Travis J. Weller

This week I began researching interpretation and feeling as part of my work at Kent State.  At first glance, they seemed unrelated. However, the more I began reading perspectives of different composers and conductors, my conclusion is that great interpretation does not just recreate the composer’s intent but rather conveys feelings that the composer intended. The sources abounded including Mark Camphouse’s series Composers on Composing for Band, and a great text edited by John Williamson Rehearsing the Band – both of which I recommend for great insight into score study, interpretation, and enhancing your podium perspective. Read more…

To say I have been buried and been behind – including postings on the blog – this fall is like saying “Sales for Chrysler have been a little down lately”.  There have been a lot of busy things happening, a lot of demanding things happening, and some good things happening in there too.  Parts of my studies at Kent State this fall have included a Seminar in Music Education Class that has given me plenty to think of.  It has been interesting getting to some of the writings of Randall Allsup, and revisiting a few entrenched beliefs I have thanks to Bennett Reimer.  Though he is new to me,  the following is inspired by the writing of Steven Kelly and his book “Teaching Music in an American Society”.  First of all, it is a great read – I would recommend it to any teacher educator in music programs.  Kelly really brings a great lens to examine our profession from the standpoint of political, socioeconomic, and cultural perspectives that is very revealing.  This post has been brewing for a few weeks after reading some thoughts by good friend and colleague Dr. Joseph M. Pisano over at Mustech.net.  Some food for thought for those of you on your lunch break…

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I hope Ed Rendell reads this.  I hope he reads and gets off whatever horse that apparently got him elected.  Saying he’s a friend of education is like saying Enron cared about its shareholders.  It’s like saying Vick was humane to dogs.  As the Keystone State Lawmakers continue to exchanger verbal volleys this week, friends of mine go unpaid and all functions of the state come to a screeching halt.  I have the solution to free up a lot of money in the budget – kill standardized testing where it stands.  But knowing Rendell’s agenda, we will stay the course and ultimately force districts around the state to make their cuts to save the essentials.  So now the arts in public education find themselves in another tooth and nail battle because we are non-essential….yeah, right.

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So if CNN would have been around when Mozart or Liszt died, would there be the kind of scrutiny today about their personal lives? I am not going to talk about his life, or his legacy because that should probably be left to someone who knows what happened and actually followed Michael Jackson.  But the tragedy of this situation has left me with questions about the professional responsibility each of us carries forward in their work place, and our responsibility to our students and the music.

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The following is one of the founding beliefs in my philosophy of music education.  I have recently been mulling over the task that lies ahead of all music education in the responsibility to be a shaping force in our own culture.  There are a number of performing arts groups situated in communities that contribute to the culture that are faced with tough times ahead as our country suffers through an economic recession.  The ripple on the pond spreads quickly and the effects are felt in the distance.  We are faced with a situation where funding from the community for these groups have dried up, and to some extent impacts the ability of educators to have the proper resources as well.  Ultimately, our ability to function as a collective partnership in the profession to improve, shape, and positively influence the culture is negated by the volatile economy.  Do we have a professional responsibility to build, shape, mold, and improve the culture in which we teach? I firmly believe that we do.  If we are to continue our move forward as a profession, it behooves us to take this mantle of responsibility where we are and begin to rebuild the cultural connection in our own community.  Reimer readers rejoice – the good Doctor’s third edition was a heavy influence throughout this article.   

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