Page 40 - Classical Singer magazine Spring Issue 2020
P. 40

The Music Major Minute: Faculty Meeting Follies
gambling circles or other inappropriate card games in their hallways?
Jazz Professor: You keep saying, “Spill the tea,” but I do not think it means what you think it means.
Wise Boss: Enough! Please dear readers, we want you to be better than the students playing cards
in the lobby. Occupy your practice rooms and use your public spaces to study or review notes before classes.
Now on to our final item of business, “Concert Attendance.” I know you are all concerned about your students leaving concerts early or not attending at all. What can be done about this?
Jazz Professor: Well, you all know we have students that think once their piece is done, they can just leave. These students have chosen to major in music and they are not fulfilling the easiest part: the sitting.
Theory Professor: Of course it is not just sitting. Attending a concert or recital requires concentrated listening and absorbing the sound and style of the music.
Jazz Professor: But why do they think they
can leave? If their name is on the program, they are a part of the program. Do the guest readers understand this? Take a note, cats: not only will you learn more repertoire by attending concerts, you need to support your colleagues’ performances, or they won’t support the best show in town . . . yours!
Voice Teacher: We cannot stress enough how important it is to attend one another’s recitals. You know how hard you work to learn and memorize your music. The senior recital comes alive with the energy of a crowd of music students rallying for you. You will also improve your grades in music history and music literature when you experience live performances of the music you study.
Piano Teacher: Well, I hope the students attend the faculty recitals at their universities because that is the kind of inspiration that fills the practice rooms.
Wise Boss: Our students also need to greet the public after performances. Many of our donors
attend concerts, and shaking hands could be the encore that finances future scholarships.
Orchestra Conductor: I feel gravely compelled to mention that the cellular phones glowing in the concert halls is an atrocity to music making.
Human Resources Representative: The cell phone situation is a potential legal problem when it comes to unauthorized videos of performances of copyrighted music.
Wise Boss: We can make a stronger plea at the beginning of concerts to not only turn phone ringers off, but to not look at them or use them as cameras during performances. The phones are distracting to both performers and fellow audience members.
Opera Director: Can we ask our guest readers one last favor? Resist checking your phones during recitals and concerts. Ask your friends to put their phones away.
Change starts with you. When a concert begins, simply put the phone away. Perhaps if you can make it till intermission or even the end of a recital to look at your phone, your BFF can wait too.
Jazz Professor: #NoPhoneConcertEtiquette— yeah, I can see that trending.
Wise Boss: Well, I think that is a paramount conclusion to today’s meeting. Thank you all for sharing your reflections about encouraging our students to learn and grow with professionalism.
Soprano Christi Amonson is an assistant professor of voice and director of opera intensive at Augusta University and a teaching artist in residence for the summer Festival de Ópera San Luis in Mexico. She earned her DMA at the University of Arizona, her MM in voice at the Manhattan School of Music, and her BM in music education at the University of Idaho. Amonson is an active singer, writer, and member of NATS and NOA. She lives in Augusta, Georgia, with her husband and three daughters.
“Take a note, cats: not only will you learn more repertoire by attending concerts, you need to support your colleagues’ performances, or they won’t support the best show in town . . . yours!”
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