Klarinet Archive - Posting 000677.txt from 1995/06

From: Bob Kreisa <bkreisa@-----.EDU>
Subj: Advice to new clarinetist
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 15:31:38 -0400

I don't think starting private lessons at 11-12 when you're just
starting the instrument is wise. Why not try it and see if you like it
first? If you find you don't like the clarinet (I don't see why you
wouldn't, but to each his own....), then you don't feel so bad that
you've spent your or your parents money taking lessons that you didn't
like in addition to rentinguying an instrument. Or maybe I just feel
guilty more easily than most. I also tend to think that private lessons
make the already potentially stressful (and often frustrating) situation
of learning an instrument more difficult, and pressureful. Why not wait
a few months and see if private lessons are worth your time or if you
just want to play at school for fun? If you want to play just at school
for fun, why do you need private lessons? I think that going into
private lessons right away puts to much pressure on a beginner and keeps
playing from being fun, which is what it should be, especially at first,
or you could end up hating learning music because you were pressured when
you started clarinet. In case I lost my point somewhere in there, it was
meant to be: Taking private lessons right away (depending on the
teacher) can put to much pressure on a kid and stress them out or prevent
music from being fun.

P.S.- Also, some private teachers prefer more advanced students.

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Abby Kreisa
bkreisa@-----.edu