Various Thoughts From Some “Guy”
Mon, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
Fellow AJ blogger Kyle Gann posted a comment of mine a few days ago I sent to him in response to a piece he wrote about a new degree program for music criticism. And it brings up an interesting point about society in general: the amount of automatic validation people assign to owning a degree.
The “Challenges” Facing Interlochen Part 1
Sun, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
Picking up where I left off from the end of the decision making articles (Part 1 & Part 2), I am now going to begin examining Interlochen’s challenge system in detail. We’ll begin by examining the challenge system that has been eliminated as well as the current system the Interlochen administration has created to replace
The “Challenges” Facing Interlochen Part 2
Sun, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
To continue where I left off in The “Challenges” Facing Interlochen Part 1, I’ll now focus on the specific rationale behind why the old challenge system (hereto referred to as “challenges”) was eliminated and list the goals of the new audition policy.
THE SKY IS FALLING!!!
Fri, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
No, this isn’t just another doom and gloom "the sky is falling" article, sorry to sucker you in with the headline. Instead, I want to take some time to look at the term "crisis" and create some perspective. "Crisis" is word that’s being thrown around right now in this industry. As a result, there’s a
The Negotiation Process: How It Works
Thu, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
The first step at better understanding how your local orchestra functions as an organization is to understand the basic principles behind the document that deals with nearly every facet of its operations: the CBA, or Collective Bargaining Agreement. Every major orchestra in America, regardless of union affiliation, has some form of a contract that exists
The Wrong Way To Make A Decision Part 2
Tue, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
To continue where we left off in Part 1,we will resume our examination of the flaws in the research process of a major institutional decision.
A Bombshell In New Jersey
Mon, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
In yesterday’s edition of the New Jersey Star-Ledger they broke a story that asserts some of the violins Herbert Axelrod sold to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra may be fakes. That’s big news.
The Wrong Way To Make A Decision Part 1
Mon, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
Bad decisions. They have a wide range of consequences from causing a simple one time annoyance to crippling an entire organization. Unfortunately, there isn’t any single method to follow that will result in guaranteeing the right choice will be made.
It Makes Me Want To Bang My Head Against The Wall
Fri, Jul 7, 2004
by Drew McManus
I read an article in the San Antonio Express-News about how the struggling San Antonio Symphony lost $400,000 in badly needed funds when the organization failed to score a high enough rating as determined by the San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs staff and volunteer panels. The orchestra reportedly scored the lowest in the category
This Is How It Should Work
Thu, Jul 7, 2004
by Drew McManus
Today’s Wisconsin State Journal featured an article by Anita Clark detailing the exceptionally large private gift by W. Jerome Frautschi to build the new Overture Center in Madison Wisconsin. The $205 million gift was presented by Frautschi because he simply believes that private money, not public funds, should pay for the new Performing Arts Center.
