Virtual clinic for musicians to discuss diverse music programming
A free virtual clinic for music students and musicians called “Fanfare for the Unheard” will be hosted at 7:30 p.m. April 5 via Zoom.
The event, hosted by Diversify the Stand, is aimed towards diversifying the music that performers see on their music stands and will feature a variety of composers. The first clinic was March 27 and is now available on YouTube.
Carrie Blosser, one of two founding members of Diversify the Stand, gave the introduction to last week’s event.
“We really wanted to make a space and combine a lot of resources to make it easy to find,” Blosser said, “to help promote more diversity in the music that we play, the music that we teach and the music that we’re listening to. Our goal is just to share the stories of composers, performers and educators in the hopes of diversifying more stands.”
Ashley Killiam, the other founding member of Diversify the Stand, spoke about the importance of diverse programming in music.
“Last time I checked, we are all not dead white men,” Killiam said. “ So why is there this constant need to feel like we have to play the same five [pieces]?
Central Michigan University trumpet faculty member Neil Mueller said the event is a “baby step in the right direction.”
“As an aging, white, cis-gendered male, I think it’s important for me to say less and listen more,” Mueller said. “My focus in choosing what music I perform or in guiding my students as they choose what to play, is always on primarily finding good music that represents a range of styles and eras.”
