Institute Committees Attitudes (was EBVT live)

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

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In a message dated 7/18/01 6:25:40 PM Central Daylight Time, 
wardprobst@cst.net (Dale Probst) writes:

> Dear Mr. Bremmer,
>  
> Since I was the Institute Director in Arlington last year, I can say that 
> you were not invited to teach in order to give the students someone to 
> laugh at or ridicule. You were invited to teach a subject you are 
> passionate about in any manner you chose within the guidelines set for 
> _all_  instructors. During the time I served on the Institute Committee we 
> presented classes on alternative tunings every year and a Temperament 
> Festival in Providence. My partner and I tune alternative temperaments 
> often and have even lectured at recitals on their use. 
>  I am sorry you were unable to attend but I do wish to set the record 
> straight as to the reason you were invited. It is not my habit to subject 
> fellow members to ridicule. 

I appreciate reading your opinion and don't accuse you personally of 
subjecting anyone to ridicule.  I do remember a few things about Providence 
however that weren't as smooth going as you would like to make them seem.  
The organizer of that event commented several times to me about the Institute 
Committee saying that the HT Festival was "too stressful" and that it was not 
to be repeated.

I personally took ridicule and abuse of the kind that no PTG Member should 
ever be subjected to from none other than Wally Brooks and it was not the 
first time, either.  I could and have already cited many incidents which 
either involved me personally or others who share my interests.  There's no 
point in repeating them all again.

Yes, I could have managed to present the basic ideas behind the EBVT in a 45 
minute, introductory presentation.  That was not the issue with me.  It was 
the arrogance, the turned up nose, the no response, "no comment" attitude of 
the self important feeling manufacturer's rep whom I had approached about 
using the EBVT for a public performance that got me.  And that was not the 
first time for that kind of treatment either. It had nothing to do with the 
Institute Committee.

It was having also been offered a local opportunity by someone who was 
genuinely interested in what I do to make music that easily made the decision 
for me.  Why should I go to the Convention and have that kind of bitterness 
and animosity directed at me when I can hear applause for what I have done 
instead?  And please don't tell me it's my attitude and the *way* I confront 
people about things.  I'm not about to change the way I do business.  I have 
something to offer.  If you want what I have to offer, then take it.  
Otherwise, I'll find other opportunities.

Chicago is right in my area but there will probably be other opportunities 
right in my own community at the same time.  I'll certainly follow the path 
of least resistance, not feel that I must kowtow to the people who are 
running PTG.  The 1999 Institute Director saw fit to tell me personally that 
he didn't want me at the Convention, so I wouldn't be surprised if the 
general attitude were still the same.

As I see it, you need to make some changes in the way you plan some of these 
classes or events.  Just reading what Ed Foote had to say tells me that you 
subjected him to conditions other presenters did not have to endure.  Tuning 
innovations should not be presented on pianos for which there was not 
sufficient time
allowed to actually get the tuning done.

Unless the Institute Committee is willing to provide the proper time and 
space to get the piano well prepared for a demonstration, it is not worth 
doing.  If the answer is "there is not enough space or time", then it means 
that the Institute is satisfied with mediocrity and half done work as an 
example to which PTG Members should aspire.

I'll never be a party to that.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin

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