To the Editor:

In last month’s Juilliard Journal, there was a “Voice Box” column (Not the Sounds of Silence) that I found absolutely deplorable. Eileen Pollock, of the Evening Division, wrote about her extreme dislike for “loud, percussive rock music” and her mission to eliminate it from all public places, especially those in the Lincoln Center area. She states that “ ...the heartless beat of rock music seems uncannily to reflect the violence and cruelty that has destroyed our innocence.” Where do I begin when it comes to responding to a statement so riddled with ignorance and stereotype?

I believe that it is essential for the Juilliard community to be aware of and exposed to what is going on in popular culture. I will admit that there is popular music out there that some may find offensive and might be inappropriate for the local Duane Reade to play throughout the store. Yet, somehow I doubt that Ms. Pollock has been hearing the likes of Eminem, Snoop Dogg, or Marilyn Manson being played at the Starbucks she frequents. It is far more plausible that she had heard the music of people like Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews Band, etc. As far as I know, there is nothing in the music of said artists (save Mariah’s excessive high notes or Britney’s lack of sound intonation) that one could accuse of being highly offensive or inappropriate. If Ms. Pollock feels N’Sync’s latest single is “nerve-racking” or “anxiety provoking,” what does she feel when she walks outside to the booming streets of Manhattan?

Secondly, although there is a large portion of wholly mediocre pop music (as is the case with any category of music—or any other art form, for that matter) there is also an endless array of truly great rock music. From the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix to Billy Joel and Radiohead, there is an unbelievable amount of terrific music out there, and I encourage anyone, but especially the next generation of professional musicians of the 21st century, to expose themselves to as much of it as possible. To lock ourselves in a bubble of strictly classical music will, without a doubt, foster the demise of the professional classical musician.

I hope that Ms. Pollock finds a way to ease her own anxiety in the busy world we live in, but I hope also that she finds no success in her preaching against rock music. It is the folk music of our time and country, and to ignore or deny it would be a huge mistake.

Dinesh Joseph

Juilliard Percussion Student

To the Editor:

Iwas compelled to write about last month’s “Voice Box” by Eileen Pollock, “Not the Sounds of Silence.” Her article, in brief, stated that the “percussive rock music of the ‘culture’ around her is disturbing and anxiety-provoking”—especially with our current crisis. She even went so far as to say that we should be called to action against this “aural onslaught around us.”

I’m afraid I don’t see how background music at Starbucks is a valid concern in our country right now—and to compare such an issue to the tragedy of September 11 is insulting. This pious call for censorship is unacceptable.

Music of all kinds is entertaining, distracting, and comforting to people and an important part of our society. Colorful jazz playing at a café, an afternoon recital, a night at the opera—and yes, even rock and roll. Surely we live in this country so that we can enjoy such diversity— sitting next to someone who may oppose the very thing that we champion. We cannot censor every opinion or sound that is foreign or jarring to our ears.

To suggest that the “heartless beat of rock music reflects the violence and cruelty that has destroyed our innocence” is ridiculous. How ironic that Ms. Pollock is criticizing the very genre of music that was developed in another time of crisis for our country. Thank God Janis Joplin isn’t alive to hear Pollock’s aural onslaught.

How quickly we forget.

Morgan Grunerud

Juilliard Voice Student

Eileen Pollock replies:

I am glad that two Juilliard students cared enough to write such impassioned responses to my opinion piece. And surprised that, at Juilliard, my views are actually considered controversial.

In September, faced with feelings of profound helplessness in the wake of a wound still fresh, I decided to speak up against public sounds that I found added to a sense of anxiety. I took a small personal step to create a peaceful atmosphere in the midst of the surrounding uncontrollable chaos. Many people told me they agreed with me, but saw the unremitting stereophonic soundtrack as one more unavoidable irritation of city living.

Dinesh Joseph makes a general defense of the role of popular music in our culture. We obviously have different opinions as to rock’s artistic merit, but these are matters of taste, and our tastes differ. Whether rock is a valid popular expression which classical musicians must consider is a large topic that is beyond the purpose of my essay. More important, anyone who enjoys rock music is free to attend rock concerts, play rock music, and listen to rock in the privacy of his home. But when stores blast rock music from speakers, they impose it on everyone else, and restrict the sphere of freedom for us all.

Our country, as Morgan Grunerud points out, has far greater concerns at present than background music in coffee bars, but that does not mean that it is not a “valid concern.” Most of us cannot personally fight the war in Afghanistan or capture terrorists, but we can affect the quality of life around us. That quality-of-life issues matter and are vitally important was the assumption behind the mayor’s successful strategy for fighting crime.

My personal requests of store managers should not be confused with censorship, which is uniquely governmental enforcement. I seek only to exercise the power of a private citizen and consumer—the power of persuasion. Most of us have abdicated that power, indeed without even realizing we have done so.

The Juilliard Journal welcomes letters to the editor. Please send letters to:

Senior Editor, Publications, The Juilliard School, Room 442A, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023. Or e-mail your letter to journal@juilliard.edu; write “letters” in the subject heading. Letters may be edited for content or length.