A Star is Made

Carter O`Brien · June 2006

to add on that, I think that music as a profession is also more respected and supported in gypsy communities. and that makes sense given the history of their nomadic lifestyle, if you can entertain a crowd you can make money anywhere you go, instantly.

in America many kids are steered *away* from music as a profession, it's more like sports, in the sense that parents support it as a hobby, but only a very small number are ever viewed as potential professionals and given that kind of encouragement. by say, college age, what with college costs being anstronomical, many parents encourage their kids to pursure a degree with a more guaranteed "return."

there will always be those who have the drive to pursue music full time regardless, but I'd have to say this culture does more to discourage than encourage it as a serious career option.

on the plus side, technology allows many people to indulge in musical pursuits on a part time basis to a degree that was unimaginable before - the internet & email allow people to exchange information and seek out like-minded musicians, and as I think someone posted here years ago, it's amazing to know that you can go to almost major city and find people who share some repertoire with you!

Elliot · June 2006

capilano-gypsy wrote:

I'm sure that we have an advantage with a systematized music education. It's much more effective to systematically eliminate weak points and to improve that way rather than go through trial and error type of learning, which is what I think most musically illiterate (IE oral tradition) types go through. The only down side is that people tend to lose their "feel" for the music or the reason they started in the first place - the love for it. Then it becomes a chore and you lose sight of your goals.

I've thought about this and I'm not quite so sure. I don't think there is any system that can replace Uncle Baro holding a stick. None of these people seem to make more than just a rare mistake if at all, which to me speaks of incredible, instilled discipline, all the more remarkable when as Angelo says they never went to school. To me it also says that unless and until you can literally play the song blindfolded in a hurricane, you really don't have it down, Jim.

capilano-gypsy · June 2006

I think some people are starting to forget that we still have very talented musicians in our society - just as talented as the gypsies, really. Many of them were educated under our "system" and they are absolutely great players. What I'm thinking is that in the end, they might have put in less hours because the "system" allows for efficient practice, provided it's used properly.

Elliot · June 2006

capilano-gypsy wrote:

I think some people are starting to forget that we still have very talented musicians in our society - just as talented as the gypsies, really. Many of them were educated under our "system" and they are absolutely great players. What I'm thinking is that in the end, they might have put in less hours because the "system" allows for efficient practice, provided it's used properly.

Sure, but the reason you can say that is because we have the benefit of Michael Horowitz's work to draw on. If he didn't actually go over there there would be nothing to talk about, or worse, we'd be playing Texas Swing! :shock: