I continued playing trombone through high school and college while studying as a music major whose major instrument was guitar. I play music regularly these days semi-professionally (i.e., for fun, extra cash and free drinks). Much of what makes me valuable as a musician is knowledge gleaned from playing trombone in an ensemble. Playing in bands, if it’s done well, is largely about knowing how to perform in an ensemble; to be a cog in a machine. That’s the case for people who play multi-note instruments as much as for those who play single-note instruments.

Most of the people I know who have done well as musicians started out out playing in band or orchestra in public school. Most of the people I know who have taken up guitar, piano, drums, and other rock instruments who have not had experience playing in band or orchestra in public school have had a relatively harder go of it. This is to say I believe there is a very high correlation between learning single-note instruments (or effectively single-note instruments such as viola) in public school and being successful as musicians. That includes guys playing guitar in Nashville. Would those people have been as successful had they learned piano or guitar in public school? Very likely (though they would probably be lacking in ensemble experience). But I certainly don’t think that playing the single note instruments, compard to multi-note instruments, has held anybody back who wanted to learn about music.

And yes, very interesting about the plethora of Eastern European cinematographers. Is there something about the light over there? I was in the South of France once and found the light there reminded me of Central/Southern California. Not sure what that means.

But your point about people falling into jobs is good — and something I hint at as well in my disagreement with August. I think his notion that limiting musical instrument choices for children will in fact give them a greater understanding and enjoyment of music throughout their lives is noble, but naive. As you say, most people “fall in” to their lives. Despite our best intentions in exposing kids to all manner of good things, in the end many factors decide what path people take. So, where I feel that August was being overly dogmatic, I’m being utterly pragmatic in my disagreement. Trombones, pianos, it doesn’t matter. Some kids will become musicians, most won’t. Why hinder the ones who will?

As for “irresponsible, dishonest, and lame,” I’ve been writing professionally long enough to have a “voice,” and people who appreciate my work. That voice can be sarcastic, ironic, humorous, metaphorical but always, I insist, fair. Perhaps if I’d made a video response, the facetiousness of my tone would have been clearer. But I still don’t believe that my words are in any way out of line in an honest debate.

But because we’re both basing our positions on the reaction of a man neither of us has met, until Mr. August weighs in on whether he’s been disparaged, I suppose we’ll both have to cede victory.

Thanks again for writing.

DN

I didn’t find the term shocking. I found it irresponsible, dishonest and lame. And yes, I understand the Internet is a cesspool of hyperbole, disinformation and outright lies. Which, based on your response to my comment, seems to be something you’ve made peace with and even embraced. That’s certainly one way to go. Another would be to hold yourself to a higher standard and rise above that kind of stuff. I guess, ultimately, I just wonder why you feel the need to paint me as a pollyanna because I called you out for framing your argument in a cheap way.

Speaking of…

“Limiting how? Surely August understand’s that his own industry works the same way. Like an orchestra, each department in filmmaking — art, makeup, costume, crew, etc. — contributes to the success, or failure, of a movie. I guess learning lighting is limiting because you’ll never be able to go to a party and recite Shakespeare. You’re just a “one-note” kinda guy. But try shooting a movie with a cinematographer who didn’t spend his childhood messing around with lights.”

There is quite a few things wrong with this clunky analogy. The first of which is that so many of the jobs on on a film set (and I have held a lot of these different jobs over the years) are things people fall into, rather than work for all their lives. There aren’t a lot of kids out there sitting around playing with C-stands and flags, hoping to one day grow up and be a grip.

Likewise, I would be amazed if any cinematographer “spent his childhood messing around with lights.” Most DP’s learn their trade in film school. They are also overwhelmingly Eastern European, which is not necessarily relevant, but is something I’ve always thought was kinda funny. Sure, these Eastern Bloc light-jockeys may have taken a few photography classes in high school, but they didn’t have to put in the countless hours to perfect their technical mastery of an instrument. To make this sweaty analogy does a huge disservice to world-class musicians, which is the opposite of what you’re trying to do with this piece.

Lastly, this is Hollywood we’re talking about here — NOBODY recites Shakespeare at parties.

Well, maybe Kenneth Branagh.

Thanks for writing. No, I do not believe that John August is a horrible monster who abuses kids. Quite the contrary, it seems he’s a thoughtful man and good parent, from what may be gleaned from the blog.

I was speaking metaphorically. Perhaps overly dramatic as well, but my point was (is) that there are many ways and types of instruments to interest children. I’m surprised you found the term “rip” shocking and were bummed. So much worse floats around on this Internet all the time. I wish you luck in avoiding it.

Also, thanks for the catch on my misplaced apostrophe. Sometimes I miss not working with a copyeditor.

Take care,

DN

As someone who claims to read August’s blog and listen to his podcast, do you REALLY think that he’s the type of guy who would storm into a music classroom and “rip recorders out of your kid’s [sic] hands?”

You can agree or disagree with him, but that line of discourse is not really constructive or honest, and does little to support your argument in a meaningful way. With what you’re saying there, you either believe August would steal your kid’s recorder, or you are using inflammatory language to discredit and impugn a person you disagree with. Either one of those is a bummer.

I agree on John’s sincerity. And totally agree that music and arts education in grade school is vital, regardless of how many future Beethovens it produces. But my reading of Mr. August suggests that he would rip those recorders out of your kid’s hands and sit them down on a piano bench. Recorders being one-note instruments. And your experience echoes much of what I’m trying to say: You played piano until it became boring to you, then switched to something more exciting. I argue that an important component of keeping children involved with music is allowing them to play whatever instrument they find appealing, without worrying that they may not become so-called fully-rounded musicians. The fact that you apparently dropped playing an instrument altogether is both typical and no shame. Most kids do. There’s a lot of other stuff to get involved with these days. Like arguing on the Internet! That’s a skill that really needs to be taught!

Thanks for responding.

@Jim: I agree that’s much of his point, and much of my disagreement, especially as concerns drums. Drum charts and piano charts are wildly different animals. For a percussionist, time spent learning key signatures is better spent learning how to really kick an accent. I think John wants a cadre of musical generalists. I prefer the value of specialization, because ultimately all music needs many instruments.

Thanks.

DN