Ray Robinson's Commitment To Music

It’s a bit comical that this book was written before the twenty-first century was here, and that it was written before many in the conducting class were alive. Yet, the majority of the information within the text was spot on for even today’s society. It is an amazing time to be alive in the twenty-first century and many people could not have fathomed that music would have headed this way. Ray Robinson as he was writing this chapter seem to have the foresight, that was needed to even give people considering music, a warning. Now more than ever the arts seem to be struggling to survive, especially within schools and churches. There is barely any type of funding going into any art division, whether it be choral, band or even theatre. After that first warning of the fact there will be little funding for a choral conductor, Robinson then tells us “Do not pursue a career in the choral music if you can or want to do anything else with your life!” (pg 2). He gives the reader this warning on the account of the life-long commitment and attention that music will …show more content…
The people that a conductor works with will not always be the cream of the crop, and in this one aspect (being in a choir) “average” people are able to experience the beauty and self-fulfillment that music provides. Every person that steps through a conductor’s door, brings baggage from their life and some want relief from their lives. Music provides a soothing aspect, because from the instant a person starts singing, they are creating something unique. To create the piece well, is dependent mainly on the conductor. The performers do need to learn their music, but it is up to the conductor to be a teacher and translate what the music is asking to the people. Music is a give and take in this due to the fact the conductor should know more than his performers, but he himself should constantly be learning more and