Here are comments by a legendary musician on music students today. Some of his comments may apply to students in other areas, but it’s really about the music. Mild language warning.
Branford Marsalis’ take on students today
Jan 11 2009
Mistaken identity
So, a couple of weeks ago I was trying to sell my car. I had arranged to meet with a potential buyer in a local shopping center, in front of an auto parts store. The buyer never showed, though I stood around for about an hour waiting.
It was cold. So I was really bundled up, walking around in front of the store, waiting for my no show buyer. I am not a snappy dresser, and doubtless looked a bit mismatched. I was listening to a book on my iPod (earbuds hidden under my aged stocking cap). The book was “Orthodoxy” by G.K.Chesterton, a gem if there ever was one, and as is my wont when listening to books on audio, I stopped the iPod now and then and thought to myself a bit about what I’d heard. And since Chesterton is often so pithy, sometimes I stopped and repeated the sentence I had just heard, for the sheer enjoyment of it.
Walking back and forth rather aimlessly, I wasn’t really watching all the people come and go, I just kept on eye on my car, figuring that if the buyer showed up, that’s where he’d go first.
A nice gentleman came up and said something I didn’t hear, what with the audio in my earbuds. I didn’t even know he’d spoken to me at first. I silenced the iPod, and looked at him, and he said, “Are you OK, sir?”, and then offered me a ten-dollar bill. At first, I had the brief, crazy notion that he was my buyer, hoping I’d sell the car for a ten-spot.
Then it dawned on me that he thought I was a homeless person, and was offering me money. I began to realize that he’d been watching me from inside the store, and probably saw me talking to myself, pace Chesterton. Briefly, I was tempted to take the money, thank the man, and buy some hot chocolate. I suspect I looked like an unemployed former Santa Claus imposter.
Better angels won the day, and I explained that I was trying to sell my car, pointed at the ancient Volvo wagon, and asked if he was interested, since my putative buyer never appeared. The man’s expression became even more sympathetic (verging on pitying), and I realized he thought I was making it up, and didn’t really own the car. I walked over and unlocked it, and the man’s face fell even further; he actually seemed to believe I was selling my home!
It took some time for me to convince him that I was not one of those well-spoken, educated homeless people, but was exactly what I said I was. I’m not convinced now that I was totally successful.
We introduced ourselves, and it turns out he is a retired Marine officer teaching special ed in a local high school. I expect I looked just about nothing like a music professor. I’m still not sure he believed me.
While I do speak well and sound educated (no snickers, please), I’ve heard several homeless people who sound as good… and he probably had, too.
He should have bought the car… it was a good deal.
I really like hot chocolate.
I think I’ll see if I can use this whole narrative as a way to wangle a new jacket from my wife.
Jan 02 2009
Self-defense is your duty and a form of community service
When you don’t defend yourself from attack (when that option is available to you), you are a co-dependent with your attacker, and bear at least some responsibility for the fate of future victims of your attacker. Doug Giles has an interesting article about giving his daughters martial arts lessons here. It’s all very interesting. The money quote:
If you decide to attack your aggressor, do so quickly and with complete conviction. Attackers are most often cowards and prefer to attack easier and more submissive targets.
In the article, Giles interviews the martial arts trainer of his daughters, and it’s all pretty good advice, not Hollywood unrealistic, just straightforward common sense, highly recommended.
I think this is something most parents should consider providing for their children. And parents should teach children to be aware of their surroundings, by sharing with their children what they are thinking when they’re out and about. Sadly, most parents have been taught to be victims by schooling and television/movies, where any sort of weapon waived around is thought to be a magic wand causing complete paralysis in the victim, and where only heroes with black belts can successfully defend themselves.
If you can possibly do so, put your kids into training in something that is not oriented to “dojo ballerinas” but is more practically oriented to getting the job done, without what Bruce Lee called “the flowers”, i.e., moves that look pretty but are complicated, hard to remember, and depend on your opponent doing what you expect in order for your counter to work.
My personal recommendations:
1) JKD (Jeet Kune Do), Bruce Lee’s “system” (it isn’t, exactly) that borrows the most practical aspects of many different arts
2) Krav Maga, an Israeli adaptation with enormous amounts of real world experience backing it up
3) Jiu Jitsu – a Brazilian adaptation of Judo and other arts
These are all “current generation” arts, i.e., they are not essentially the same as they were 300 years ago (or 1300!), but represent evolutionary adaptations and blending of multiple streams and traditions, a blending that took place in the last few decades, and represents the best of the best.
My kids study JKD. We were lucky enough to live near one of the few students of Bruce Lee.
And, to requote:
If you decide to attack your aggressor, do so quickly and with complete
conviction. Attackers are most often cowards and prefer to attack
easier and more submissive targets.
This has a certain bearing on foreign policy and war-fighting, does it not? I have wondered more than once what would have happened in Iraq if we had shot looters from the beginning, and responded forcefully to the first couple of terrorist acts, especially in Fallujah, Mosul and such. Our weak initial response to these events left the populace feeling that we would not or could not protect them, and left the Islamofascist cretins with the impression that we could be had. And that was very nearly true, before the surge. If we had taken early, very stern action, showing we just would not tolerate looting, terrorism, or people who provided safe haven for terrorists, we would have been criticized for harshness, but consider the tens of thousands of lives, mostly Iraqi, that would have been saved.
When your enemy (the one who has decided HE is YOUR enemy) is allowed to think, even for a moment, that he can proceed with minimal resistance, you have just multiplied your problem by an order of magnitude. It is still possible to defeat a confident enemy who thinks victory is assured… but it’s lots harder, and costs more.
