Mechanical Music for the Masses
By Andy LaTorre
An incident to illustrate that the young can get to like other music if we only expose them to it:
Last year I had to teach a course called Electronic Project Design, a subject which was "up my alley." The students would be new entrants into our Electrical Engineering Technology curriculum.
When I met the class, I immediately knew I had my work ahead of me. I could see no spark of interest in any but one student. How could this be possible, I thought. When I was in college I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Then I asked the students about their experiences with electricity or electronics. One student volunteered, "Electronics is shocking!" Other than that, not one of them had ever experimented or worked with electronics.
So, to motivate the students, I decided to show them my MIDI-controlled fairground organ. I organized a caravan to travel the 4 miles to my home. (Oh, yes. The dean heard about that and called me in. It seems that I did not fill out the appropriate forms.)
When we were all assembled in my yard, I uncovered the organ and told them the history of it and how it came about, etc. They looked unim- pressed as I spoke. Oh, well, I thought, just wait until I turn it on. Then I turned on the power. The organ lit up and in a few seconds began to belt out "Blaze Away March." Boy, did it make a joyous sound!
Smiling and enjoying the music myself, I turned and faced the crowd of students. I was amazed to see only neutral expressions on their faces. They looked at the instruments clanging away and listened to the music. But no reaction. No smiles, no foot-stomping. When the piece was over they all just stood silently in place.
Now, I understand that in this mountain area there are no Coney Islands. Most all of the students were not exposed to band organs. So I was disappointed, to say the least. After all, the purpose of the "field trip" was to show the students what electronics can do.
The next time we met in lab, as I was helping a certain student, he said to me, "That calliope was really great." Surprised, I asked him, "Why didn't you react while it was playing?" "Oh," he said, "I couldn't do that. The other guys were there."
Then I began to understand. First of all, one doesn't show excitement for subject areas in front of comrades. Secondly, one certainly doesn't show a liking for the old-fogy music coming out of that crazy box.
Now, a year later, I still have students individually come up to me and ask to see the organ.
Interesting culture, these young ones.
Andy LaTorre (old fogy at 55)
Orgue Mecanique
PO Box 1479
Cullowhee, NC USA 28723 |
(Message sent Wed 12 Feb 1997, 15:15:26 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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