On music

Empirically, I suppose I should be in strong support of the campus
band-it consists of students who get together to make music and
occasionally meet with a conductor.
And I do appreciate that.
I also give props to the elementary kidlets who march and play "Joy To
The World" on Melodions.
It's just that the sonic reality of a bunch of kids teaching
themselves to blast and bang on elaborate noisemakers curdles the
earhair. And what matters most when it does come down to a conducted
performance is not whether the kids are playing the same song--they
play the same 3 every year--at the same time or in the same key, let
alone consistently or together or with the conductor or on similar
pitches, but the big, glittery, sequined baton. THAT sucker is key.

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