On humane performing arts: Part 1

The secret no one tells you about classical, elite performing arts.

98% of the hype is about controlling the students & in every abusive way.

There's a reason bad stuff happens in those circles. (I mean, if you've never sat under the instruction of a man who was arrested for CSA were you even trained in the Art????)

The snobbery over body shapes & sizes is about control. Optics & Timbre.

The snobbery over complying with a very specific style is about control.

The favoritism that takes over is about control (and money and power)

The entire culture is about pulling young artists with a promise of a fulfilling career, then coercing them into exploitative situations. Whether it's a physical assault or exploiting their labor, young artists are in a trap.

The more classical and elite the art form, the worse it is for the artists.

Professional opera singers struggle. It's a niche within a niche that very few humans could ever do, and they are exploited terribly. Exceptions exist. But they are rare exceptions.

Same for ballerinas. It's an insane amount of work to get there and they get paid less than minimum wage. The result is (usually) young women at the mercy of the men who donate large amounts of money to the company.

The reason I'm drawn to circus is because it smells like freedom & possibilities. 🎪 I am at the mercy of no one. I can create as I wish.

I remember my first voice lesson at the master's level. I got there on a full-ride scholarship, so I reassure myself I was pretty good (i was GOOD Good!!!).... but that instructor spent an hour tearing me down harshly. I left the lesson wondering if I had ever even been worthy of any instruction at all. Utter dirt.

I recognize what she was doing (ummm. I studied pedagogy too miss thang). It's an abusive tactic of tearing down a person's sense of self before rebuilding their self-image and self-esteem under the instructors control. She was purposefully making me feel like dirt so I would grow dependent upon her approval to feel like a good vocalist again.

This style of teaching is dominant, even within children's programs. It's unspeakably damaging.

I'm thankful always for my Suzuki and my elementary school music teachers. 🎶 they truly bullet-proofed my little musician mind before I hit the School of Hard Knocks. I appreciate my bachelor's level voice instructor. She fed and nudged and mentored without ever once breaking my spirit.

But too many genius artists meet the oppressive, authoritarian, controlling instructors first.

It's really hard to convince a child to see their own awesomeness once that negativity takes hold.

That's my fight. It's very personal.

That masters level voice instructor didn't know it, but she helped create a monster in me. I'm driven to prepare young artists to survive and thrive in spite of ugly people.

Child, look in the mirror! Look at your picture!

Keep going! That was the good work!

💪💗💪