While watching Super Bowl XLII I was thinking about the role music played during commercials and the game. While it was interesting to think about the particular choices of music during commercials, I got the biggest kick from the “Mr. Oboe” commercial featuring Ephraim Salaam and Chester Pitts who, according to the commercial plays (or played) the oboe. While some might be upset that the narrative of the commercial could be read as saying that playing football is a more worthy dream than playing the oboe, I started wondering how many people might now know what an oboe sounds like and that it is a member of the woodwind family! Will students be asking to switch their instruments or sign up for the oboe in schools across America?! Will Chester Pitts be giving guest oboe recitals? Will there be a trend of finding out who else in major league athletics has played an instrument at some point in their lives? On the other hand, perhaps we’ll start hearing about professional musicians who gave up sports to pursue music! Since many students watch the Super Bowl it might be interesting to ask them if any music stuck out in their minds or what they thought of the “Mr. Oboe” commercial.
The NFL website has a copy of the commercial and the Houston Texans site has the behind the scenes making of it. At the end of the clip you can watch Pitts play a little.
I’m always fascinated with the montage approach of recap plays. Most obvious is the visual representation of the recap. But the accentuation of the recap montage, and in my opinion the center piece, is the music. Though the application of various visual effects play an engaging role in the viewer experience, I am one that becomes truly immersed in the way the audio and visual coincide.
Some of the best ones are the most subtle. The way in which the audio/visual artist cuts from one clip to the next, on what beat, during what rendering within the music, are questions that I believe sharpens our musical mind and being.
I think it’s important, especially so with the ease at which pod and vod casting can be learned and applied, that students also learn to “synchronize” their musical experiences with other mediums of art.
National Standard 8?
I might have to post something about this on my blog…which I just started. Check it out…www.iknowithink.blogspot.com
Great post!!!
And Great game!!! No more speculation, Eli’s the real deal.
I really enjoy your blog. Very insighful.
Thanks.
Leo,
Thanks for the comments. Interesting perspective on montage and use of music. If you haven’t already read it, you would probably like reading Michael Webb’s article “Music analysis down the (You) tube? Exploring the potential of cross-media listening for the music classroom” from the July 2007 issues of the British Journal of Music Education. It’s a great article that discusses the use of videos as a way of analyzing music.
Here’s the abstract: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1033164
Good luck with the blog writing!
Evan-
Thanks for this video. I missed most of the game…my legitimate excuse is a faculty member was having a recital that day premiering some new music…which was sold out by the way on super bowl Sunday.
This video and your comment “…On the other hand, perhaps we’ll start hearing about professional musicians who gave up sports to pursue music!” reminds of a story I heard about a professional race car driver who retired and started playing classical guitar…I’m sorry I can’t remember the name and a quick look on google didn’t turn up anything. But I remember him in an interview saying, “I’m devoting all my time now to becoming a classical guitar virtuoso…”
In my own experience here in Seattle, I had a parent who was a former well known Husky football player- within the last 5 years- who came to me when I started teaching his young kids. He wanted some books/resources on playing jazz piano. I asked him about his background in music. His reply: “None really. Now that I’m done playing football, I’m ready to start learning an instrument along with my kids. I figure if I can apply the same level of concentration and determination that I did to playing football, I should do o.k.” “Absolutely!” was my reply.
Keep the posts coming!
Thanks for reminding me of that commercial! I have forgotten all about it. (For shame!)
I was reminded of being a grad student at the University of Oregon while Joey Harrington, who is an OK jazz pianist, was the quarterback of the football team. Every once in a while local media would play footage of him playing at a fundraiser or other special event, but that aspect of his life was never more than a sideline. “By the way, he also plays piano!” It saddens me to think that for so many people music is considered little more than a hobby. On the flipside music education blogs like yours give me hope that someday we can turn that around.
Thanks again for your post!
D.