Comments

Wow.....what an opportunity. Thanks for this, Mrs. Niles.

I must say, however, I do not like the Jonas Brothers. It's all opinion however, and I know many people love them. But congrats to Melissa!

Greetings,
`A classical training is absolutely essential to play any kind of music well, especially pop music, which needs to sound and look effortless the first time one performs with a band. Only a solid classical background can give a string player a beautiful tone and perfect intonation. It also instills confidence when faced with sight-reading or having to improvise a part on the spot:`

Crate of prunes on the way.
Cheers,
Buri

lol. That needs half a truck of prunes. Then she follows it up with "classical training can make us narrow-minded", which I suspect is where the original statement originates.

If I would have to present a list to someone myself of people who play their kind of music well with no classical training, in order to prove how incorrect the statement is, it would be hopeless anyway. I just mention it because so very narrow-minded, not to be mean to Melissa, who I like and who seems like a good sport. And I realize I'm not famous, so feel free to ignore this :) However I have driven a Porsche, if that gives me any weight :)

If she's talking about playing the violin in a string section, then I don't disagree. That's not exactly what she said, but that has to be what she really means. I'm pretty sure what she means is that in order to do this kind of work well and be hired (more than once!), you have to really know how to play the violin, you have to have to be completely fluent on the instrument. If she's going to hire you, she wants you to be able to sight-read, improvise and be able to play (with ease) some Vivaldi or whatever other classical piece they want to throw in. For most violin players, this involves a classical education. It might be different, when it comes to different instruments.

As for the violin, might someone be able to get to that level by studying another genre really well? Maybe. But I doubt I'd take the chance, when it comes to hiring a violinist for professional work. Buri, you can take it all with a lot of prunes, but you have a classical education. But maybe you are talking about other instruments, where it tends to be a bit easier.

Greetings,
Laurie, I was agreeing.
Cheers,
Buri Agreed! When they use a string section, they borrow the sound and skills of classical musicians, sounds and skills obtained through a classical music education.

In utter, total contrast, the sound of U2, who she mentions, is the sound of something practically the opposite of classical training. If U2 took five years off and went to conservatory, or if Woody Guthrie studied opera, it um, wouldn't be for the best.

You don't study nursing to be a geologist.
lol Interesting. Perhaps another time an interview with Jean Luc Ponty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Luc_Ponty http://www.ponty.com when he is in your neighboorhood?? As she was saying, you have to get beyond narrow thinking, and then your classical training gives you more depth, skill and agility to pursue your own voice. But no, studying music to be a musician doesn't really strike me as studying nursing to be a geologist. I learned who the Jonas Brothers were yesterday from one of my young students. She was wearing one of their T-shirts, so I got to find out what the young people are listening to these days...

This is an interesting interview. I wonder why the string players are referred to as "girls". Are they legally minors? Melissa Reiner seems old enough to vote, so I was just curious.

Also, I really don't want to get into the Pop vs. Classical "snobby and narrow minded" argument, but I think it is interesting that as a contractor, Reiner ended up hiring youngish looking females. (Women? Girls?)

Hi Anne,

In a show like this, it's not just an audition, it's a casting call...Showbiz, baby. ;) The JBs specifically wanted a "girl" string section to balance out their very young (they are 16, 19 and 20, if I have that right) "boy band." The string players are in their 20s and 30s, but they definitely are sporting a girlish look.

Thanks for clarifying that, Laurie. Thanks for another great interview, Laurie! I loved this insight into a world that we classical musicians too easily ignore or disdain. I haven't heard the Jonas Brothers despite all the hype, but now I'm definitely going to check it out. Melissa sounds like a great gal---fun and down-to-earth with a really healthy attitude about the violin. I like her! Laurie, it's studying Western classical music to learn a genre other than Western classical which is studying nursing to become a geologist, not studying music to learn music. Who would have thought it? Hip and with it ( and not narrow-minded) means discriminating on the basis of age, sex and physical appearance.

