The Useful Arts

• Main Author: Hindman, Jessica
• Other Authors: McCutchan, Ann
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2012
• Subjects: Nonfiction; arts; useful
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc283812/

This creative nonfiction dissertation is a series of braided narratives that chronicle the author's career as a trombonist in the John Smith Ensemble. As an amateur trombonist, the author is shocked to be hired as a professional musician for an orchestra that plays on PBS and at Carnegie Hall. She quickly realizes, however, that the job requires her to play the trombone quietly in front of an unplugged microphone while a CD recording of another, more talented trombonist is blasted out toward an unknowing audience. The job also requires the author to tour around America. The scenes of from this tour are braided with scenes wherein she reflects on her life as a professional fake musician and her past failed attempts at getting a job.