Theric: I think you’re right about the connection between pioneer survival-mode and pragmatism.

It is said, for example, that Utah has the highest per-capita piano ownership in the country. And I’ve noticed in my classes at BYU that nearly everybody even in my general ed. classes has some music reading ability. This is something we should certainly be proud of. But if you were to ask all those moms why they drag their 11-year-old sons to piano lessons every week, their first instinct will often be to give you pragmatic answers: so he’ll be more “well rounded,” so he can play in priesthood opening exercises, so he can play on his mission, etc.

Those are all perfectly good reasons. Also, I think there’s a genuine artistic impulse somewhere underneath all of that. But we often don’t articulate that much. We either think in pragmatic terms or feel an obligation to explain in pragmatic terms.

How would it be, though, if we thought of all our artistic efforts–even our most “practical” ones, like teaching deacons how to play a few hymns, or even getting a congregation to sing in sacrament meeting–as offerings, as acts of consecration?

I love the idea of seeking the beauty in our physical worship. (How does one teach that to deacons?) Sometimes I think we’re too darned pragmatic. I suppose a pioneer heritage can do that to a body.

I also appreciate learning of aspects of Mormon arts outside what I know. I’m thinking I’m going to make it part of my personal mission to bring more people unknown to us (me) into AMV. Because I found this interview quite enlightening.