Brian Davey, Despite his prosecution, would you still use his music Options

[jod]

I have a bit of a dilemma.

As many of you know, Brian Davey was prosecuted for paedophile offences earlier this year. The situation is not as simple as it sounds as I have spoken to a number of people whose children learnt recorder with him, and spoke highly of his teaching ability.

He has written a number of tutor books, which again are very sound, and another publisher is not publishing them.

I feel very sad for the whole situation re Brian Davey. Haenous as the things he did were, from discussions with other adults who knew him, he was trying to deal with his perversions, and he has been gaoled, so should I use that as an excuse not to use a perfectly good recorder tutorial book.

My gut feeling is no, and I will continue to use his material.

I'd like to know other teachers views on this matter?

[Deborah]

If there was any Wagner on the syllabus, would you refuse to teach it because of Wagner's anti-Semitism?

You might utterly condemn what someone's done, but if they've written an excellent tutor book, they've still written an excellent tutor book. One of the teachers at my primary school was imprisoned for paedophilia. Didn't stop me learning loads in his science lessons though.

[Charlies Aunt]

Hi. This is obviously a very emotive subject, but I would feel inclined to continue using the music. After all, the man is being punished for his crimes, why punish him further? If you find the music is best for your needs then why change?

[YetAnotherPianist]

If you would still teach Schubert's music when we know he probably did the same, then yes.

[jo.clarinet]

I'm glad this thread has been started, because I've got some of his publications, and they're very good - and I'd been wondering what to do myself! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[jod]

I'm glad this thread has been started, because I've got some of his publications, and they're very good - and I'd been wondering what to do myself! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Thanks Jo.

Current consensus is that HMP service are dealing with him for his crimes, and there's no point stopping using good material.

So my gut feeling which is feel dreadfully sorry for everyone caught up in the situation, including Brian, and continue using his books seems to be OK.

[dcmbarton]

I see no reason to stop using this material - if they are good books then nothing should stand in the way of that.

David

[Petite Joueuse]

Thanks jod for posting one of the most serious questions this forum has seen in a long time.

I don't think there is an easy answer, but what a fascinating question. It made me think about the composers I'm currently studying - how much do we actually know about their morality/private life? Does it matter? Should we be bothered? By playing their compositions, are we condoning all aspects of their life?

I suspect that a line has to be drawn SOMEWHERE....but I'm not sure exactly where.
If I felt that by purchasing someone's music I was actively encouraging that person to be involved in something illegal/immoral/dangerous etc., then I would probably think twice. Just imagine how you would feel if you found out that one of the major music publishers was using all their profit to support a cruel regime which devalued women and children..........
I know this particular case is different.......but I do think we need to chew over these issues responsibly.


Just as a matter of interest............when someone is in prison, and is accruing royalties on a publication, where does the money actually go?

[TSax]

I've got a different response to the majority here. My gut feeling is that, where I in a position to, I would stop teaching using these materials. I've tried to think through why I feel that way and it's a bit difficult to explain, but includes the following:-

Unlike Wagner, Schubert etc (I can't claim to know any details about these), the victims of Brian Davey's crimes are still very much alive, and using these materials could in their eyes appear to condone his actions and make light of their suffering.

One step removed from that there are those people who may have suffered similarly in the past, and reading about this case will have dragged up old memories - again I wouldn't want them to be upset or offended by the use of the material.

There are also undoubtedly youngsters who are currently struggling with similar experiences in the here and now. They may be unsure what to do, who to tell, whether anyone will believe them. I would hate to think that what they may see as my condoning of similar behavior would encourage them to keep quiet for fear of not being taken seriously.

I do sympathise with the view that if the material's are good, let's remove them from their creator and use them for a good purpose, but as I said my gut feeling is different.

[neil.clarinet]

I was thinking along similar lines to Tsax and he has just confirmed it in his posting. None of the composers mentioned here are from today's generations, nor do their crimes directly effect anyone still living. Even JS Bach allegedly wrote the WTC in prison, after a breach of the peace, and all sorts of speculations are around Mozart's true deeds, but that was centuries ago. I think especially if you were teaching a young child of about the age of Davey's victims, they or their parents may wish to disassociate themselves from a horrid child abuser. I'm not saying we should stop using his books if they genuinely are excellent, and that could be his one saving grace, but it is a very difficult situation for recorder teachers. By not knowing his books I can't judge this, but it is an issue to be treated sensitively.

[sarah-flute]

it is an issue to be treated sensitively.

I think that about says it, Neil: I don't know if it's an issue you can be black-and-white on, saying "yes it's definitely OK to use them" or "no, you can't use them at all". Being sensitive to the issues, taking individual students' needs and wishes into account has got to come into it... if they are good books it seems a shame not to use them, BUT it seems a wise idea to be thoroughly sure they are the best option, and certain that pupils/parents/etc are not going to be offended or affected by the associations.

[andante_in_c]

You might want to consider the implications of buying books, or asking parents to buy books written by this man, knowing that he will receive royalties from their sale. Deciding whether to use material you already possess might be a slightly different matter.

[Petite Joueuse]

But as I said, andante, if he's in prison, where are the royalties going?

[Deborah]

Unlike Wagner, Schubert etc (I can't claim to know any details about these), the victims of Brian Davey's crimes are still very much alive

None of the composers mentioned here are from today's generations, nor do their crimes directly effect anyone still living.

Just to clarify my earlier point re Wagner. His anti-Semitism was extreme, even for times less tolerant than ours, but to blame him for concentration camps is just plain wrong. Whilst he was certainly a revolutionary, his anti-Semitism never landed him in prison.

Although there are fewer and fewer of them, there are still nevertheless some people around who survived concentration camps (which, it's worth remembering, contained more than anyone who was Jewish - anyone who was homosexual or disabled was also likely to be incarcerated). Of those who did survive, and indeed those who didn't, there are those who love(d) and those who loathe(d) Wagner's music.

But I digress. Have Brian Davey's tutor books become any less good because of what he's done? Surely we should be aiming to provide our students with the best materials available. There are some tutor books which I avoid because they're awful books rather than for any other reason.

[violincjj]

Please don't use them.

Please don't feel sorry for him either.

You want to imagine how to justify that you are knowingly using books written by this man to parents of your students? Thought not.