[MusicTlk] Discrimination in the Community Orchestra

Sat Feb 10 19:00:33 UTC 2018

Hi, Jordan,

We may perhaps have to agree to disagree on this issue.  If the manager’s refusal comes after you’ve tried to talk with them about how you learn music, yes, I do agree with you that it’s discrimination.  That said, if the manager has no idea how in the world a person who’s blind learns music and hasn’t been educated about it, it’s lack of knowledge, not discrimination.  Perhaps a question should be put to them as to whether they’re willing to learn about how you learn music.  I’ve been a semi-professional classically trained singer for 15 years, and I’ve honestly found that, as soon as a sighted person understands how we learn music and that there is little to no work for them, they become a great deal more open.  Yes, I admit it’s possible that I am completely misreading this situation and that you are, in fact, being discriminated against.  I would encourage you, however, to really try and have an open and honest conversation with the orchestra manager before reaching this conclusion.

Sarah

Sarah Massengale
Intern, Flock and Rally: Integrated Communications for a Brave New South
701 Whaley Street, Loft 202, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 410-2735 | skmassengale at gmail.com
To reach Flock and Rally leadership: Debi Schadel, Partner: 803.348.8861, debi at flockandrally.com; Tracie Broom, Partner, 415.235.5718, tracie at flockandrally.com
www.flockandrally.com  | @flockandrally  | Facebook

> On Feb 10, 2018, at 1:26 PM, Jordan Gallacher via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> It is discrimination when the manger of the orchestra refuses to let me join and then says there is no way for you to learn the music.
> Jordan
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 10, 2018, at 11:49 AM, Sarah Massengale via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org <mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello,
>> 
>> I’ve been thinking about this issue quite a bit since I saw the first message, and after some mental debate as to whether or not I was going to respond, I decided to do so.  First of all, remember, you’re the one who wants to join the orchestra, they didn’t ask you to do so.  What that means is that you need to be willing to make your own accommodations.  A few questions emerge about this:
>> 1. Do you read Braille music?  If not, be prepared to learn if this is really something you want to do.
>> 2. How effective are you at sight-reading/memorization?  You will have to learn to do one or both of these things if you plan to be able to keep up with your peers in the orchestra.
>> 3. Youtube has recordings of almost everything.  Are you able to hear your specific part and isolate it well enough to learn this way?
>> 
>> In edition to these things.  You can’t exactly call it discrimination when the orchestra directors probably, quite literally have no idea how you learn music.  You will need to schedule a meeting where you can sit down and explain to them how learning music as a blind person works.  If you try all of this and still have no success, yes, there is a much larger issue at play.  I hope this is helpful to you, and I wish you the best of luck.
>> 
>> Sarah
>> 
>> Sarah Massengale
>> Intern, Flock and Rally: Integrated Communications for a Brave New South
>> 701 Whaley Street, Loft 202, Columbia, SC 29201
>> (803) 410-2735 | skmassengale at gmail.com
>> To reach Flock and Rally leadership: Debi Schadel, Partner: 803.348.8861, debi at flockandrally.com; Tracie Broom, Partner, 415.235.5718, tracie at flockandrally.com
>> www.flockandrally.com  | @flockandrally  | Facebook
>> 
>>> On Feb 9, 2018, at 10:13 PM, Ella Yu via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I'm sorry to hear that.  Learn the orchestra parts
>>> what ever way's best for you, and just play without a stand.  Simple.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Jordan Gallacher via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org <mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org> <mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org <mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org>>
>>> To: "'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians'" <musictlk at nfbnet.org <mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org> <mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org <mailto:musictlk at nfbnet.org>>
>>> Date sent: Fri, 9 Feb 2018 19:38:33 -0600
>>> Subject: [MusicTlk] Discrimination in the Community Orchestra
>>> 
>>> I finally decided to join or try to join the Northshore Community Orestra,
>>> and so far I am being told No I cannot join because you cannot see the music
>>> and we do not have anyone good enough to record it for you so that you can
>>> learn it.  Joke is on the person I am e-mailing who is incharge because the
>>> director of it happens to be the former band director of one of the schools
>>> I went to.  If she is smart, she will figure out a solution, if not, plan B,
>>> which I have not figured out yet.
>>> 
>>> Jordan
>>> 
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