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An introduction.
A valuable part of any student’s musical training is attending live concerts and, if possible, rehearsals of professional ensembles.
Many of my teachers emphasized that listening to recordings has its limitations and (especially now in the digital age) is not an accurate account of reality. At the time, I didn’t really get it. It took me a while to figure it out.
While a student at the Eastman I regularly attended Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsals. The RPO rehearsed in the Eastman Theater, which is in the same building as the school. Going to rehearsals was as easy as opening a door in the main hallway and walking in.
When exhausted from the rigors of school, I even occasionally napped on one of the many mezzanine-level red velvet couches while listening to the strains of Beethoven and Brahms.
I was also a bit spoiled by the Eastman library’s huge collection of recordings. At the time (in the early 1980’s), the number was around 30,000 recordings. Sometimes, rather than going to a recital, concert or rehearsal, I would settle into a listening desk with some headphones instead.
Many times, I took the school’s resources for granted.
Today, we are all very spoiled by the Internet.
At the click of a mouse, practically any recording by any artist can be downloaded and listened to instantly. Classical music has never been so easily purchased and enjoyed.
And – never has it been so easy to take this aspect of musical training for granted.
- What then makes live concerts a superior experience?
- Why go to a concert hall when I can sit at home and enjoy music while sitting on the couch?
- Why go to live opera when I can see the Met in a movie theatre?
Photo credit: http://flickr.com/photos/kevinomara/2612591236/
