto the field during marching band season. It's saved for the indoor concert season.</p>
<p>Goaliedad--thanks for explaining what problems are caused by extreme cold and dryness on instruments. That was informative. But I was expecting the info from someone like violadad, not someone named goaliedad!</p>
<p>See Ellemenpope? Never judge a book by it's cover or an individual by his screen name! </p>
<p>My son is a serious athlete, but inside, he is really a geek. He gave his senior speech on exactly this. His point was: Don't look at him in only one context based on what you "see" of him (especially underclassmen who don't have classes with him). There are contradictions to everyone -- some just more extreme than others.</p>