Cello Master Class

I viewed the video clip of the cello master class that was held on On 10 May 2001, between University of Oklahoma School of Music and Manhattan School of Music (the location was at Columbia University). Cello student Erin Dunn in Oklahoma participated in a master class with David Geber, Chairman of Strings at Manhattan School of Music using Internet2.

The class was very well conducted in terms of technology, and the student seemed to gain much inspiration and understanding out of this virtual lesson. One drawback is of course, not being able to touch one another. Many times a teacher needs to demonstrate very specifically how to use his or her body, requiring physical interaction with a student. However, Internet2 music education allows students in the remotest location from a teacher to interact and share musical learning together.

Technology, junk, and art

This article, "One Thing and Another: Tomoko Takahashi's CrashCourse@ The University of Warwick" by Nicolas Whybrow made me think about our fast advancing technology and the junk it produces. Japanese artist, Takahashi collected what seemed to be trash and unwanted and created an art show. Countless items were used: keyboard, phone, cables, shredded paper, lamp, etc. The author's interpretation of Takahashi's art is very interesting.

The artist's own position epitomises what is at stake in this paradox: amidst the chaos of 'junk' the visitor invariably discovers an aesthetically-pleasing order. It is one short step then to attributing this to a 'very Japanese' sense of meticulously-crafted, 'folkish' arrangement or ceremony. At the same time the recycling of discarded items suggests itself as a form of antidote to the mass production of popular consumer technologies that have come to be associated with post-war Japan. Thus, Takahashi is both playing on the stereotype, affirming her cultural' otherness,' and distancing herself from it.

This notion is intriguing to me as a Japanese person. In Japan people create art from empty tissue boxes, scratch papers, wire hangers. There is order behind chaos. While the technology is improving and machines become more and more compact with bigger capacity and greater possibilities, obsolete things get abandoned. Because my ancient (5 years old!) computer is crashing some times and Windows Vista has just been introduced, I would probably have to throw this computer away not too far ahead. In our Internet2 class, how should we deal with junk? Are we creating more junk than art itself?

Art works like Takahashi's project tell us to see unwanted things differently, perhaps in more appreciative way, and to notice art in them.

Article: http://people.brunel.ac.uk/bst/vol07/home.html

Article: “The Next Big Step? Long-distance learning via Internet2” by Rebecca Winzenried

Winzenried’s article discusses the pros and cons of Internet2 long-distance learning introducing the conducting master class given by New World Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Tohomas in Miami to a student Donato Cabrera conducting Chamber Sinfonia of Manhattan School of Music in New York in Oct. 2001. Christianne Orto of MSM says that it was almost in synch although not completely so, because of the delay of 500 milliseconds. Winzenried says that Internet2 is focusing not only on speed but also on “quality of service.” She reports that there were a few glitches during the class, however she concludes that the instruction and music flowed freely.New World Symphony Director of Information Technology Tom Snook says that Internet2 will never replace a live performance, with which I agree, although I have not yet experienced the quality of Internet2. Who adjusts the subtly of different sound levels and how do we make sure that both sides have the same or close sound effect? What if one side is in a drier concert hall than the other one?

Winzenried explains that Internet2 is beneficial to musicians with heavy schedule. However, due to transmission delays performers from different locations are unable to truly rehearse together. The cost of using Internet2 is also a problem and users have to offer many long-distance events to defray it.

Click here to read the article.