Jan 01 2009
I knew they were nuts
I have recently played a part in the revision of the general studies curriculum at a Christian university. One of the topics of discussion was whether all students should be required to take psychology. Many of us felt that psychology is a “baby discipline” without fully formed content as yet, as witnessed by the “fad of the decade” approach to theories of personality, theories of cognition, etc. A psychology faculty member argued (incredibly, to me) that half of our incoming students had serious psychological problems, and that we had to address them. I asked if there was any evidence that students who had taken an introductory college psychology course had better mental health at any point later in life. (There is none, of course….) By way of admitting this without admitting it, my faculty friend insisted that the way HE teaches it is different, and he IS effective at teaching the content of “intro to psychology” while also achieving therapeutic goals. All of this struck me as “special pleading”, of course, but it seems that maybe he was right that half of college students are whacko:
Results Almost half of college-aged individuals had a psychiatric disorder in the past year. The overall rate of psychiatric disorders was not different between college-attending individuals and their non–college-attending peers. The unadjusted risk of alcohol use disorders was significantly greater for college students than for their non–college-attending peers (odds ratio = 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.50), although not after adjusting for background sociodemographic characteristics (adjusted odds ratio = 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.44). College students were significantly less likely (unadjusted and adjusted) to have a diagnosis of drug use disorder or nicotine dependence or to have used tobacco than their non–college-attending peers. Bipolar disorder was less common in individuals attending college. College students were significantly less likely to receive past-year treatment for alcohol or drug use disorders than their non–college-attending peers.
Conclusions Psychiatric disorders, particularly alcohol use disorders, are common in the college-aged population. Although treatment rates varied across disorders, overall fewer than 25% of individuals with a mental disorder sought treatment in the year prior to the survey. These findings underscore the importance of treatment and prevention interventions among college-aged individuals.
Can’t we just put ’em all on Prozac and teach ’em algebra, instead?
Dec 31 2008
The demise of the university
Until recently, classical education served as the foundation of the wider liberal arts curriculum, which in turn defined the mission of the traditional university. Classical learning dedicated itself to turning out literate citizens who could read and write well, express themselves, and make sense of the confusion of the present by drawing on the wisdom of the past. Students grounded in the classics appreciated the history of their civilization and understood the rights and responsibilities of their unique citizenship. Universities, then, acted as cultural custodians, helping students understand our present values in the context of a 2,500-year tradition that began with the ancient Greeks.
But in recent decades, classical and traditional liberal arts education has begun to erode, and a variety of unexpected consequences have followed. The academic battle has now gone beyond the in-house “culture wars” of the 1980s. Though the argument over politically correct curricula, controversial faculty appointments, and the traditional mission of the university is ongoing, the university now finds itself being bypassed technologically, conceptually, and culturally, in ways both welcome and disturbing.
Continue reading “The demise of the university”
Dec 26 2008
Exporting California
It used to be common to see signs in California, bumper stickers, etc., that read, “Welcome to California. Now go home.”
This was back in the days when Americans from all fifty states were moving to California in record numbers, not just coming for vacations. Californians were fearful of losing the quality of life that they cherished, because of the enormous influx, and so the signs were quite popular. If you live in California, you haven’t seen one of those signs lately, have you? In the current politically correct environment such a sign would not be seen as being aimed at Americans from other states. Rather, it would be seen as being aimed at illegal aliens from our wannabe 51st state, just south of the border.
Continue reading “Exporting California”
Dec 19 2008
A hero for heroes
Sinise: A man for all services
Since war became a geographically distant but very real way of life after Sept. 11, 2001, no Hollywood star has stepped up to support active duty U.S. military personnel and wounded veterans like Gary Sinise. There is no close second. And quietly, as is in his nature, he is becoming something akin to this generation´s Bob Hope.
One step in conferring this worthy title on the award-winning actor, director and producer occurred last week when President Bush bestowed on him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation.
Dec 18 2008
Institutions of our Ancestors
“Since private and publick Vices, are in Reality, though not always apparently, so nearly connected, of how much Importance, how necessary is it, that the utmost Pains be taken by the Publick, to have the Principles of Virtue early inculcated on the Minds even of children, and the moral Sense kept alive, and that the wise institutions of our Ancestors for these great Purposes be encouraged by the Government. For no people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffusd and Virtue is preservd. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauchd in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.”
–Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 4 November 1775
The “institutions of our Ancestors” would have been understood to include the church, education (not mere indoctrination), systems of law, social institutions like marriage, etc.
We’re in for some interesting times.
Dec 13 2008
Transplanted San Fran loons
Here’s how it is in Washingon state this Christmas:
Just in time for the Christmas season, Washington State Gov. Christine Gregoire has insulted Christians all over the world. Inside the state Capitol building in Olympia there is a traditional holiday display featuring a tree and the Nativity scene; perfectly appropriate since the federal and state Christmas holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
But this year Gregoire decided to add another item to the display. Standing alongside the baby Jesus is a giant placard designed by atheists that reads: “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
Dec 07 2008
And this is news exactly how?
Women admit their sympathy for ‘man flu’ victims runs out after five minutes – Telegraph
Women’s sympathy with husbands and boyfriends who complain of having a cold runs out after just five minutes, a survey claims. And almost a fifth of women say they feel no sympathy at all for their partners’ “man flu”.
But men, by contrast, say they are prepared to take time off work to care for their suffering wives or girlfriends, cooking meals and cleaning the home.
A poll found that women were far less likely to sit by their man’s bedside mopping his brow than the traditional stereotype suggests.
More than half (52 per cent) of women polled said that they lose sympathy with their husband or boyfriend within five minutes of his first complaint about feeling under the weather.
Some 18 per cent said that they start from an unsympathetic point of view, according to the survey carried out for carried out for the makers of Lemsip Max Stength.
Sigh.
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