Klarinet Archive - Posting 000147.txt from 1997/07

From: Ken Bryson <kbryson@-----.com>
Subj: clarinet playing
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 21:32:07 -0400

Nicholas,

Clarinet playing is indeed a complex activity and there is a great deal
of variation in individual technique and teaching approaches. It is not
surprising that you get different advice from different clarinet
teachers. The same is true of doctors, lawyers, real estate agents,
etc. You'll make yourself crazy if you try to poll a representative
sample and then decide what to do! I have to second Dr. Lacy's
excellent advice to find a teacher you trust and respect, then settle in
for an extended period of study to learn as much as you can from that
individual.

I'd also like to point out that not only will you receive different
advice from different teachers, you'll also receive different advice
from the same teacher at different points in time. Recently Howard
Klug, Professor of Clarinet at Indiana University, conducted a seminar
in Virginia. Several of his former students attended. They said, in
various ways and at different times over the weekend, "Hey, you never
told me that!" or "That's not what I remember you teaching me." To
which his response was something like "I didn't know that then. I'm a
better teacher now." I think that kind of professional growth comes
from a willingness to learn one technique or approach very well and then
have the courage and flexibility to try something different, learn from
experimentation, and learn from others with a different approach. But
that flexibility must follow the development of a solid base of
competence with one approach, which results from extended study with one
teacher.

Good luck with your studies!

Nancy