[78-L] Acoustic-era monitoring

[Ken "Silver Showcase"]

Robert M. Bratcher Jr. wrote:
> At 09:42 PM 8/8/2009, you wrote:
>   
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>     
>> I am used to playing LIVE...with individual players adjusting their volume
>> levels according to MY hand signals...with the final issued recording being
>> the result of the session! In fact, I used to use "dynamics" in live
>> performances.
>> I would, by signaling, bring the band's level down to "barely audible"...and
>> then suddenly go to "full blast" for the next chorus/stanza/wotever! This
>> ALWAYS amazed younger players who happened to be in the audience...
>> they set their "volumes" to MAXIMUM...believing that the whole point of
>> live music was to blow the audience to the back wall and leave them
>> effectively deaf...?!
>>
>> This MIGHT be true for "rock"...but it isn't, and never was, true for
>> playing
>> BLUES music!!
>>
>> Steven C. Barr
>>     
>
> Or classical music either. It goes loud & soft as well..... 
>   

Several years ago I talked with the man who was, at that time, 
conducting the Glen Miller Orchestra.  (Sorry, I can't remember his 
name.)  He said one of the most difficult parts of his job was getting 
the younger members of the group to play dynamics.  It was very 
difficult for them to understand that not everything should be played at 
top volume.

-- Ken