At 6:01 PM -0700 7/20/05, Mark D Lew wrote:
Some of the commentary treats it as if it's a civil rights issue, like the state is denying the kid his right to sing countertenor. Hogwash. He can sing countertenor all he likes. They're just saying they don't have a spot for him in the soprano section of the school choir. If he's as good as everyone says, I'm not sure the school choir is the best place for him anyway.
Mark, just one correction. It isn't a school choir. He's fine in his school choir. It's the Texas All-State Honor Choir, and the problem is that it's a pretty damned prestigious credit to have on your resume when you go shopping for college scholarships. It certainly is when we have prospective music majors apply with that kind of credit! THAT is what the Texas Music Educators Association denied him, which yes, does come pretty close to a civil rights issue involving equal opportunity. It's about his art, his future career, and yes, it's about the money as well.
The state of Texas isn't at fault here, nor is the state of music eduction in Texas in question. It's the half-dozen officers in the TMEA who made the rule without thinking through its implications, and are now stuck with the results.
John -- John & Susie Howell Virginia Tech Department of Music Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
