Sunday, September 21, 2008

Fieldwork Topic

I am planning to do my fieldwork on The Smokin' Reed Saxtet, a group of Brown saxophonists. Though two of my friends are members of this group, I currently do not know as much about it as I should. I believe that they are simply a student group, unaffiliated with the Brown Music Department. They play a variety of music, ranging from transcriptions/arrangements of Bach to music recently written specifically for saxtets.

Some possible research questions, at least to start, are:
1. What motivates the members of the saxtet to rehearse and perform? All (or, at least, the majority) are also members of other Brown music groups; what does the saxtet bring that the others do not?
2. As a relatively "unknown" group (as opposed to the Brown Orchestra, Wind Symphony, A Capella groups, etc.), how do you publicize your concerts? Do you hope to expand and become a "large" attraction, or are you content with your current audience?
3. Who is your current audience? Is it different from the audience of other Brown music groups?

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