Klarinet Archive - Posting 000721.txt from 1995/06

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Advice to new clarinetist
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 11:23:24 -0400

I, too wish to add my $.02 in favor of private instruction. While some
extremely talented individuals manage, by incredibly good luck and/or
"having the knack" to figure out the clarinet without lessons for the
first year or two, I keep meeting people (virtually every month)
who say, in so many words, "I just had problems doing ______ and got
discouraged". These people SHOULD HAVE HAD LESSONS WHEN THEY STARTED
PLAYING!!!!!!! Then they wouldn't have quit. Who knows how many amateur
carreers were nipped in the bud? These are our audience, folks. The most
committed fans are those who play music themselves, or, at least, have
done it at a more-than-rudimentary level in the past. So please, don't
let the fact that one or two lousy teachers have occasionally done bad by
students. Talk about throwing out the baby with the bath water!

Fred Jacobowitz

On Wed, 28 Jun 1995, Jack Dannenberg wrote:

> >I tend to disagree with the following reply. While there are certainly
> private instructors that are demanding there are also many who know
> how to and enjoy working with new players. By carefully selecting such an
> instructor I believe you can actually decrease any frustations that
> accompany learning a new skill. You can also pick up the new skill at
> a faster level while working at a pace that is comfortable for you as
> compared to group band instruction. I do agree however that there are
> instructors whose style is not suited for young people or beginners
> and they should be avoided for the reasons mentioned.
> jackd@-----.com
>
> > 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.
> >
> >
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Abby Kreisa
> > bkreisa@-----.edu
> >
>
>
> --
>