@Dr-Mark said in Please help me to understand something...:
@flugelgirl said in Please help me to understand something...:
... For all we know, principal oboist, Liang Wang, and associate principal trumpet, Matthew Muckey are a couple.
Moral of the this story... just don't duet on company time.
@administrator said in Please help me to understand something...:
- If I had gotten embroiled in this mess, and knew that I was innocent, I would quit, leave the state, find a farm in the country and want nothing to do with my former employer and life. But that's just me...
That is exactly what my friend did (and a little richer at the conclusion), as he left the state and started his own business with nothing to do with the former employer.
@ROWUK said in Please help me to understand something...:
I disagree with the orchestras/operas "right" to dismiss without due process... It seems to me that "Me Too" is overstepping the basic tenant of innocent until proven guilty... Spinelessness is just as bad as sexual harassment. In my world, it does not matter who tells the lies.
Another point that this brings to mind, again from the employer I had a dispute with, was a co-worker's situation. My employer did fire him, without due process (very convoluted way twist of State Law that I will spare the details). But my colleague was charged with inappropriate sexual behavior. I actually went to his trial to observe the judge (that was to be the judge my dispute) so saw the perverse actions of my employer first hand.
At the beginning of his trial, a letter, had written by the woman "abused" was flashed up on the courtroom wall by overhead projector in front of the jury, detailing her being grouped, and forced to engage in unwanted sexual advances by my colleague. The woman was not personally in the court, only her letter was projected "as evidence" . As it turned out on the LAST DAY of the trial, that woman had the courage to come forward to actually testify in front of the court.
Here is what she said (I was there to hear her testimony). She testified that she was paraded into the corporate offices of our employer, and was told to take dictation in HER OWN WRITING of the letter projected in front of the jury with the grotesque sexual details. She was told by our employers' executives that if she did not write that letter, she (a single parent with two small children) would be immediately fired. She as an underling had no choice but to write false actions against my colleague. Consequently my colleague received a nice settlement from our employer as arranged by the jury, that included an additional personal settlement from his Department Supervisor AND the institutions Executive Officer.
So I agree with Rowuk. This Me Too move can be exploited against the innocent as was done against my colleague. This all hits way too close to home.
See my original post above. I had just had a recent settlement for a labor dispute so I am fairly certain the NY state laws would parallel other state laws (my case was in Ohio). In this situation, Dr. Mark is correct, it is not handled by a criminal court. These cases do go up however in the civil courts of the county of the infraction. The process from here can go in multiple directions.
My case took an REAL interesting twist, as my labor dispute was two weeks away from going to trial, when the defendant's attorney decided to appeal the case to the Ohio supreme court! So before the case even went to the original civil trial in county court, the case was appealed to the State Supreme court. The Supreme court actually judged quickly that the appeal was not founded, and sent the case back to county court. The defendant with that action saw the writing on the wall and finally agreed to arbitration which was my legal team's desire as going to court is a lengthy and expensive process. The case was arbitrated in my best interest.
So in the case of the musicians' labor dispute, from first hand knowledge, I bet it went through the same process.
Let me try to address A and C.
Issue A. If I read the thread correctly, it appears the orchestra did pursue legal charges as arbitration which is a pre-trial process to try to resolve a legal dispute so to prevent a lengthy and expensive court case. So, because arbitration was accepted (this goes through a court magistrate) that the orchestra did pursue a legal prosecution.
Issue C. Since the plaintiffs won their case, they likely received a monetary settlement and as a condition of arbitration the right to return to their positions. The arbitration, once accepted by both sides, is a final judgement and both sides then need to comply to the final settlement. The orchestra can no longer pursue this issue further as a result of the settlement. IN ADDITION: The orchestra now has to "walk on egg shells" as if there is any action the orchestra takes that even remotely appears to make the return of the performers "difficult", these reinstated orchestra members can then go back to the legal council to file Federal Retaliation charges against the orchestra. This is a BIG DEAL and most of the time, retaliation is upheld which then constitutes a Federal Crime. No organization wants to be in that situation.
Since this is "A little humour" Thread:
Did you hear about the Berklee Boarding house that blew up?
Roomers are flying!
@GeorgeB said in Lifetime quest finally paying off!:
@Dr-GO
...Trouble with ME is he never seems to be satisfied with my playing...
Me too, and that is what keeps us progressing.
I have always had this saying by combining sayings that appear initially at odds: Practice makes perfect, but no body's perfect... so why practice?
That is not the final question, but the initiating thought for why I make such a statement. If one stops at the point where they have achieved "perfection" then they have sold themselves short as there is always a level above this... a new perfection so to speak, and if new goals are not reset then we stop progressing. So why practice? So to achieve goals to get to a level and then set new goals to advance beyond.
@FranklinD said in Lifetime quest finally paying off!:
OK I'm in, but I did also read Rowuk's post here above and I have to say that his post offers, at least to me, a complete different and liberating view on the subject and by that more learning experience and a much more usable view on trumpet playing than yours and your comrades'. You chose to ignore him, that's your right but at the same time it is a little suspect, Rowuk is Rowuk.
Once again FranklinD, we agree to agree on most of this point; however, one minor correction, I NEVER chose to ignore Rowuk. He has taught me a lot both here and on TM. To recap Rowuk's post, which I also agree with in its entirity:
ROWUK said:
*" - if there was ANY killer system, where are all of the killer players using it? All of the blah, blah about teeth, lips may work for a "few" but a disciple is usually the WORST person to have. They simply lack the holistic view of the world as it is.
