"For the Love of Music": Subjective Investments

     Writing about "financial wizardry" as a strong suit is rather questionable on my part.  However, in seeking to discuss the time in which one might purchase that "perfect" instrument,   I chose to delve into a 2016 book entitled, "Investing 101" by Michele CAGAN, CPA to take a hard look at the terminology of what is currently at issue: the meaning of the word "Investment".
   
     The kit-and-caboodle of the purchase is a huge financial undertaking that includes not only the desired instrument, but also music lessons, music score purchases, transportation to and from practices or performances, proper recital or performance attire; not to mention any unforeseen incidentals, as well as your personal time away from home or employment. Therefore, one should consider both "long-term", as well as "short-term" goals in answering the question of "expected outcomes" once the investment has "matured".

      Both Investor and Investee must take into account their own subjectivities as they consider the possibility that the final investment outcome may end up being in another area due to life choices. Therefore, it is not solely about the instrument's monetary value, but its reciprocal value seen when one participates in a Community Orchestra... Hearing the joy expressed while playing, performing; reminiscing about times past; and seeing the beaming faces of musician and audience member alike. It is this reciprocal value that grows from the love of the instrument, and the impact that music has - from the beginning music student to the "matured" music enthusiast.



Photo: "Kaufhaus des Westens", 1907; Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Repetitions

     Today, a proverbial "switch" has been flipped on that allows for an immediate feeling of accomplishment.  With this new year, forgotten are the seemingly endless hours spent repeating scales to achieve that "satisfactory" success; whether having smooth hands, or no voice "cracking" into another tessitura.

     In today's technology, one can perform as soloist with a recording, and even add concert audience approval to the extent that an obligatory "encore performance" is required (Cue "Applause" here.)  It does beg the question:  with all this technology at the whim of the budding music student, where have the honored standards of "time, sacrifice and effort" gone?

     When our children do not practice, we as parents prod, and cajole...promising future success in their endeavors with "you name it" support.  Growing up, I, too, remember my parents' faithful unending support in my own musical efforts.  However, my practice session results were varied - Mostly NOT!

     Technology has so rapidly increased, when is there enough time to include pedagogical studies with the appearance and  inaccurate perception of "success" available at the touch of a button?

     It is not about the named music teacher that one has, but the "grass roots" instructor who loves to teach and spends endless hours hearing that Bach Fugue that the fledgling music student can't seem to get his or her head around...

     Private music teachers should be greatly admired and applauded for their tenacity and intense efforts to combat the ever present technology time interference that can lead to a false sense of success and accomplishment in their music students.  Therefore, for this new year...

Happy 2016 to all Music Teachers everywhere!

'Tis the Season for Angelic Voices: Countertenor and Coloratura

Have often wondered how present day environmental and technological changes have affected the natural demand of the Countertenor and the Coloratura. The rising interest in Early Music and Baroque lends itself to the need for these gifted individuals...









Definitions of Countertenor and Coloratura  (Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music, 5th edition):

      A Countertenor "as not (sic) to be confused with a male alto, falsetto, or 'Castrato'."

      A Coloratura is "one whose voice is flexible enough to cope with the demands of elaborate and agile ornamentation in melody..."

 Examples of musicians performing Baroque Ornamentation with its "runs, cadenzas, trills, roulade..." were featured in the 1994 film "Farinelli: Il Castrato"; with the angelic voices of Countertenor Derek Lee RAGIN and Coloratura Ewa GODLEWSKA.


Farinelli:  Making Of (French Language)



Farinelli, or a comment on the recreating the voice of a castrato by fusion of timbres
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/misc/farinelli.htm