Prefab gab's last gasp

Regarding the awkward and ill-planned interview between myself and Mitsiko Miller, and the resulting article sub-titled "Prefab gab of chunkhoppeuse Kinnie Starr" ["Starr fishes and sea sponges," July 31], I can only suggest Ms. Miller consider developing a more thorough and professional approach as a journalist. That is to say, putting the necessary time and energy into researching her subjects prior to the interview.

Vacantly scanning press kits for easy ideas, calling in disrespectfully late and asking lazy, thoughtless questions such as, "You are a woman in music... I'll just let you talk about that..." (that's the equivalent of "You walk using both feet... I'll just let you talk about that...") does nothing to foster an engaging or communicative interview.

Ms. Miller, to avoid prefab answers, you need to push yourself intellectually beyond prefab questions.

-Kinnie Starr

High art not the only high horse

Kristian Gravenor started to present an interesting examination of the status and dollars given to "high art" music and pop music ["MSO should share the wealth with local bands!" August 13], but by making a non-analagous comparison, he arrived at a suggestion that doesn't make sense. Gravenor suggested how great it would be if the money given to the MSO were given to local pop musicians instead. The trouble with his theory is that he is comparing established classical musicians to aspiring pop musicians. A valid comparison, say between established classical performers and established pop entertainers, quickly leads to the conclusion that Celine Dion is doing pretty well compared to the $115 per hour the MSO musicians are requesting.

The snobbery surrounding so-called high culture is indeed odious, but no more so than the cult status and the millions of dollars bestowed on pop stars.

And at the bottom end, regardless of whether you're a struggling electric guitar player or a cellist wannabe, you're still going to need a day job. And frankly, if I were going into the music business to make money, I'd pick an instrument with six strings, not four.

-Patchen Barss

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I guess that Kristian Gravenor lost his perspective last week, or else was very short on ideas for his column. There is no other way to explain the ludicrous nature of his nasty outburst towards musicians in Montreal. I say simply "musicians" because, according to Kristian and his brainwashed, PC we're-all-equal jargon, to say that someone is a classical musician must automatically imply that that person is also a Eurocentric snob with a superiority complex. How is it that the term "high art" has come to be used as an insult?

Unfortunately, I must agree that there are many people who attend classical music concerts for all the wrong reasons. But can he really believe that a classical musician would sacrifice their childhood in order to spend long hours practising their instrument, if there really wasn't anything more to it than the lure of belonging to some sort of phony elite?

The rhymes of M.C. Solaar, the jazz of John Coltrane and the symphonies of Mahler are all examples of high art, the summits of artistic expression of their respective cultures. And believe you me, the average wage of a young violinist or pianist is much less than what of any one of the DJs at Groove earns in a night.

-Justine McIntyre,
Elysium Chamber Music

Royal banking pain

Last Friday morning, I read in the Mirror that Concordia University's Student Union has decided that "all campus activities and publications will be boycotting the five big banks" ["Students stick it to the Royal Bank," August 13]. I wanted to stand up and shout, "What wonderful news!" but the woman sipping coffee at a nearby table looked a little discouraged, so I let the moment pass. I regretted this lost opportunity that afternoon, when I called a friend at work and was forced to listen to a few words courtesy of the Royal Bank. (Imagine a pleasant female voice): "It is my responsibility to ensure that each customer has the opportunity to take advantage of the various plans offered by the Royal Bank to reduce the monthly costs of banking with us to a minimum."

The truth is that small business owners, students, people living in low-income neighbourhoods and rural areas, and probably a great many middle-class Canadians, wouldn't be caught dead near one of these venerable institutions if there were a viable alternative. The banks profit from our money and then charge a fee. And now I'm forced to listen to a voice of sensible professionalism claiming to be working hard to keep my banking fees to a minimum! Next time, I won't withhold my desire to stand up and shout for joy when a few people decide to stick it to a bank, in public.

-Gyde Shepherd