Klarinet Archive - Posting 000323.txt from 1996/02

From: SHELLEY A BARABASH <sabaraba@-----.CA>
Subj: Switching Instruments
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 13:44:18 -0500

I don't think I caught the whole thing, but I caught something about
teachers not letting students choose their own instrument!!? In high
school, our teacher moved students around to other instruments that
he felt he needed more of (usually trombones) from instruments he
felt he had too many of (usually clarinets). I didn't agree with
that practice then, and I still don't now. Just because the teacher
wants an evenly balanced band is a reason to switch instruments?
Come off it! I know a lot of students that dropped music because the
teacher put them on a instrument they didn't like! Is this the
impression of music teachers we want to give? We could probably have
a lot more musicians out there if some teachers actually listened to
their students, instead of putting them on an instument "for the good
of the band". What about what the student wants, or isn't that good
for us? I know that teacher knows best, but shouldn't we at least
have a say in what we want to play?

By the way, since I never did properly introduce myself, I am a
fourth year music student at Lakehead University (yes, they do have a
music program). I'm glad to be able to talk to other clarinettists
(I'm the only one here)!

Shelley Barabash