Re: Who is qualified to teach klezmer?

[Alex J. Lubet <lubet001...>]

That may be, but only a small percentage of them participate in the Hillel and
only a handful are music majors.  Trust me, I know of what I speak.



Dick Rosenberg wrote:

> According to hillel.org there are 1200 Jews at U of M (800 undergrad, 400
> grad). That should be enough for a small band and a large audience.
>
> Dick
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alex J. Lubet" <lubet001 (at) umn(dot)edu>
> To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 9:26 AM
> Subject: Re: Who is qualified to teach klezmer?
>
> > Of course, Josh is having a little fun with this, but I'm sure he knows
> he's
> > also making a very serious point, which is that in secular academia, being
> an
> > ethnic insider cannot, at least technically, be regarded as a
> qualification for
> > teaching for being involved in any way in an "ethnic" subject.  Were I to
> start
> > a klezmer band at the University of Minnesota, it would almost certainly
> have
> > no Jewish members.  A large part of making Jewish music for me is about
> > community.  I'm not suggesting that that's the same for everyone, nor my
> > suggesting that only Jews are qualified to teach people how to play
> klezmer,
> > but one of the things I always derived from the music when I was an active
> > performer was that sense that was contributing to the community, to its
> > identity and continuity.
> >
> > One particularly tricky aspect of having a klezmer band in secular
> academic
> > institution might be gigs.  I know that our ensembles play in churches all
> the
> > time and occasionally in synagogues, but I can see some potentially messy
> > situations where there might be a sacred/secular conflict of interests.
> >
> > In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that my klezmer career
> was
> > relatively short and I don't think I'd be particularly good at teaching
> the
> > music.  I would also note that from time to time I am called upon to be
> the
> > faculty expert on things Jewish.  In particular, I get asked questions
> about
> > matters of Hebrew pronunciation by singers and choral conductors.  I try
> to be
> > careful not to overextend myself into for my students and colleagues to
> more
> > knowledgeable people in the community such as rabbis and cantors as the
> need
> > arises.
> >
> >
> >
> > Joshua Horowitz wrote:
> >
> > > Catholic Priests.
> > >
> > > > Thanks to everyone for their insightful comments on my last two
> questions
> > > > There are only two questions remaining, and
> > > > some of the responses have already referred to this next question:
> > > > Who is qualified to teach klezmer?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks again for your comments,
> > > > Christine Gangelhoff
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
> > Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
> > Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
> > University of Minnesota
> > 2106 4th St. S
> > Minneapolis, MN 55455
> > 612 624-7840 612 624-8001 (fax)
> >
> >
> >
>

--
Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
University of Minnesota
2106 4th St. S
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 612 624-8001 (fax)


---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+