Music and the Economy

<p>I would like the see colleges and conservatories make even more of an effort to get out to elementary and middle schools to introduce the kids to classical music. The schools need to be cognizant of their roles in building an audience. I think many believe it is the role of the education majors but that is short sighted. Recently I have heard both The Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift perform live on television and I worry that kids are growing up not recognizing when singers can't carry a tune.</p>

<p>Just have the children watch the classic Looney Tunes cartoons of the 50s and 60s. Melodies from Wagner, Rossini, Liszt, and many other composers made their way into Carl Stalling's orchestrations. This type of exposure lasts a lifetime.</p>

<p>Of course there is a downside, as the pinnacle of animation achievement, What's Opera Doc?, has made listening to Wagner without laughing a difficult task for me; they used excerpts from The Flying Dutchman, Die Valkure, & Tannhauser...</p>

<p>Oh Bwunne Hilda! Your so wovewy!!!</p>

<p>Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit!</p>

<p>Be berrrrry berrrry quiet....</p>

<p>Problem is it's hard to find a Looney Tune or Bugs Bunny cartoon on TV anymore.</p>

<p>YOUTUBE has plenty ----You inspired me to watch the Wabbit of Seville.
For you kids out there..."Whats Opera Doc" was Chuck Jone's answer to Disneys "Fantasia", which he considered pretentious.</p>

<p>If you have never seen it, you have to check out "Music Land", one of the Silly Symphony series from 1935. One of my all time favorites. Remember that this was before vocoders were in use for much of anything outside of Bell Labs, so all of those "vocals" were being done by acoustic instruments.</p>

<p>^well, not the first violinist just looking for a little sax.</p>

<p>They don't make 'em like that anymore. Thanks, been years since I've seen that.</p>

<p>Sax and violins certainly have been mainstays of the industry.</p>

<p>It's a bass fact, but I wouldn't want to harp on it.</p>

<p>Yes, we'd best put a mute on it before we wind up in the doghouse.</p>

<p>So noted. I'll conduct myself accordionly.</p>

<p>I'm only a semi-conductor myself, so I'll bassoonin' ya later.</p>

<p>This article talks about the debate and the fate of this piece of the stimulus legislation. We almost lost it partially, then completely, but Louise Slaughter from California saved the day. </p>

<p>You can read it at:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/arts/16mone.html?_r=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/arts/16mone.html?_r=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It's not a lot of money in the bigger picture, but it is an important real and symbolic victory and I hope it bodes well for the future.</p>

<p>violadad and Bassdad, you are too much! LOL</p>

<p>We purged our video vault of many cartoons years ago, but I refused to part with "MusicLand." It's definitely a classic and much-loved in this household.</p>

<p>Symphonies, opera and theater groups, and other performing-arts organizations are cutting budgets and laying off workers in Nashville and across the nation as ticket sales fall and contributions from big corporate donors dry up.</p>

<p>Nashville</a> performing arts feel sting of recession | <a href="http://www.tennessean.com">www.tennessean.com</a> | The Tennessean</p>

<p>Another potential casualty. [Has</a> the Norwalk Symphony played its swan song? - Norwalk News - The Hour](<a href=“http://www.thehour.com/story/465970]Has”>http://www.thehour.com/story/465970)</p>

<p>This one hits too close to home.</p>

<p>Just next to me, on the table is a matted and majestically framed (albeit yellowed) artifact from September of 1929. It is a handwritten receipt from The Sisters of St. Francis, signed by Sister M. Reparata, for music lessons that were given during months from Sept. through June of 1929. The charged fee of $4.00 per month is inked as “paid in full” each month. A notice stamped at the bottom - lessons missed, without giving due notice, will be charged in full. Music has been through a lot and it will survive all of this.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, the Baltimore Opera has now decided to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Everything will be sold off and they are officially disbanding. They had hoped to regroup and return.</p>

<p>[Welcome</a> Address, by Karl Paulnack](<a href=“http://is.gd/kM7D]Welcome”>http://is.gd/kM7D)</p>

<p>That was an amazing article, cejaducegu. Thanks. I’m forwarding it on to the musicians in my life!</p>