The biggest joke is the so called opposition to the method. Just because we do not believe "Sound Advice" does not mean that we discredit Stevens or Costello. I generally oppose zealots of any color. Just let him have his rant on this thread. I really see nothing to discuss."*
My posts have been supporting the same concept. What works for an individual is the method that fits the individual. One size does not fit all. Beyond the brief educational snippets offered by Dr. Mark, there really is nothing else to discuss, which again, has been the direction of my commentary that tries to steer the discussion to: There are a lot of factors that influence our efficiency of playing and discussions limited to one method does not resolve the situation for the masses.
@GeorgeB said in Lifetime quest finally paying off!:
I have been following this thread because I found it mildly entertaining and only really took it seriously when Robin ( rowuk ) posted. Since then the entertainment value has gone down hill and I have a feeling Robin won't be making any new posts so my time here would be better spent on the process of playing my trumpet.
Ciao !
GeorgeB. I so highly respect you and it is the gifted and deeply contributing members such as you that I have been trying to keep this discussion on tract as I do believe there has been much valuable information posted here, that I agree, has been clouded by the aggressive attacks.
Framing the picture is so important in seeing the beauty behind the piece, and I have been trying, since Robin's prompt to try to get this on tract. I am sorry we lost you, especially, as I do so respect your input as well. I am sure you however have chosen wisely to focus additionally on you process as this is the real secret as to how it's done. And to you my friend, Ciao! Stay healthy!
@FranklinD said in Lifetime quest finally paying off!:
@Dr-GO said in Lifetime quest finally paying off!:
I'm afraid I missed something but what did you learn, can you be specific?
First: get the anger out of your soul FranklinD.
Next: If you have the anger resolved, read my comments carefully that followed Dr. Mark's informative review reference. To be specific, I have learned that the embouchure is multi factorial and is a function not only of the anatomy of the lip but also the support around the embouchure that is both intrinsic and extrinsic to the lip.
@Kehaulani said in Lifetime quest finally paying off!:
You're pretty condescending, you know, Dr. Mark. I get it completely. I'm not stupid. I just don't see redefining things.
You can't say airplane and mean the process of taking off, flying and landing, maybe experiencing some turbulence, en route. There are other words to describe it. But airplane is airplane.
First, airplane is a bad example to use, as it's name houses the very processes as to how it takes off. By placing air under the plane of wings that allow it to take off, and with stability, fly and with skill to use the air under that plane to land. And, yes, I am sure I will get turbulence for calling you out on using this example.
Kehaulani, it's not about redefining as it is about applying basic definitions toward a more functional process. A definition is a word. If you just hang on the word, you may miss the ability to move forward to put that word, that term into application. Words can have more meaning behind them. This is what the article Dr. Mark referenced has done. Read the article, and you will see that point.
Case in point, the French take "la bouche", the mouth to amazing levels of social application. Why would application of the mouth be any different to the trumpet? In fact there are many French uses of words for "the mouth" which derives to the French etiology to their unique word embouchure in particular: l' embouchure - the mouth as an outlet. This goes beyond the concept of just mouth. An outlet for all that follows.
Let's re-frame this entire thread into the positive learning experience that it has become. An educational piece that put a lot of dimensions on methods toward a common goal in optimizing the embouchure, a functionality that has many dynamics at play.
Or you can walk away from it with charges of condescending, hammering people (that comment launched a triad of non-therapeutic discourse). If we step back and look at this thread with a positive view, we will have learned a lot about the embouchure. If you read it with a negative bias, one has learned absolutely nothing.
@Dr-Mark said in Moderator in hospital:
@barliman2001 said in Moderator in hospital:
I'll probably be out of hospital some time next week.
Five words to make the stay bearable; Candy stripers and sponge baths.
With my luck, I'd get stripped candy and Sponge Bob!
@Kehaulani said in Lifetime quest finally paying off!:
"A new definition for embouchure is the process needed to adjust the amount, pressure, and direction of the air flow (generated by the breath support) as it travels through the mouth cavity and between the lips, by the position and/or movements of the tongue, teeth, jaws,cheeks, and lips, to produce a tone in a wind instrument."
Maybe I'm overlooking something but . . what's new about this?
To me the newness is keyed in the word "process". A process of many actions, not just the lips. The embouchure is built around many things including the external variables (mouthpiece and equipment) as well as the intrinsic variables, lips, tongue, teeth....
@N1684T said in Moderator in hospital:
Damn. I am away for a few months and everything goes to hell.
He's not quit dead yet!
Cool article Dr. Mark. This is what I came away from, fist summarizing the author's conclusion: "A new definition for embouchure is the process needed to adjust the amount, pressure, and direction of the air flow (generated by the breath support) as it travels through the mouth cavity and between the lips, by the position and/or movements of the tongue, teeth, jaws,cheeks, and lips, to produce a tone in a wind instrument."
What is cool about this article is it just presents the fact. No suggestion as to methodologies, systems, programs, and just brings the point home that there are a lot of variables, and what ever works, works.
Just received this email from the leader of one of the big bands I play in:
Hey Generations,
I hope everyone is doing well, I've talked to many of you over the past week. I miss performing with you all. Several members have spoken with me about a recording from home project. So we're going to try it. We have decided to do 145 All The Way.... I will be sending out a backing track in the next couple of days, you can listen to the track and play your part along with it... You will need to video yourself playing your part on a GoPro, Tablet, or cell phone, while listening to the backing track through headphones... Once you have recorded your parts you can upload them... I will be mixing the audio.
This sounds like an innovative idea. If it happens, I will provide an update as to how this works out.
Some creative mask use I have seen:
To me this one says: "Orange you glad I am not coughing on you"
I wonder if this one is wearing square pants:
So, do you put a lime in this one:
I am betting for this one, it's his time of the month to shop:
So to all of our members, stay safe out there and wear your masks however creative they may be.