Maybe thats what's wrong with our classical music scene. Too many old and lumpy musicians and not enough young attractive females.

Absolutely, Corwin! Where are the sexy young girls? Probably studying with Bill Preucil. xD Nice to see the trolls on this thread.

/sarcasm

Allow me to quote Joshua Bell:

If I might begin a slight rant about one of the problems I find -- even on websites like Violinist.com....

They make comments like, "This person sucks." If one says someone plays something well, the idea that you need to trash someone else. Of course, you have your favorite. But I think it's really important for young people to open their minds to other ways of playing and other ways of appreciating music.

I find that it's sort of a novice mistake. I find it even more among complete amateurs, who are not even in music at all. They've grown up with their one recording of a piece. They'll complain to me, "Oh, I heard this opera sung by this person. And oh, it's terrible, because it should be this way." Because this is the way they view that piece.

They're not able to open up their minds and enjoy it on the terms that the person is presenting it – as a performance. I'm guilty as much as anybody. But if you can unblock yourself and try to get inside an interpretation of someone that may be eccentric, or listen to an old Mischa Elman, without saying, "Oh God, those gross slides. Listen to the tasteless stuff." If you can try to get beyond that, and really see the poetry that's underneath it -- it's a different sound. There's room for a lot of ways of playing. That's what makes it so rich and interesting in the musical world.

I'm not a professional musician, but I've met many over the course of my life. And I don't see pros on message boards trashing other professionals. But, unfortunately, I do read too many amateurs and poseurs who aren't willing to do what Joshua asks -- and open their minds to other styles of performance, and even forms of music -- and instead get snarky about pros who are making a living, exploring their craft and bringing live music to thousands.

I think what Melissa's doing with her career is cool. And I'm excited that Laurie's interviewing people like her, in addition to Josh and Rachel and Hilary. I hope other readers are, too.

Robert, if you're talking about me, I responded to the statement that to play your insrunent well, you learn classical music. I studied classical violin for ten years, ending with a well-known teacher if that's impressive, and I played guitar in rock bands for at least as long. Nothing was happening, not due entirely to my shortcomings, and I split.

The interviews are very interesting, but realize what what Josh Bell says or what other interviewees say is not automatically better than what anybody else says. Many people who read this know precisely what's going on in the heads of classical musicians, and in the heads of musicians who play some other kinds of music as well, not just me.

P.S. I think what Melissa's doing with her career is cool too! Robert,

I think its a fabulous interview. I really appreciate the honesty and candor. My open mind about pop music says "successful marketing". And success includes keeping it young, keeping it sexy, and keeping it easy. Good marketing is always "narrow" and pop music is no exception.

I just don't think that classical musicians are narrow minded. The have the most breadth in the technique, the most depth in the education and are the go-to players when one wants a performance to sound professional. The local rock-a-billy church calls in the professional strings for the Easter cantata when they want to go uptown.

I don't think that it is narrow minded to point out the narrow mindedness of pop culture -- primarily its' audience but very cynically its' purveyors.

I do think that its a but narrow minded to call down critics of pop culture. None of us a going to make it go away. We are all happy that it pays some folks a living. But my admiration for it can go no further.

I just wanted to show everyone one violinist's different path, and I certainly hope to be talking with all kinds of violinists who do all kinds of different things with their unique talents.

Peace everyone. :)

"Josh Bell sez..."

It occured to me that just as a performer on that side of the screen doesn't like someone on this side of the screen saying they can't play, then they might return the favor and not say everybody on this side of the screen (the near 100% who don't play classical) can't play :D I thought of that while trying to figure out the close sarcasm tag....

But really, non-classical players aren't much bothered by that kind of statement. It would get shrugged off. I think the reason I don't shrug it off like them is because I carry some parts of classical mindset baggage into other kinds of music. Not a great thing to do. Far better to just ignore it and do your own thing in your own world.