•In article , John Savard wrote:

On my web page, at

http://www.hypermaths.org/quadibloc/chess/cheint.htm

I discuss the fact that people have, particularly in recent times,
proposed variants of chess in order to remedy perceived defects in
the game.

I note three things about the game of chess that could be considered
as problematic.

I see the same problem with performing music.

The first is that playing chess reasonably well - that is, with
a reasonable expectation of winning once in a while against the
opponents one is likely to meet at the local chess club - involves,
at too early a stage as to be appropriate for the beginning learner,
a need to commit to memory a considerable amount of opening theory.

The beginning musician also has far to many obstacles to overcome
before they can compete in eisteddfod's or perform with an orchestra,
this must be stopped!

And so I propose that music should be simplified by dictating all
instruments be diatonic, produced only in one key, and be capable of
playing only in a pentatonic scale.

This would remove the need to learn dozens of scales, arpeggios key
signatures, and reduce the number of note the player has to learn
to five, this would allow even the rawest beginner to perform to
the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Of course some might argue that the beauty of music comes from this
complexity but those thoughts must be swept aside in order to allow
the masses to participate without discriminating against those without
the dedication to practise and memorise all those unneeded notes.

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| Joel Mayes | /~\ ASCII Ribbon campaign
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