Klarinet Archive - Posting 000694.txt from 1996/04

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: Re: High school appropriateness (Re: Rabaud Solo de Concours)
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 12:58:00 -0400

Nate,
Your right, a student should have some say in what they want to
study. I don't have the "right" to restrict but I do have the "duty" to
advise if a piece would be inappropriate for a student at their level of
progress. There is a difference between a challenging piece and a piece
that is simply overwhelming for a certain level of student. If a student
brings in a piece they would like to work on I feel I can quickly evaluate
if the piece is within their capabilities (technique, rhythm, musical,
endurance) from the students past lesson and performance history with me.
A teacher has to choose material that will challenge a student but
not be so advanced that the student makes very little progress even with a
great deal of work. I also consider the value (yes, my value!) of the
piece. Is the piece a great, good, or so-so work for the clarinet? A
college major (I'm jumping ahead here) should have played or studied most
of the major works for clarinet in 4 years. The Weber Concertino is a
major work for Clarinet, the Rabaud isn't. If the high school clarinetist
can start studying some major works before college, so much the better.
The purpose of a teacher is to teach and guide, if the student don't want
the teachers guidance, then don't study with them. Hopefully, a teacher
and player of 20 or 30 years experience has a little more insight to
repertoire than a high school or college student.

Dan

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Daniel A. Paprocki
dap@-----.us

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