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Comment on What’s in a name? by Ellen Pfeifer

Ellen Pfeifer — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:35:24 +0000

Jonathan, yes, the initial five-year commitment that NEC made will be concluding in 2014, but don’t be surprised if the Conservatory decides to continue the Sistema Fellows program. It may look a little different as we continue to refine it, but there is certainly an interest in a longer life for it.

Comment on What’s in a name? by Jonathan Andrew Govias

Jonathan Andrew Govias — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:06:29 +0000

I’m certainly not as eloquent as Eric, but my sense is that the issue is much simpler. Music as a profession (including music education – especially music education) is constantly under threat: compensation is poor and highly volatile, employment is uncertain, and job satisfaction for performers tends to be very low. Consequently, we are a fearful bunch, fearful of losing our livelihoods, and overreacting to anything perceived as a threat. Describing Sistema as socialism or a socialist conspiracy is a politically expedient way to dismiss it, with such an assessment driven in equal parts by lack of knowledge on one side, and extremist language on the other. The dumbest thing I ever said on the record, in the early days of the Fellowship, was that “the point wasn’t to denigrate or disparage the current model, but to render it obsolete.” Made for a great soundbite, but them’s fighting words.

Comment on What’s in a name? by Ms. Cynthia

Ms. Cynthia — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:48:54 +0000

As Eric Booth put it in a long past discussion, ‘its a social conspiracy by artist’ which challenges our conventions. I get the energy to keep after it from the growing dialogue among those who engage the concept.

Someone blogging recently about a Chase Grant to improve schools in an LA community in CA used the expression ‘social revitalization through the arts’. Even though this was not specifically a music program it was interesting to hear this expression. I think El Sistema is beginning to influence the greater discussion.

Comment on Board games by What’s in a name? «

What’s in a name? « — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:52:15 +0000

[...] place our involvement in the Fellowship within a more personal context. I posted the text of that very brief address here, but the more interesting part of the event was the question posed by a trustee immediately [...]

Comment on Opera-ting outside the lines by Jonathan Andrew Govias

Jonathan Andrew Govias — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:18:46 +0000

Carlos, many thanks for writing and sharing your thoughts – you are the first Venezuelan to comment and I’m glad you’ve joined the conversation. Sistema isn’t just a wonderful idea, it’s an inspiration for many other people around the world too, and we give full credit to Maestro Abreu for refocusing our attention on the power of music.

Comment on Opera-ting outside the lines by Carlos Luengo Romero

Carlos Luengo Romero — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:06:12 +0000

Many thanks for sharing your wonderful social thoughts about arts with special reference to Music and Social inclusion.
As you probably know, El Sistema in Venezuela is a tool of social inclusion, and a very powerful one. Today we do not exclude any type of music, from hi hoop or folk up to opera, symphonic, jazz or chamber music, in order to fill the feelings and local musical cultures. Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu says “The music is just one”, including any type of musical expressions. The result is outstanding, this weekend more than 30 concerts were perform only in Caracas with the chairs filed up, not only in theaters but in open spaces The majority of those concerts were free of charge and the social class attendance, middle and poor families. Years passing more than 2 million persons have attended El Sistema, and today a bust is been given to Venezuelan folk chorus and orchestras, where infants, children of any kind, specially in remote areas of the country with strong local cultures, are included adapting the teaching methods to their special conditions, but not forgetting the academic one which is at the base of any teaching.

The other activity of El Sistema to include persons is related to impaired children, deaf, autism,conduct or down syndrome. The results are incredible, been able to insert must of children in the society. Finally, the Jail orchestras, where persons in detention centers form orchestras. I have attended a concert recently with Shostakovich, Beethoven and Aldemaro Romero in the encores, and above all, the reaction of the performers seen their families applauding, clapping is something moving. Art and Specially music is becoming a new powerful tool of inclusion and The Art is returning to its social origin.

From Valencia, Venezuela, again, many thanks for your thoughts an remarks

Comment on Drink up! Reflections and video from Ottawa. by Jonathan Andrew Govias

Jonathan Andrew Govias — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:46:44 +0000

Blanche, thanks so much for reading and for your comments. Can’t you tell from looking at me and my outdated mode of garb that I’m not too connected with pop culture? (although connected enough to make jokes about Kool-Aid, like “breaking down mental walls” too, even if no one gets them…). And as Claire points out, the origins of the phrase are fairly sinister, even if its meaning has since been subverted, so I may not use it again.

Comment on Drink up! Reflections and video from Ottawa. by Claire Marshall, Board Member, Leading Note Foundation, Ottawa

Claire Marshall, Board Member, Leading Note Foundation, Ottawa — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:42:09 +0000

“Drink the Kool-Aid” will raise alarm bells for any reader over 40 as it refers to the Jonestown mass suicide of over 900 followers of Jimmy Jones back in the seventies! For many, this is an unfortunate and odd metaphor to use for the enthusiasm and joy of those who participated in the Ottawa Symposium. Despite this, be assured that joy and enthusiasm and committment were there aplenty, as Jonathan describes, and with very positive results. Perhaps ‘drunk with joy’ or ‘something akin to a runner’s high’ might be less fraught.

Comment on Them’s the breaks by gcthomas

gcthomas — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:41:24 +0000

My High School choral ensemble director , Dr Lew Phelps, got in trouble with the Principal because so many of the sturdents wanted to spend their lunch hour rehearsing with him. He taught every one of 20 students a year to sing German lieder, Cosi Fan Tutti scenes, West Side Story duets, and on and on, all on top of the very toughest choral repertoire. We couldn’t get enough of it, and still get togerher every two years, over 20 of us, to do it again 40 years later. Thanks Chris and Jonathan for the memories.

Comment on Report and Gallery from Ottawa by Roberto Zambrano

Roberto Zambrano — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:47:28 +0000

Felicitaciones Jonathan , te deseo muchos exitos . . .