Donations, Attendance on Rise
In spite of the rapid,
unanticipated downward spiral of the national economy in 2008, the TSO saw a
12% increase in attendance and an 8.5% increase in contributions during the
2008-2009 Season (from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009). The organization came within 2% of balancing its
$960,000 budget, not counting losses on its investments..
The Board passed a budget
for 2009-2010 that safeguards the TSO’s artistic and education mission while
reducing expenses by nearly 10%. Board
member giving has nearly doubled in the previous two seasons, and every Board
member makes a leadership gift, subscribes to the concerts, brings in new
audience members, and participates in fund raising.
The first two concerts of
the 2009-2010 season sold out, and attendance at Sounds of the Season in
December was up 11% over the previous season.
Single ticket sales are up 38% over last year at this time.
Date set for 2010 Gala
The TSO has announced Friday, September 17 as the date for its annual Symphony Gala, to be held at the Hotel Murano's Bicentennial Pavillion. A steering committee of Board members and community volunteers began meeting in January to plan the event, which raises critical funds for the Simply Symphonic music education program and for the TSO's classics and pops concert series. The TSO is seeking donated items and experiences for its silent and live auction for the event. For more information, call 253-272-7264.
The Art of Listening
Composer
Aaron Copland wrote a book years ago called What
to Listen for in Music. I think
someone should write another one called How
to Listen to Music. Listening effectively –
whether
in human discourse or music – is an acquired skill and something of a vanishing
art these days.
Part of
the problem in classical music may be the approach people take. Especially
prevalent in recent years, largely as the result of the way record labels
market classical music, is what I call the “mineral bath” approach to
listening. Henry Fogel, former president of the League of American Orchestras,
writes in a recent blog:
“How
often I’ve heard, in my career, ‘after a hard day at work, I want to come to a
concert, sit back, relax, and let the music just wash over me.’ The truth is
that classical music… is often not meant to ‘soothe,’ should in fact shake you
to your roots frequently. But if you look at some of the marketing that is done
by the recording industry, even by some orchestras or presenters, you’d think
that we were closer to Montovani than Monteverdi.”
I have a
good deal of empathy for those coming to concerts who want to be soothed and
relaxed. In this day and age, who
doesn’t? Creating a space for beauty, relaxation and renewal is one of the
benefits of attending live classical music events.
But like
everything else in life, we can get much more out of live music when we put
something into it. Maestro Felder uses the phrase “active listening” to
describe this. To me, this is a process of what my wife, the coaching
professional, calls “mind over chatter”: learning to quiet the incessant
talking that goes on in our heads, and creating space in our minds and hearts
to really listen.
An old
boss of mine used to insist, “you don’t need to know anything about classical
music to enjoy it.” That may be true, although the more we know about it, the
more we appreciate it. An hour before
the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra classical concerts, Dr. Gregory Youtz, professor
of composition at PLU, gives a 30-minute talk on the evening’s music. This is a
great way to enhance your appreciation. Like all composers, Greg has been
listening to music his whole life and really knows how to hone in on the
essence of each piece.
But
learning how to listen actively doesn’t depend on intellectual knowledge. It
depends on practice, and the more you do it the easier and more rewarding it
becomes.
Compare
it to working out and having a regular exercise regimen. You don’t need to be
an expert gymnast, but you do need familiarity with the various pieces of
equipment as well as with the capabilities of your own body. And a good health
regimen is a balance between effort and relaxation. If all we ever did at our
club were relax in the sauna or whirlpool, we wouldn’t make much progress.
So going
to a classical concert, it turns out, is not just giving your ears and mind a
mineral bath – it’s giving them a workout. It takes just as much consistency
and effort, but the result is a refreshed mind – and an ever-increasing
capacity to listen.