Orchestra Gap Debate: Musicians and Educators Weigh In on Declining Engagement
An anonymous entry on ArtsJournal addresses the 'Orchestra Gap,' highlighting four public reactions to an earlier post. The writer observes a decline in motivation among younger orchestral musicians in the U.S., supported by insights from two veteran musicians, a music educator, and conductor Kenneth Woods. One musician points out the Boston Symphony Orchestra's prolonged lack of engagement. The educator expresses concern over training in the 1980s and 1990s, which favored precision over artistic expression. Proposed solutions involve revising teaching methods and audition practices. Engaged ensembles such as the Colorado Mahlerfest and South Dakota Symphony are mentioned, with the latter's core musicians recognized as the most content, performing 100 times annually. Conductor John Welsh offers critiques and comparisons of European and American orchestras in the comments.
Key facts
- The blog discusses the 'Orchestra Gap' and diminished motivation among younger American orchestral musicians.
- Four public responses are cited: two senior orchestral musicians, a music educator, and a conductor.
- One musician says top American orchestras 'phone-it-in' and the BSO has been like this for decades.
- The educator says training in the 80s/90s prioritized cleanliness, leading to players as 'playing machines'.
- Conductor Kenneth Woods prefaced a podcast on the topic as 'a pretty intense conversation'.
- Remedies discussed include instrumental pedagogy, audition process changes, and study of historic recordings.
- Engaged orchestras highlighted: Colorado Mahlerfest, South Dakota Symphony, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra.
- South Dakota Symphony's nine core members perform 100 times a year and work with youngsters on Indian reservations.
- Larry Tamburri, former Executive Director of New Jersey Symphony, discussed empowering musicians.
- Conductor John Welsh contrasts European orchestras' positive discussions with American orchestras' complaining.
- The author taught at Manhattan School of Music and shared historic recordings with students.
- Woods posted a follow-up suggesting musicians learn from actors' text study.
Entities
Artists
- Kenneth Woods
- Ivan Fischer
- Delta David Gier
- Larry Tamburri
- John Welsh
Institutions
- Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Colorado Mahlerfest
- South Dakota Symphony
- Budapest Festival Orchestra
- Lucerne Festival Orchestra
- New Jersey Symphony
- Manhattan School of Music
Locations
- United States
- Boston
- Boulder
- Sioux Falls
- Budapest
- Hungary
- Lucerne
- Switzerland