| Re: Grass Roots
First of all, Ed great topic,
Unfortunately, I think the greatest problem here is just the general lack of interest in classical music or the playing of a band instrument. I think that there would be more options for young kids to play around their communities if there were more of a demand for it. I guess this ends up being a real chicken or the egg type of economic discussion with supply and demand but I think it's more the demand side that's suffering.
Ed made a great point about cartoons and soundtracks. Lets look at Loony Toons even! Their soundtrack was almost all classical music. The only down side of that was people learned ride of the valkyries as kill the wabbit. But now we have cartoons so much more tailored towards pop culture that the classical music is left out.
Also, I've said this jokingly for years but I think American Pie really hurt the band community in the USA. For the ensuing four years I was going to Marching band camp and then to music festivals while in high school and I could barely say band camp aloud. That movie really made music making / playing an instrument really "dorky."
Matt |