Klarinet Archive - Posting 000317.txt from 1994/02

From: Karen Noel-Bentley <karennb@-----.CA>
Subj: Dealing with teachers' biases
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 1994 22:15:02 -0500

On Mon, 21 Feb 1994, Cary Karp wrote:

> I have no trouble both understanding and agreeing with you. This still
> leaves the students in somewhat of a pickle. They have to rely on their
> teachers preparing them to address the common taste well enough to avoid
> being lambasted by critics for deviating too wildly from its accepted
> stylistic norms. On the other hand, they have to be able to perceive
> which of the musical dictates of their teachers need to be jettisoned if
> they are ever to develop their own individual styles.
>
> I'm trying to remember how I addressed this dilemma, but can't. How did
> the rest of the "old timers" on the list work their way through this?
> How do the "youngsters" feel about all this iconoclastic rumbling?

One of the ways I'm addressing this dilemma is by participating in the
discussions on this list. What a wonderful way to learn different
points-of-view about the different issues.

I studied with my previous teacher for eight years--beginning in junior
high school, and continuing through my undergraduate degree. For much of
that time, I took everything that he said as being the indisputable truth.
But during my last years as an undergrad, I looked to other sources for
opinions, and began to rethink some of the things he had told me. These
sources included books, magazines, other clarinetists, and teachers of
other instruments. I was fortunate to have an open-minded teacher who
discussed my new ideas rather that telling me the "right" answer.

Now I am with a new teacher for my Masters degree, and I am hearing new
ideas about old subjects. I am trying to be as objective as possible, but
sometimes I find it hard to part with some ingrained "truths" that I
picked up from my old teacher.

Without question, the best way for a student to form his/her own opinions
and style is to look to as many sources as possible for information.

Karen