Edited, Mon 29th Aug 2005: it was suggested to me that I change the name of the institution I study at to something less specific. Shame; the first edition was so incriminating.
My time at the Conservatorium at a particular Victorian tertiary institution was a bad, bad joke - a joke on me, of course. I learnt so much from the arts component of my degree (originally I was enrolled as a combined BA/BMus undergrad - and was stupid enough to believe that this was a good thing), in terms of ‘take-away’ knowledge but in music probably learnt more about the politics of how universities are run, and the has-beens that do it.
So, for anyone interested, here’s a summary of what I learnt at this music conversatorium. I’d love to name names but am I ever broke (so don’t even bother trying to sue me). In case you’d like to try to guess in which prestigious institution these Gothickesque (yes, I made the adjective up; sorry. If you can think of a better alternative, leave a comment etc.) horrors of took place, please go to http://www.vtac.edu.au/cgi-bin/coursesrch/byinst.cgi and for further spoonfeeding, focus on only the institutions that contain ‘university’ and offer combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees. I want you to be able to get the name, without me having to tell you *wink*.
2 Comments
Give it to the Con. I must admit, I don’t feel as blighted by this particular institution of disrepute, as I was a member of the dominant paradigm, namely, white male pianists, (although I’m sure the fact that I was straight counted against me.) I actually feel as though I wasted a lot of opportunities there. I’m tempted to name the initials of the two dastardly individuals named in your article, (I’m pretty sure I could make an accurate guess,) but, well, I can’t afford to be sued.
The only edit I can suggest you make to your snark is that it was known to the locals as “the appropriately named” Con.
Cheers.
Abbreviating it to the ‘Con’ pretty much gives away what institution it is! Incidentally, I had to cut out some incriminating things to also avoid possibility of being sued for slander.
Recently, I ran into another (friendlier) big-wig at said institution, and s/he asked how I was, and I explained that yes, I was better but now more active in writing while I save for a gamba. It also led to me having to admit that I didn’t so much discontinue music studies but was forced out of it.
To which the professor in question replied, “Ah, so you were given the ‘Wellington* whack’”, as if the phenomenon of being pseudo-kicked out of the Con was a common enough occurrence to warrant a nickname!
I said, “Yes, something like that.”
*of course Wellington is a pseudonym; the original phrase began with the Dean’s name followed by the word ‘boot’. Come to think of it, sounds a bit like a wrestling finishing move!
I think a lot of people could empathise with your feeling like you wasted opportunities at the Con. But keep in mind, they weren’t exactly supportive of such chances unless it was in their best interest. And woe betide you if you dared to ride against their current.
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