Overview

What is virtuosity? Is it an innate gift or can it be taught? How does it manifest in music, dance, or drama, and by what criteria? What does it take to become a virtuoso/a; what are the odds of success? And ultimately, at what price? Examining the concept of virtuosity in multiple perspectives, this book helps to answer those questions and many more. V. A. Howard traces virtuosity from its historical roots to philosophical and psychological learning theory to the rigours of professional training and shows how high level performers are made, marketed, and sold by those who broker talent as a commodity. Critics and theorists will find this book comprehensive and illuminating. And for that vast group of budding aspirants (and their mentors) who desire to «make it», to figure out where they are going, how far and why, the insights contained herein are key to survival. No dance or drama studio, regional theatre, music school, or conservatory can afford to ignore this hard look at the realities of classical performance art and training. For those whose vocation is performance, this is required reading.

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9781433102172

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Reviews

V. A. Howard's book is acute and anecdotal at the same time - generous with arguments, but also with examples from the real world. I think anyone eager to make a life in the performing arts will want to read it because it really concerns itself with the kind of education they should have and the kind of life they can expect. It is his view that virtuosity is not just an innate gift, but something that needs to be nurtured, and in that connection he offers something rather rare in philosophical books: real wisdom, helpful advice. (Arthur C. Danto, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Columbia University) In 'Charm and Speed', V. A. Howard shares his astute analysis of virtuosity with considerable charm and just the right pace to keep things interesting. (David N. Perkins, Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education) The philosophical analyses are undergirded by the author's nuanced feel for the actualities of performance based on his own experience as a singer and audience member and on his extraordinarily rich historical knowledge of the lives and practices of great artists and their teachers - all of which he uses in masterful (and often amusing) fashion to illustrate his more abstract philosophical analyses. 'Charm and Speed' is the most profound, most complete, most engagingly written treatment of virtuoso performance artistry and of the multiple issues that intersect with it I have read. Until now, virtuosity has not received much attention from philosophers and art critics. This landmark work rights the balance. It offers an original and wonderfully coherent account of virtuosity which should allow musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors, and other performance artists, and their varied audiences, to talk more sensibly and clearly to each other about what it is that great artists achieve in their work. 'Charm and Speed' will be an invaluable intellectual resource and guide for all of them. (Thomas Ewens, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Rhode Island School of Design)

«The philosophical analyses are undergirded by the author's nuanced feel for the actualities of performance based on his own experience as a singer and audience member and on his extraordinarily rich historical knowledge of the lives and practices of great artists and their teachers - all of which he uses in masterful (and often amusing) fashion to illustrate his more abstract philosophical analyses. 'Charm and Speed' is the most profound, most complete, most engagingly written treatment of virtuoso performance artistry and of the multiple issues that intersect with it I have read. Until now, virtuosity has not received much attention from philosophers and art critics. This landmark work rights the balance. It offers an original and wonderfully coherent account of virtuosity which should allow musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors, and other performance artists, and their varied audiences, to talk more sensibly and clearly to each other about what it is that great artists achieve in their work. 'Charm and Speed' will be an invaluable intellectual resource and guide for all of them. -- Thomas Ewens

V. A. Howard's book is acute and anecdotal at the same time - generous with arguments, but also with examples from the real world. I think anyone eager to make a life in the performing arts will want to read it because it really concerns itself with the kind of education they should have and the kind of life they can expect. It is his view that virtuosity is not just an innate gift, but something that needs to be nurtured, and in that connection he offers something rather rare in philosophical books: real wisdom, helpful advice. (Arthur C. Danto, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Columbia University) In 'Charm and Speed', V. A. Howard shares his astute analysis of virtuosity with considerable charm and just the right pace to keep things interesting. (David N. Perkins, Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education) The philosophical analyses are undergirded by the author's nuanced feel for the actualities of performance based on his own experience as a singer and audience member and on his extraordinarily rich historical knowledge of the lives and practices of great artists and their teachers - all of which he uses in masterful (and often amusing) fashion to illustrate his more abstract philosophical analyses. 'Charm and Speed' is the most profound, most complete, most engagingly written treatment of virtuoso performance artistry and of the multiple issues that intersect with it I have read. Until now, virtuosity has not received much attention from philosophers and art critics. This landmark work rights the balance. It offers an original and wonderfully coherent account of virtuosity which should allow musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors, and other performance artists, and their varied audiences, to talk more sensibly and clearly to each other about what it is that great artists achieve in their work. 'Charm and Speed' will be an invaluable intellectual resource and guide for all of them. (Thomas Ewens, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Rhode Island School of Design)

Author Information

The Author: V. A. Howard co-founded and co-directed the Philosophy of Education Research Centre at Harvard (1983-1999). He is the author of eight previous books including Learning by All Means: Lessons From the Arts (Peter Lang, 1992) and Work, Education, and Leadership (Peter Lang, 1996), with Israel Scheffler. He has held full-time positions at the University of Western Ontario, the University of London, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University. He is also a classical singer, having studied and performed extensively in Canada, the United States, Britain, and Latin America.

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