When we left off in yesterday’s article, the students of Eastman’s “Realities of Orchestral Life” were just beginning a simulated orchestra contract negotiation. The students of the class represent the musicians in the orchestra and five of their members were designated to serve as their negotiation committee. I represented management and the course professor, Ray Ricker, would act as a mediator if such a need should arise.
The students had just been informed that the financial situation for their “Sim Orchestra” has gone from bad to worse and serious reductions in their annual budget would be necessary to avoid bankruptcy. And so the class continue…