[HANASHIR:15406] Re: Dealing with Fools

[Sharon Steinberg <cantorshar...>]

Dear Edward,

What is it that you hope to accomplish by speaking directly to this 
conductor?  Is there any purpose in non-constructive criticism, or is it 
just to relieve your frustration.  My bet would be that this person is well 
aware of his incompetence and hides behind his bad behavior to ward off 
people telling him the truth that he obviously does not wish to hear.  My 
opinion is that the chazzan is the person who needs to be spoken to...why is 
he using this person...in my shul, my organist is a very limited 
musician...but I retain him for a number of reasons and work around his 
shortcomings...were I in your place, I would vent where it is safe and be 
quiet in the work place...

Sharon Steinberg


>From: "Rabbi Richard Schachet" <LVRabbi (at) cox(dot)net>
>Reply-To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Subject: [HANASHIR:15405] Re: Dealing with Fools
>Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 15:04:14 -0700
>
>I would have a meeting with some of the members of the choir and the 
>Chazzan
>and let him know.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Edward Katz" <eekatzmd (at) yahoo(dot)ca>
>To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2003 2:33 PM
>Subject: [HANASHIR:15402] Dealing with Fools
>
>
> > Shalom and Shana tova! I am looking for some advice on
> > how to deal with an incompetent conductor. I was
> > recently hired by the Cantor of a local synagogue, who
> > wanted to revive their High Holiday Choir. He heard
> > through the grapevine that I had recently left another
> > synagogue choir, and was available to sing lead bass;
> > I am a semi-professional singer, with reasonably
> > extensive musical training. During the opening minutes
> > of the first rehearsal, back in July, it became
> > obvious that the so-called conductor whom the Cantor
> > had hired was incompetent. He could not read a note of
> > music, and had no clue on how to conduct. This was
> > also apparent to  some of the other more experienced
> > choristers. Nevertheless, the "conductor" attempted to
> > teach us our parts by ear, since the mother of one of
> > the younger choristers was available to play the
> > keyboard.
> >
> > As the weeks went on, it became obvious that the
> > "conductor" also had personality difficulties. He
> > continually insulted the choristers, blaming us for
> > not  singing our parts correctly. He arrived late at
> > virtually every rehearsal, after urging us to be sure
> > to arrive on time. His temper tantrums at almost every
> > session resulted in several choristers yelling back at
> > him; I myself could easily have been tempted to punch
> > him in the face.  Nevertheless, I felt that I was
> > obliged to honor my commitment to the Cantor, who is
> > an excellent and very competent Chazzan. My basic
> > option is to resign after the High Holidays and not to
> > sing there again, unless the "conductor" is replaced.
> >
> > My dilemma is that I am constantly tempted to tell the
> > "conductor" to his face that he is incompetent. In
> > more than 30 years of choral singing, I have worked
> > with our city's finest conductors (including Charles
> > Dutoit, formerly of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra),
> > as well as several fairly competent amateurs. I am
> > unable to look the "conductor" in the eye, lest I
> > become tempted to call him a fool. I still have to
> > endure three more rehearsals this week, followed by
> > the Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur services, before I can
> > quit.
> >
> > Has anybody out there ever been in a smilar situation?
> > How did you handle it?
> >
> >
> > Edward Katz, M.D.
> > Montreal, QC
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> > Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
> >
> >
>
>
>

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