There's stereotyping and then there's...

[LAS14]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to see 7 different Harvard student chamber music groups perform. They were great, of course, but the striking thing was that of those 30 or more students, only two were non Asian. What can one do with this experience? Form hypotheses? Test hypotheses? Pretend I didn't see it? One thing is clear. When I encounter an Asian individual I shouldn't take any action at all based on the chamber music experience. I wait to find out what this individual is like. But it's interesting. Is it OK that it's interesting???? One thought I keep having is that it may be a symptom of this country's lack of attention to music in public schools. BTW, the teacher that introduced the groups was also Asian.

[lunasun]

1. If only two had not been white instead would your mind be freaking out?

[LAS14]

3. What did I say that makes you think I'm "freaking out?" nt

[monmouth4]

2. No tv in the home..LOL. n/t

[dalton99a]

4. FWIW That's how classical music is being kept alive in the U.S.

Well, 7-Eleven does use classical music to discourage loitering and panhandling

[Glorfindel]

5. Yes, it's OK that it's interesting. I'm just glad that there are people who still love and play

chamber music.

[onlyadream]

6. Same for engineering majors

My son is an EE major and he said that most of the students are from China. They’re extremely well dressed in very expensive brands and often have the highly expensive cars (this is a state school BTW).
They also don’t mix with the other students, which is unfortunate. My son would love to get to know them.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Interesting. I am glad they are keeping the tradition alive, although I would like to see more

diversity. I work with a Chinese woman and she is already sending her daughter to violin lessons at age 4. They are very serious about raising their children to be excellent musicians.

[treestar]

8. Culture that is still interested?

Other groups would rather be rock stars.

Also tiger moms. Those instruments may be tougher than guitar.